[PGT] Flames blow it, lose 4-3 in OT in unacceptable fashion

[1qqaaz]

I know Mikael Granlund has his ups and downs, but he was quite good tonight.

Part of me wants the Flames to take a hard look at him if he hits free agency this summer. He wouldn't be my first choice, he's not right handed is and is more of a center.

But it seems like he actually helps teams win.

[TheScorpion]

Granlund is going to get super overpaid in UFA and he's been incredibly underwhelming in Nashville

I'd stay away myself

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

Uuugh. What a cruel sport indeed. It probably would've been just enough to end the game right there if the refs skate wasn't there to block it and allow Forsberg to get the puck back so fast.

Brody actually made the perfect stick check there.
I haven't read this whole thread, but I'm guessing people are jumping on him as per usual.
So wanted to point out he made the play he was supposed to make; this wasn't on him.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Robbob

That last sequence was just unlucky. If the ref is a foot farther from the play it doesn't bounce right back to Forsberg and Brodie probably has a better angle to get the puck. Between that bounce and the pinball off both skates of the Flames dman and then onto Granlund's stick in OT, the hockey gods are cruel. I guess we are now even after we stormed back down 4 on Nashville last time we were there.

Yeah, we're definitely even with the hockey gods after tonight. I, too, fondly look back on our stanley cup in '04.

[stamps]

Close but no cigar .... team played great .... like what I’m seeing despite the loss ... off to Tampa .... GO 🔥 FLAMES 🔥 GO

[Itse]

Surprised with all the negativity in the thread. Really entertaining, disappointing ending but still got a point.

I'm okay with this one, let's move on. GFG.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Brody actually made the perfect stick check there.
I haven't read this whole thread, but I'm guessing people are jumping on him as per usual.
So wanted to point out he made the play he was supposed to make; this wasn't on him.

Do yourself a favour and don’t read this thread. Lots of really emotional people. I just read it and admittedly don’t understand fan rage and tantrums

A few things happened on the tying goal. A fortuitous bounce off of the ref’s skate back to the Pred who passed it out front. I think people have come around to that being lucky. Turris knocked Rittich back down and people here are on about Rittich being slow to respond.

You are right, Brodie made a good check and the fluky bounce off the ref’s skate was nothing but puck luck.

Granlund got lucky to corral the bounce on the winner.

Although, with the full benefit of hindsight, the people in this thread suggesting taking a penalty or knocking a guy’s stick out of his hands with a few seconds left may well be on to something

[The Boy Wonder]

flames played fine. No real concerns.

This isn’t a Stanley cup team and the quicker we all realize that the better.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

That game is on Rittich.

I don't think so - do you watch the game or just one guy one the ice? Clearly defensive breakdowns in their own zone on all 4 goals:

1st goal) Gaudreau can't exit the zone at the end of first period and it's a turn-over by Forbort. Sissons wide open and Gustafson was late on converage.

2nd goal) Same two defensive pairing - Forbort and Gustafson - however, the Flames running around in their own zone leading to Josi scoring coming in from the point. A weak goal that tied the game 2-2. Not sure if the puck hit Gustafson's stick and got deflected under Rittich's armpit area.

3rd goal) - WTF with Tkachuk in that final few seconds? Defensive breakdown again with Geo standing around on the opposite side of the goal post, Tkachuk standing 10 feet out not covering anyone, and Brodie left Granlund alone out front and Lindholm and Geo coverage was just bad.

OT goal) WTF was Gustafson doing and why is he out there in OT 3-on-3? Also, Tkachuk and Backlund were culprits in an awful play.

To me, this game should have been won with less than 10 seconds to go. The Flames have a stupid habit of running around in their own zone and not getting the damn puck out. Overtime loss was all on coaching as Gustafson was put out. This is just a bad loss. Rittich played well enough to win, the team let him down.

On the bright side, Backlund is a frickin beast! Him and Mange are flying on that second line!

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

flames played fine. No real concerns.

This isn’t a Stanley cup team and the quicker we all realize that the better.

Who here do you think believes or expects that?

Probably very few. But hoping they can take a step from last year, from a team that gets manhandled in round one, to a team that can take a round and at the very least make the playoffs in consecutive seasons, isn't unrealistic at this point. They look to be hitting another gear overall at the right time, so we'll see where it leads them.

Nashville was incredibly lucky, and the Flames were equally as unfortunate. Just keep bringing that kind of effort and it things will go well more than not, I am certain.

[dino7c]

Gustafson is a high end offensive player...why shouldn't he be out there 3 on 3...its was a bad bounce.

Also, Brodie made a play that would have ended the game if the ref didn't get in the way

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

We have been trending better lately which is a good sign.

On a side note, am i the only one that thinks Monahan should give his "A" to Rasmus.

This is easily and rightly one of the last things anyone on the team is concerned about.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Is it me or have teams found a weakness in Rittich on his blocker side? A lot of pucks are going in on that side these days.

The Preds discovered the holes: Forbort and Gustafson. Not sure why people like to blame the goalies when it's clearly the team playing in front of Rittich that were clearly at fault for all 4 goals. I can name two other guys that played like crap in their own zone: Gaudreau and Tkachuk. Plain awful!

[shadowlord]

I thought the Preds' 2nd goal turned the momentum of the game. Josi crept in from the point and I never know if it's supposed to be Eat Bread or Tkachuk who is playing RW on the 2nd line. The two of them always seem to end up on the same side of the ice in the D zone. Mangiapane was the closest man to Josi, but he redeemed himself with the 3-2 goal; however, the damage was done because the Preds had way more intensity from then on.

Prior to that goal, the Flames were doing a decent job in the 3rd period keeping them to the outside with very few high danger chances.

[dino7c]

I wouldn't put it all on Rittich but you do need a big save from time to time...other guy was way better

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Gustafson is a high end offensive player...why shouldn't he be out there 3 on 3...its was a bad bounce.

Also, Brodie made a play that would have ended the game if the ref didn't get in the way

Pretty bad bounce on the first two Nashville goals too with him and Forbort running around.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Pretty bad bounce on the first two Nashville goals too with him and Forbort running around.

You are obviously just picking on the new guys...Gaudreau turned it over on the first goal...Mangi missed his guy and Rittich let in a soft one on goal 2

Its not a dman's job to cover the other teams pinching dman

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

On a positive note, Backlund was................awesome.

Hope we see this version of Backs the rest of the way, he's been fantastic lately.

Maybe he gets more sleep on the road.

[3rd liner]

Turris always has been a rat- never liked him. not surprised to see him contacting Rittich. He isn’t a Perry level rat so doesn’t get the attention. But on that goal he was pushed by a flames player- leading to ‘accidental on purpose’ contact on Rittich- so can’t call a penalty. Frustrating - just a guy that is always in the kitchen but not enough for a penalty call.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Maybe he gets more sleep on the road.

Just noticed, he has 6 points in the last two games.

18 in the last 11

He's sealed a 0.5 PPG season at the very minimum, hitting 41 points after last night. Likely headed for 50+.

Beauty.