[PGT] Anemic offense, Flames lose 2-1

[iamca]

Really problematic to not have your top 6 scoring at even strength and it’s amplified in a playoff series against a Dallas team that should be down 3-1.


Tough to understand no lineup changes after that OT loss, when it should have been won in regulation. Here’s one question: why is Forbort still in the lineup after Game 4?


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[zamler]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think it's a matter of effort level, at least on the ice.
I think it is
- Lack of willingness to commit to personal fitness levels, diet and building core strength.

What latitude does the Flames organization have to enforce (for lack of a better word) a certain level commitment?

I don't think he needs to be a tank.

It wouldn't hurt!

He's a small stocky guy like Theo, or Martin St. Louis. But he can still build overall strength and have a high fitness level

I don't expect him to truck people left and right, but holy heck he literally does a hard turn to avoid contact when going into the corners.

If I was Ward I'd use the Crosby way of thinking, when asked in the 2010 gold medal game after the U.S. tied it up how he felt about that, he said he saw going into OT as an opportunity instead of focusing on the tying goal.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think it's a matter of effort level, at least on the ice.
I think it is
- Lack of willingness to commit to personal fitness levels, diet and building core strength. I don't think he needs to be a tank. He's a small stocky guy like Theo, or Martin St. Louis. But he can still build overall strength and have a high fitness level
- Lack of commitment on the ice. Which I see as different than effort. It's having the mental strength and discipline to commit to how you need to play.

He's a guy that is amazing when he's feeling it and useless when he's not.

To me that's between the ears stuff.

This would explain a lot. Maybe he just doesn't have the energy and strength due to low fitness levels. This season he seems a lot more timid and shying away from contact. At times instead of getting involved he just pokes at the puck. Doesn't help that his side kick Monahan doesn't play much bigger.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by dino7c

As usual people are just assuming every top coach wants to come here like every UFA

Originally Posted by dino7c

As usual people are just assuming every top coach wants to come here like every UFA

Well there aren’t nearly as many choices for a head coach than a player. How many teams will be legitimately looking for a head coach?

WEST
STL - no
COL - no
DAL - maybe
WIN - recently extended Maurice, so no
NAS - recently hired Hines, so no
MIN - maybe
CHI - beating the Oil probably helped Colliton, so no
VEG - no
EDM - only 1 year into his contract, so highly unlikely
VAN - no
ARI - maybe
ANA - recently promoted Eakins, so no
LA - hired McLellan just this year, so no
SJ - promoted Boughner, highly unlikely

EAST
BOS- no
TB - no
TOR - no
FLA - no
MTL - highly unlikely
BUF - 50/50
OTT - hired Smith last season, highly unlikely
DET - yes
WAS - no
PHI - no
PIT - unlikely
CAR - no
CLB - no
NYI - no
NYR - no
NJ - yes

There’s a reason Ward hasn’t been named permanent replacement. So that leaves CGY, DET and NJ as almost certain, DAL, MIN, ARI, BUF as maybes and SJ, MTL, BUF, PIT as unlikely. Backup the Brinks truck and scoop up one of Laviolette or Gallant before DET and NJ do.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Makarov

There's no way Nashville has been worse. They haven't even been around for thirty years. Also, they've recently been to the Stanley Cup finals and several trips to the second round. So clearly more successful than the Flames.

I'm curious about the other franchises. I need to look into their records.

Use the following scoring and see who’s the worst !

1 pt for making playoffs
2 for winning first round
4 for 2nd round win
8 for 3rd round win
16 for cup win

Curious where we rank ! It will be loooow

I would do it but I am drunk from game

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I wish Gio was 1/10 of the player Ovi is in the playoffs.

That said Gio's slapper that went off the post today was prob the best shot he has taken from the point in the past 60 games.

Ovechkin could have easily just said, ah screw it we're not coming back from 3 down time to enjoy what's left of the summer.

On Gio, age has caught up with him for sure. I never question his compete he gives it everything he's got.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Use the following scoring and see who’s the worst !

1 pt for making playoffs
2 for winning first round
4 for 2nd round win
8 for 3rd round win
16 for cup win

Curious where we rank ! It will be loooow

I would do it but I am drunk from game

You need negative points for finishing bottom 5

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Use the following scoring and see who’s the worst !

1 pt for making playoffs
2 for winning first round
4 for 2nd round win
8 for 3rd round win
16 for cup win

Curious where we rank ! It will be loooow

I would do it but I am drunk from game

Not enough punishment for missing the playoffs. One trip to the finals wipes out 8 playoff misses.

[GreenLantern2814]

Johnny Gaudreau doesn’t have the stomach for this type of hockey.

Nor does Monahan - this is the most physical hockey I’ve ever seen Sean play, and it’s probably an average Wednesday night game for Mangiapane or Tkachuk.

Trade Monahan and Gaudreau, sign Hall, let Brodie walk (I know, I started the thread saying extend him, but I was wrong) roll with Lindholm/Backlund as the top 2 C’s.

Oh, and bring Talbot back.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I actually think that Gaudreau had his best game of the series. Way more dangerous and looked more willing to get to the tough areas. I think the first line has been a complete non-factor up until the last 2 games, but they have looked more dangerous lately. However, they still need to actually put points on the board, period.


