[PGT] Bolts 4 Flames 3

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

A one goal loss to an elite team like the Lightning isn’t the end of the world but man that extra point against the Predators would’ve been huge. Rittich has been fighting it lately. Don’t know if it’s just fatigue or what, but he was stellar to start the year and has been really bad the last few weeks. I still think we’ll make the playoffs, just based on how weak our division is. Team isn’t good enough to be a real threat but isn’t bad enough to miss either. Just another typical remarkably average Flames season. Barring a miracle run where they win a couple rounds, Ward will almost assuredly be kicked back down to associate coach in the offseason. The roster has some dangerous weapons but we need an established coach to help lead them. GG, Laviolette, Boudreau, there’s some really good names available. Tre getting one those guys and a legitimate starting goalie will be huge. Those are the two most obvious glaring holes right now. Win tomorrow and it’s a 3-1-1 road trip. Not bad.

If Ward is the coach who has a handle on the PP though, he shouldn't be anywhere near the organization at the start of next season.

World's worst entry ever.

[AustinL_NHL]

Not pinning this loss on Rittich because the Flames were completely outplayed, but in his last 10 games since the bat flip, Rittich has a sub-.900 save percentage in 6 of those games, including a sub-.800 save percentage in 2 of them

[memphusk]

Geoff Ward is a Dave Lewis.

[heep223]

Tampa was diving all over the ice today. Bunch of cheating losers.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

Not pinning this loss on Rittich because the Flames were completely outplayed, but in his last 10 games since the bat flip, Rittich has a sub-.900 save percentage in 6 of those games, including a sub-.800 save percentage in 2 of them

He's not a 2nd half of the season type of guy. He's slumped in the 2nd half of all three of his NHL seasons. He's at best a 1B goaltender as the GM needs to upgrade this position in the offseason.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Rittich has been fighting it lately.

It was by no means Rittich's best game but the goals he allowed were

Netfront PP tip x 2
2 on 1 top corner snipe (the third such rush in a minute span)
breakaway with tons of time


I'd argue he was the better goalie today and the only reason the score was so close.

And yes the Lightning hit a few posts - but posts are not the area the goalie is supposed to prevent pucks from going.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Geoff Ward is a Dave Lewis.

Dave Lewis coached immediately after a hall of famer. Ward coaches after a guy who will have accumulated one playoff victory in his entire NHL coaching career.

[soulchoice]

I wonder when Kylington draws in next again? Not that he would have been the difference maker, but am curious.

As far as the lack of a timeout call, I am baffled.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Dave Lewis coached immediately after a hall of famer. Ward coaches after a guy who will have accumulated one playoff victory in his entire NHL coaching career.

You're correct. That said, both of them will always be known as good assistant's

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Freddy

All the belly aching by posters for Ward not taking a time out to get our ‘top’ line out is kind of funny as our most effective (ie: top) line right now is definitely Backs-Chucky-Mangiapane. In fact I’d say the Monahan-Gaudreau-Lindholm line looks like it’s being sheltered from matchups with opposing top lines because of their ineffectiveness at controlling the puck on zone entries (they’re not good at dump & chase either) and Johnny’s constant turnovers. By all means put them out there for offensive zone faceoffs & powerplays, but I’m not convinced they are our best options when battle levels are high and the best players are on the ice for the opposition.
I’d say the losses in Nashville & Tampa are a result of force feeding Forbort & Gustafsson minutes to get them acclimated to systems. Forbort looks a bit out of game shape & rusty while Gustafsson has been defensively suspect as advertised.

This last stretch is an accurate reflection of who the Flames are, a bubble team who will be lucky to steal a round if they make it to the dance.

I suppose the end of the game call by Ward, in the face of JG’s insistent timeout requests, might have been a message to the “top line”. I’m not agreeing with it, and I didn’t get to see the majority of the game (just the last 10m). But that could have been it. That said, I’m not sure why since they’d just potted the 3rd goal.

I do get why Lucic was out to stand in front of the net. I mean, making people fall all over the place worked for Nashville.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Terrible game by Tkachuk. Looks like he's gunning for the giveaway crown the past couple of games.

Agreed. Tkachuk has been quite sloppy with the puck the last number of games.

[FanIn80]

Is there a clip somewhere of Johnny calling for a timeout?

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Iginla

Not sure how Ward doesn't take a timeout and come back with the top line. Also, that should have been an intentional offside with a faceoff in the attacking zone to close out the game.

Totally OT, I'm just amazed to see the username Iginla was still available in Feb 2020 for a new board member.

[browna]

Just watched highlights from the Tampa feed.
Have to say it, Rittich played ok but he lost his net on the 3rd goal, and that was a backbreaking one. Tampa color guy said maybe it’s because he was to fired up from earlier when he entered the scrum.
Like last year and the year before, he’s regressing under the pressure down the stretch. Like last year, glad we have a vet as the other option, and let’s hope Talbot gets on a bit of a roll starting tomorrow.

As far as the Ward debate, but he should’ve been replaced as interim coach around the ASG. He’s a players coach, but this franchise has always needed task masters, givenwith how well the players get treated by then organization (or whatever it is). Playfair was a disaster after Sutter, Brent Sutter was so so in the task master department, and of course GG also let the inmates run the asylum, certainly in the second year.

Ward is the same, the fresh air bump they got from him was fine for 2 months, but the team needs a guy in the same vein as Hartley and Peters, obviously with a little more tact than both, to smarten guys up the up front and honest way.


Stuck with him now, and, a win tomorrow is almost essential if this team is going to make the playoffs again an FLA team that also played today, especially with the dropped point in Nashville souring this trip.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Is there a clip somewhere of Johnny calling for a timeout?

https://streamable.com/snt7u

[mile]

Originally Posted by zamler

https://streamable.com/snt7u

He signalled it 3 times

[zamler]

Is Ward all there? The most obvious stuff you'd think a coach would do he doesn't, just stands there lost in space.

[dissentowner]

I think Bruce Boudreau ends up being the guy. I think Seattle will lock up GG early. I don't think PL wants to coach in Canada.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by zamler

Is Ward all there? The most obvious stuff you'd think a coach would do he doesn't, just stands there lost in space.

May be he figured he knows better than Johnny.

[browna]

Just seeing this now, Ward with a major blunder.
May it not be said now (nor was it previous year if you watched JG live and how upset he was at losing and not just what they show you on TV) that JG doesn’t want to win and is going through the motions or is disengaged. He gave MT a tap on the pads to say “it’s coming”, then Ward yanks them.