Ward could have locked this one up, IMO. It's amazing to me how many NHL coaches are bafflingly bad at game management.
Meh, this one is about the six flames that were on the ice needing to find a way to lock it up. These are still professionals who need to know the situation and be able to kill it
One of the big concerns this year was how fragile this team is. Now they have been playing well, but run into a crushing late loss. Here is where we'll see how resilient they are or if they are in fact that fragile. Tomorrow will be fascinating.
Ya this is where my concern is with this team, i dont think they are resilient at all. Very fragile and easy to play against overall. Hoped the silver lining from getting bounced the way they did last year would be them coming back angry and determined. Instead they had a terrible start.
Hopefully i am wrong and they keep playing well, get some more points this weekend. The pressure is on on and there is a small margin of error, just dont have a ton of confidence in the teams resolve.
One of the big concerns this year was how fragile this team is. Now they have been playing well, but run into a crushing late loss. Here is where we'll see how resilient they are or if they are in fact that fragile. Tomorrow will be fascinating.
They reacted pretty well to the late goal in the first period last night.
What stings the most about the loss was they were 0.1 second away from this being a completely different narrative.
Had they not messed up in the last second there, we're talking about how the Flames are now rounding out to form, how Backs, a core guy, has been clutch. The team was able to hang with the big boys and close out games against a desperate team that are nipping at their heels. The boys are now full of confidence that they can hang with anyone and win in different ways. The goalies are winning games. Everything is great!
Instead, we're now questioning whether the team has really turned the corner. Is it the same old inconsistent team that can't close out games properly, has defensive lapses, and can't win the big games.
It just blows my mind that 0.1 second is all it took to completely flip this around. And that's what's the most frustrating for this loss.
I just really hope this isn't the negative turning point of the season, and that at the end of the season, Flames miss the playoffs by one point to Nashville. That is going to really sting. I just hope the guys are resilient enough to put this behind them and play a strong couple of games this weekend. Get at least 2 points this weekend with a strong showing will help alleviate my fears.
They reacted pretty well to the late goal in the first period last night.
They did. But I don't see these as equal.
Now I'm not saying they come out and do poorly tomorrow. I'm not saying they'll blow the doors off Tampa. I'm just curious how this sudden and abrupt loss when they had the win all but secured will (or won't) play into the next game.
Now I'm not saying they come out and do poorly tomorrow. I'm not saying they'll blow the doors off Tampa. I'm just curious how this sudden and abrupt loss when they had the win all but secured will (or won't) play into the next game.
Nor do I. In fact, I think it's easier to recover with a couple days in between, time to look at things in perspective, than the in game setback.
I actually think the team generally has responded better to bad games than they have to a couple good games this year. In other words, I think their mental weakness is having success and then assuming everything is going to be easy - they tend to coast a bit when things are going well (both within a game after early success and after a good one).
Yeah it sucks that we lost that game and they tied it how they did. But how many absolute eggs has this team laid this year? I would much rather a game like last night every single time then a 3-1 loss to Chicago.
Tampa is also riding a 4 game losing streak at the moment.
All the factors added up, it just seems like an automatic loss doesn't it?
Very interesting game upcoming.
Could've made the same "doomed" argument for the boston game. Boys came through.
It's all about whether they're going to let themselves sulk over that result or come back with the same resolve.
If they do, you can start to talk about these guys turning a corner. Because that last night was a prime example of adversity. The response will be key, cause those games will happen in playoffs.
Ward could have locked this one up, IMO. It's amazing to me how many NHL coaches are bafflingly bad at game management.
How could he have locked this one up? Serious question.
Does he put different defencemen out there, or rely upon the only two who know each other really, really well, and have played together for over 5 years?
Does he put a different forward lineup out there? Best two defensive centremen and the most aware "hockey-sense" having forward.
I really don't know what he should have done differently over the last 10 seconds.
It was a ridiculously lucky bounce off the ref's skate, otherwise, it is over. Even Lindholm moved over to the better option, being Josi, after the first pass was blocked, as the puck should have moved further out, causing Josi to be a better option for a pass from Forsberg. It was just really bad luck for us, and really good luck for the Preds.
As for the potential challenge, I see no way it is overturned. Sure Turris gave a bit extra, but the original push from Backlund would have, in my opinion, been the cause of the contact, thus no goalie interference, then we are short in OT. The reward does not override the risk.
