[PGT] Game Three: START THE CAR

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I don’t think you understand sarcasm

Are you certain that you do?

[BigErnSalute_16]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

To me, Ward, Lucic, and Talbot are the biggest reasons we are seeing more success this year.

Start with strong and consistent goaltending, that's a major factor in team confidence.

Lucic has led the effort on ice and his upped his game for the playoffs. It's filtering out to the rest of the team.

Ward has good game plans and is a great communicator. Every time the team seems to be slipping, he says something or makes an adjustment to correct things. From game to game or even within the same game. He's doing his job pretty well overall.

Now...just have to find a way for Johnny and Monny to break through the tough Dallas defense. I knew it was going to be a tough matchup for them, but they can still find a way, especially on the power play.

I pegged three times I think in that game where Johnny had a step on the d man but instead of driving to the net slowed up and looked for a pass. If he can flip off that "playing scared" switch in his head and just at least try to get to the net, his points will come or it will result in power plays.

just look at all the weak calls against Heiskanen, Johnny should be getting those too he just has to actually go around somebody once or twice instead of playing passive.

He looks close to breaking out just need to commit to going for it sometimes.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by AC

Backlund out there spitting fire.

There’s a subreddit for these and this might be the most perfect one I’ve ever seen. I just can’t remember the name.

[Jiri Hrdina]

If Blake Comeau breaking the glass wasn’t delay of game surely it was unsportsmanlike conduct then no?

[La Flames Fan]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

There’s a subreddit for these and this might be he most perfect one I’ve ever seen. I just can’t remember the name.

It's already up on r/NeverTellMeTheOdds!

https://www.reddit.com/r/nevertellme...it_transition/

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

If Blake Comeau breaking the glass wasn’t delay of game surely it was unsportsmanlike conduct the no?

I don't think the officials have been overly sharp in this series. Comeau breaking the glass out of frustration ended up to the advantage of the Stars and that's just not right.

[Husky]

Talbot stole the game. If the top line plus Gio dont up their game - just a matter of time until the Flames are knocked out.

[Teroy]

Gaudreau needs to be moved off the Monahan line. Put him with Lucic.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't think the officials have been overly sharp in this series. Comeau breaking the glass out of frustration ended up to the advantage of the Stars and that's just not right.

Refs have not been good in general.

Marchand just got called for a trip because Aho tried to hook him and fell over.

[Erick Estrada]

Normally you would think that the Flames going 6-2 so far in the playoffs means that the GM would start feeling good about the core of this team but it has to be the exact opposite at this stage. He has to be thinking that Monahan and Gaudreau just aren't cut out for the playoffs and also concerned about the decline of the captain. There is still time for these players to turn things around but it better happen soon as the Flames have been pretty fortunate that their opponents haven't exactly been great.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

If Blake Comeau breaking the glass wasn’t delay of game surely it was unsportsmanlike conduct then no?

No question....i dont think anyone actually saw it though. It took a bit for the production crew to go through all the cameras to even find it.

It was no where near the area of ice the officials were heading after a whistle.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't think the officials have been overly sharp in this series. Comeau breaking the glass out of frustration ended up to the advantage of the Stars and that's just not right.

And the Flames persevered and managed to kill it off anyways (barely, but they did it). It was funny to hear Klingberg say during the intermission that they just need to bear down and convert their chances, and he promptly goes out and misses an open net. Maybe if it’s not fresh ice and the pass doesn’t get to him so quickly, he’s able to get a more accurate shot off.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Normally you would think that the Flames going 6-2 so far in the playoffs means that the GM would start feeling good about the core of this team but it has to be the exact opposite at this stage. He has to be thinking that Monahan and Gaudreau just aren't cut out for the playoffs and also concerned about the decline of the captain. There is still time for these players to turn things around but it better happen soon as the Flames have been pretty fortunate that their opponents haven't exactly been great.

I am sure this is EXACTLY what is on the forefront of his mind right now...

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Normally you would think that the Flames going 6-2 so far in the playoffs means that the GM would start feeling good about the core of this team but it has to be the exact opposite at this stage. He has to be thinking that Monahan and Gaudreau just aren't cut out for the playoffs and also concerned about the decline of the captain. There is still time for these players to turn things around but it better happen soon as the Flames have been pretty fortunate that their opponents haven't exactly been great.

I think he's known for a while this is not the group that takes you all the way, as evidenced by his intent to acquire Hall when he was available. You don't chase Hall when you've already got Gaudreau and Tkachuk on the team unless you know one of those two is out the door soon.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by La Flames Fan

It's already up on r/NeverTellMeTheOdds!

https://www.reddit.com/r/nevertellme...it_transition/

I’m guessing Cecil is referencing: Breathing Information
https://www.reddit.com/r/breathingin...spitting_fire/

Edit: just noticed it’s AC’s post.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

I think he's known for a while this is not the group that takes you all the way, as evidenced by his intent to acquire Hall when he was available. You don't chase Hall when you've already got Gaudreau and Tkachuk on the team unless you know one of those two is out the door soon.

I think if you can sign Hall, and send out JG for premium assets, that is a step forward for sure.

