[GDT] 2020 WC Play-In Round: Calgary Flames (8) vs. Winnipeg Jets (9) Flames 2-1

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Flames aren't winning the cup with either of these goaltenders. Talbot's stats this season are far superior to Rittich in regular and advanced stats if you want to dig deeper.

From the Athletic's Flames vs Jets preview;



Neither goaltender provides much in the way of confidence but Talbot was the much better goaltender this season and he's been the better goaltender since coming back from the break. If Ward wants to continue to be the Flames head coach next season he better tread carefully here and go with the guy that's playing better over gut hunches or politics of playing the guy signed into next season.

I was under the impression that Rittich was battling a nagging injury in the last couple months of the season (when his play dipped). I thought it was his (edit: it was his elbow)

He is 100 percent now, I believe.

[Poe969]

If that's his 100%, I think the team is in trouble. This team needs a real proven goalie and Rittich doesn't look like the answer IMO.

I'd hate to be proven wrong, I hate being wrong.

[FBI]

Man, the flames have conditioned me to have ZERO expectations here. I’m just going to watch the games and have a happy covid distraction. It sure would be nice to have them pull a 2004 and change all our minds.

[Major Major]

Wow, this turned into a pretty sad place. The flames are the better team. The better team has a good chance of winning any game/series. This will be the only series we go into as the better team, but it won't be the last series that we have a good shot at winning. Last year is irrelevant. An exhibition scrimmage against Edmonton is irrelevant. Flames will win.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Inferno

Him and Bennett were the only two players I felt played like they actually cared. The rest made me the most embarrassed I’ve ever been as a fan.

I don't think it was a lack of caring.

Honestly ... maybe caring too much and getting completely unnerved. Starting tomorrow this team has a chance to prove they have some fortitude mentally, but last year they had next to zero.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Flames have proven over and over they are mental midgets. Until that changes that is what I am going with.

Jets in 3, Flames are likely already lubing up to make things nice and smooth for the Jets.

[Igottago]

The Flames will go as far as the top line takes them. They'll need to be carrying the play a lot more than we've seen from them most of this season, and they'll have to show that they can break through when games get difficult and when they are facing a Vezina calibre goalie and get robbed on many of their chances.

Let's face it -- they haven't showed signs of doing this for a long, long time. It doesn't seem like its very often when that line gets on the ice and strikes fear into the opposition (from an offensive standpoint) anymore. This is an audition for the Johnny/Monahan led version of the Flames. If they are expecting to get through this series with the same casual approach they've had for a long while, the Flames are toast, and there will be significant changes.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I was under the impression that Rittich was battling a nagging injury in the last couple months of the season (when his play dipped). I thought it was his (edit: it was his elbow)

He is 100 percent now, I believe.

For three straight seasons the more he plays the worse he plays. Maybe the injury did contribute as he was straight up bad in the 2nd half of the season but there's a trend there without the injury. If the organization wants to use the qualifier round as an experiment to see how how Rittich fares in the playoffs then so be it but if the team really wants to win this round and make the playoffs they should not be looking at anything other than playing the guys that are playing the best and by all accounts Talbot was better than Rittich all camp and was better in the exhibition game.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

For three straight seasons the more he plays the worse he plays. Maybe the injury did contribute as he was straight up bad in the 2nd half of the season but there's a trend there without the injury. If the organization wants to use the qualifier round as an experiment to see how how Rittich fares in the playoffs then so be it but if the team really wants to win this round and make the playoffs they should not be looking at anything other than playing the guys that are playing the best and by all accounts Talbot was better than Rittich all camp and was better in the exhibition game.

I can't argue with that. I find Talbot a sound positional goalie, just worry when you get him moving side to side.

Either way, I'll be happy watching hockey on a Saturday.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't think it was a lack of caring.

Honestly ... maybe caring too much and getting completely unnerved. Starting tomorrow this team has a chance to prove they have some fortitude mentally, but last year they had next to zero.

Not caring might not be the right word to use but I think they were too cocky. I think after winning game one which they could have easily lost if Smith wasn't on his game they figured it was going to be easy and when Colorado didn't just roll over a die they rolled over and died themselves.

Smith and Bennett were the only two guys I felt fought aleast the first four games. I can't speak for game 5 because I was so disgusted with the effort I couldn't bring myself to watch that one.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I was under the impression that Rittich was battling a nagging injury in the last couple months of the season (when his play dipped). I thought it was his (edit: it was his elbow)

He is 100 percent now, I believe.

This one exhibition game where Rittich plays 30 minutes is crazy.

After letting 2 goals on 9 shots and not getting a realistic workload there is not a lot of data to support Rittich starting.

This is a real mess up in coaching. The Starting goalie should have been announced while the Flames were still in Calgary.

The training camp had 2 purposes: Get the players into game shape and decide on a starting lineup including goalie.

If Rittich was going to be #1 and played the whole exhibition game and got bombed 6-1 there would be no problem asking the experienced Talbot to start game #1. That would be a data based decision.

Just a mess going in to ask Rittich to start his first NHL "playoff" game #1 where a loss puts the whole season, training camp and everyone's hard work
in getting ready in danger of a quick end.

Riitich has had 2 pro playoff starts in his career with Stockton in 2017.


It is just sad that Rittich did not start game 5 last year.

Right now it would be a lot easier to start Bennett as #1C between Gaudreau and Lindholm than it would be to start Rittich.

[Timbo]

It’s up to the leaders of this team to rip off all the ‘FRAGILE Handle with care’ stickers that seemingly adorns their locker room.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Right now it would be a lot easier to start Bennett as #1C between Gaudreau and Lindholm than it would be to start Rittich.

Wut?

[Igottago]

Let's put it this way. When the guy that people reference as the one who elevates his game in the playoffs is Bennett...you've got concerns. The best players on this team have a lot to prove.

[Strange Brew]

Gio
Tkachuk
Gaudreau

Those are the Flames I'm watching the closest.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Poe969

If that's his 100%, I think the team is in trouble. This team needs a real proven goalie and Rittich doesn't look like the answer IMO.

I'd hate to be proven wrong, I hate being wrong.

All we have seen since the pause are scrimmages and and a meaningless exhibition game. Of course the players are not playing at 100% of their ability at this stage.

I am not all that worried about how Rittich will perform tomorrow on the basis of what has transpired the past two weeks. Whichever goalie starts, I would be surprised if he did not look focused and ready to play when the puck drops.

[DeluxeMoustache]

People love Tkachuk, they find the way he talks about hating to lose and having had enough of it as a good indication of leadership. That is all well and good. He says the right things. Now is time to show his leadership on the ice. I look forward to that.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Poe969

If that's his 100%, I think the team is in trouble. This team needs a real proven goalie and Rittich doesn't look like the answer IMO.

I'd hate to be proven wrong, I hate being wrong.

That sounds like it would be awful

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Gio
Tkachuk
Gaudreau

Those are the Flames I'm watching the closest.

*EDIT* Nevermind. Apparently I am still asleep.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I would add Giordano to that list. The guy is an amazing player, but his playoff showings to this point have not been all that great.

* Check slot 1