Regarding usage in overtime, Lindholm is out for that draw as he is the best right handed centre to take the draw on his strong side (only other option is Ryan, and I am guessing it would be apoplectic if he was out there). Then another really bad/unlucky couple of bounce off Gustaffson.
Wished we won, thought we were going to, sucks that we didn't, but nothing really to hinge or blame on this one in regard to the last two goals against. 2nd one Ritter should have had.
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The morning after I'm still as upset as anyone with the loss. But some of the posts in this thread are absolute gold. I wish so bad that another forum somewhere is doing an ATL thread with posts from this thread.
The best post #207, rooster blaming CNRL for the loss lol.
5/6 points. Team playing better overall. Backlund playing like a beast alongside 3m V2.0.
Twas unfortunate. But imo they outplayed them and that's key for me. I'm slowly becoming more positive that they'll make the playoffs. Probably in a wildcard but still. I put the odds at 75% atm.
They played such a good road game and for whatever reason Lindholm just skated by his guy on the tying goal. All he had to do was take him out killing the last seconds.
Lindholm also stood and watched his guy skate by on the first goal and was dead tired on the overtime goal.
The guy behind the net is the least dangerous player on the ice. Why are both D going to him in a 6-5 situation? It's man to man coverage out front, easy.
And why are they trying to rim the puck out with under 10 seconds left, just push it in the corner and scrum it up. Brodie is almost as scared to get his as Johnny is.
It's kind of funny how with 18 games left the flames will have to claw themselves into a wc position...... Only to face Vegas, who they haven't beat and have been outscored 12-2 this season....
If they play like the last two games, they'll give any opponent a run for their money. Doesnt matter what the record was, they weren't playing then like they are currently.
Meh, 1 bad goal for each goalie. Goal 3 and 4 more on D. And if the team had better 1st line we would win easily this game. Monahan is useless in D zone.
How, on first goal Johnny gave the puck away that led to a scramble, and if you rewatch Monahan was out covering the point. Lindholm is the guy who stood there and let the Pred skate past and tap the puck in. The second goal was a wrist shot under the arm of the goalie that should have been stopped and he wasn't even on the ice for the other 2. I get people want more from Monahan but be realistic in the complaints.
This is the NHL The philosophies you are arguing are not the philosophies most teams subscribe to. Remember this?:
That's what happens when anyone in this league has time and space.
As nice as it sounds on paper not to chase someone to x spot, in reality if you give NHLers time and space they will make you pay for it.
Yeah nice goal, but where was the defencemen in front of the net? If they are defending the front of the net he doesn't walk out but they weren't so he could do that. As soon as he starts to move towards the front then you step to him, which Calgary's defence didn't do.
As Gretzky used to say "as soon as they chase me behind then net I know I have won"
How, on first goal Johnny gave the puck away that led to a scramble, and if you rewatch Monahan was out covering the point. Lindholm is the guy who stood there and let the Pred skate past and tap the puck in. The second goal was a wrist shot under the arm of the goalie that should have been stopped and he wasn't even on the ice for the other 2. I get people want more from Monahan but be realistic in the complaints.
It's funny - if you look at his comment he even seems to say it was Lindholm at fault but randomly goes at Monahan for some reason. Monahan is middling at D, but he's not bad. He's got decent position in his own zone, and he generally doesn't give the puck away if he gains it. He could be more physical and aggressive. But there are lots of worse defensive forwards in the league and on this team.
I'm actually surprised that a lot more people didn't enjoy the hell out of the game. I had a putrid day, so the OT loss felt more of an 'of course' - but I felt that I was going to be alone in walking away from that game with a frown... even with the loss
That was a hard-fought game between 2 teams in the thick of a playoff push, and Saros was playing fantastic. Chances were there in all 3 periods, all 4 lines were rolling, new guys were looking pretty darn good and even down to 5 D (2, again, brand new to the team) they were hard on the puck and limiting chances
In a loss, there's always sore spots - but 0.01s going differently and we're not worried about them. We're not talking much about Lindholm's unengaged defensive game last night if we win - as we all know that is an off game for that beauty. But you guys are watching the game from Backlund and coming away with "well it's all #### if we didn't get the extra point". All season I've been reading about how his terrible play and Tre's instance on even having him on the roster were sinking this team. Guy has been on a tear and we're furious dropping a point with 0.01s left...
Would have been better to be putting distance on the Preds and crawl up the Pacific 1pt more... but that's a 0.01s scramble that didn't go our way. But that was a fun game