Again I love JG time here as a Flame but it is clear he is not a playoffs performer after 7 series of which I think the first we was a factor 5 years ago.

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

I think he's known for a while this is not the group that takes you all the way, as evidenced by his intent to acquire Hall when he was available. You don't chase Hall when you've already got Gaudreau and Tkachuk on the team unless you know one of those two is out the door soon.

I agree, and that person better be Gaudreau. Add in the overwhelming odds we’ll lose him as a FA in 22 for nothing it’s a no brainer.

[TheSquatch]

Being 5-2 so far in this playoffs is one thing, and a good thing, but you couldn't look at the greater part of last night's game and say "Yeah we're really humming along here."

I think the most positive thing I could say about the team play was that in the third, some change was made and the defense became less static, almost like they went from zone to man or something, I don't really know. And it had a disruptive effect, Dallas had much less in the way of good entries and clean "box setup" zone time. And that's really important, the first two periods it looked like Dallas was on the powerplay, it was frightening. Scraping the win out of that mess.... boy maybe it's the hockey gods' way of taking Benn out of the playoffs for being a POS. I dunno.

But as a GM, I'd have watched that game and thought "Wow I have to get rid of some of these guys while they have any value at all." I thought Gio looked better last night, and if he's trending up that's fantastic, cuz he's looked like garbage so far. And maybe that's why Dallas couldn't keep it up last night - maybe Gio finding some game is enough to disrupt them. But I think Johnny's been terrible, no effort defensively, one-hand-on-the-stick-and-cruising-around style. And no jam offensively, he absolutely won't play through any physical opposition, and he's not drawing any penalties because of it, nor creating much. His vision is there, but his heart isn't. I'd give Monahan and Lindholm part marks too, neither did much last night - solid but much more a "second line" solid than a "wow these guys are good" solid. Mangiapane, Backlund, Dube, Lucic, these guys are elevating. I'd include Andersson on that list but I thought he looked really, really tired last night, I didn't think he had a great game. Hanifin looking better and better though, which also tells me (I hope) that Hamonic's time with the Flames is up - he's held Hanifin back somehow as a D man.

I have no idea what this team is. What we saw last night wasn't good enough, and a strong team like Vegas would have won that game 14-1. It's lucky the Stars couldn't find the net, cuz it was there. And you can't expect that effort or result from Talbot every night. So the shutout is great, the win sweet, but anyone saying "See? These guys are great." is out of their mind. You have to call that a lucky win.

[DeluxeMoustache]

No effort defensively from Johnny? Because of the blown coverage on the Oleksiak goal?

Johnny is hustling back a lot, and the team did really give up relatively few high danger chances

I see he is skating in to guys and turning over the puck a lot, and fighting it offensively. Also flying the zone at times, which the couple of times I have noticed has been pretty well timed - he is anticipating the Flames recovering possession and being ready to fly.

But I disagree with the incorrect assertion that he has no effort defensively.

Or, in other words - remember James Neal?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TheSquatch

Being 5-2 so far in this playoffs is one thing, and a good thing, but you couldn't look at the greater part of last night's game and say "Yeah we're really humming along here."

I think the most positive thing I could say about the team play was that in the third, some change was made and the defense became less static, almost like they went from zone to man or something, I don't really know. And it had a disruptive effect, Dallas had much less in the way of good entries and clean "box setup" zone time. And that's really important, the first two periods it looked like Dallas was on the powerplay, it was frightening. Scraping the win out of that mess.... boy maybe it's the hockey gods' way of taking Benn out of the playoffs for being a POS. I dunno.

But as a GM, I'd have watched that game and thought "Wow I have to get rid of some of these guys while they have any value at all." I thought Gio looked better last night, and if he's trending up that's fantastic, cuz he's looked like garbage so far. And maybe that's why Dallas couldn't keep it up last night - maybe Gio finding some game is enough to disrupt them. But I think Johnny's been terrible, no effort defensively, one-hand-on-the-stick-and-cruising-around style. And no jam offensively, he absolutely won't play through any physical opposition, and he's not drawing any penalties because of it, nor creating much. His vision is there, but his heart isn't. I'd give Monahan and Lindholm part marks too, neither did much last night - solid but much more a "second line" solid than a "wow these guys are good" solid. Mangiapane, Backlund, Dube, Lucic, these guys are elevating. I'd include Andersson on that list but I thought he looked really, really tired last night, I didn't think he had a great game. Hanifin looking better and better though, which also tells me (I hope) that Hamonic's time with the Flames is up - he's held Hanifin back somehow as a D man.

I have no idea what this team is. What we saw last night wasn't good enough, and a strong team like Vegas would have won that game 14-1. It's lucky the Stars couldn't find the net, cuz it was there. And you can't expect that effort or result from Talbot every night. So the shutout is great, the win sweet, but anyone saying "See? These guys are great." is out of their mind. You have to call that a lucky win.

The positive that I try and take out of what we've seen of the Flames so far is that even when they're not playing particularly well they are still in touching distance of winning.

And when they are winning, they are showing that they can win games several different ways.

Be it close checking, tight defence, blowout offence, they're adaptable.

Furthermore, our best players havent even shown up yet.