I thought the reffing to start the game was bad - that should have been a penalty on Faska. The rest of the way after that I didn't really hate the reffing as I have in the last few games.


At least the Flames battled back and took over the last half of the game. At one point, Dallas was looking like they were going to triple the shots on goal - 14-5 at one point when I noticed. Flames showed better resilience this game and didn't fold under the pressure like they did last game. I really thought they had a strong 2nd half of the game.


I did really like Ward... but he has been losing me again lately. Team needs a shakeup - so he throws Reider on the top line?


I am one of the few that like Rinaldo, but I think it is time to move Jankowski back in. That 4th line was starting to actually look better to me before the change. Give me Jankowski - Ryan - Quine please.


Gaudreau - Monahan - Mangiapane
Reider - Backlund - Lindholm
Lucic - Bennett - Dube
Jankowski - Ryan - Quine


That's the lines I would roll for the last game. Switch up Jankowski and Reider even at times since Jankowski (for all his warts this season) is a decent passer.


Credit where credit is due, however - Dallas has been playing well. They have shown resilience in this series thus far. Perhaps they have also been rather lucky since the Flames seemed to have their foot on their throats, and then eased-up somewhat, and allowed Dallas to come back.



Flames are just way too slow and Dallas has completely bought into defence, blocking shots, and they transition the puck better. They don't give up many odd-man rushes, but I also think the Flames haven't pressed that issue. Flames have to press it, and they have to challenge Dallas more in the defensive zone as they have just been allowing way too much at the net.



I am interested to see how the Flames come out. I don't want to see another poor start from this team yet again. They all look like a bunch of chicken's with their heads cut-off running around and panicking. Dallas seems a tonne more patient with the puck, aggressive on the defence, and rarely seem out of position. They have done most of the dictating of play this series, so it was good to see the Flames starting to dictate play again for a lot of this game finally.



Let's see if they can bring that game again, and continue dictating play. They have a start like they did again today, and this series is over in the first period.

[BigRed]

Men against boys. Shades of playoffs 2019.


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[Angelino]

Originally Posted by Flames0910

We had that swagger against Winnipeg and in game one.

Then Dallas pushes back and we haven’t been able to get the swagger back.

That swagger is named Matthew Tkachuk.

[Young Guns]

Originally Posted by iamca

why is Forbort still in the lineup after Game 4?

You really think the only big stay at home defensemen we have is the problem here? I can think of a couple other defenders who should be sitting before Forbort.

[camm13]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Quite simply, Stars best players are far better than Flames best players.

Stars worse players are even better than the flames best betters atm

[PaperBagger'14]

I gave up hope on the flames in 04, and I remember how that turned out. The main difference I see now is that 04 had no passengers, this year there are definitely passengers. It isn't too late to figure it out and really, the hole they're in isn't terribly deep.

Figure it out or trade them

[Strange Brew]

So what do we know about Gaudreau’s commitment to fitness to be able to question it? How is his commitment compared to say Tkachuk? Based on a recent photo sure seems like Monahan is committed to fitness. How’s that working?

These are smoke screens. You don’t think the top players are good enough? I’d start looking at the GM who has watched this same group of players struggle to score at even strength in the playoffs against the Ducks, Avs and now Stars. That’s over 4 seasons folks.

As a fan I’m prepared to come into any game hoping things will be different regardless of what has happened before. But a GM capable of building a champion shouldn’t need this many clues. The price to acquire a real difference maker has been too high? If it’s what your team needs to be successful then no price is too high. Maybe save some of your prime assets for an acquisition that actually fixes the problem. Or you know, start looking in the one place where you can find such a player for free. The draft.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Makarov

That is a damning record. This franchise has been one of the worst, if not the very worst, in the entire league for the past 30 years.

May I present to you the Edmonton Oilers.

[direwolf]

Well, it appears that the Flames might be done. Unless the top line can toughen up and start making a difference, I just don't see this squad being able to win two in a row against a defensively solid and determined Stars team. Especially without Tkachuk in the lineup, who has proven to be the heart and soul of the team.

They clearly still have a long way to go before they can call themselves a true playoff contender. Another first round exit would hopefully force Treliving to hire a real coach and make the necessary roster changes.

Oh well, at least we've made it farther than the Oilers so far, and that makes me happy.

If the Flames manage to surprise me and come back to win the series, awesome. If not, I'm ok with that too. Honestly I haven't been anywhere near as invested in these 2020 bubble playoffs as I was in years past. With Covid and all the other insane crap going on, pro sports are pretty low on my give-a-crap meter these days, and my reaction to losses is more of a "meh" feeling instead of anger.

[troutman]

I don’t want Hall anywhere near this team.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Well there aren’t nearly as many choices for a head coach than a player. How many teams will be legitimately looking for a head coach?

WEST
STL - no
COL - no
DAL - maybe
WIN - recently extended Maurice, so no
NAS - recently hired Hines, so no
MIN - maybe
CHI - beating the Oil probably helped Colliton, so no
VEG - no
EDM - only 1 year into his contract, so highly unlikely
VAN - no
ARI - maybe
ANA - recently promoted Eakins, so no
LA - hired McLellan just this year, so no
SJ - promoted Boughner, highly unlikely

EAST
BOS- no
TB - no
TOR - no
FLA - no
MTL - highly unlikely
BUF - 50/50
OTT - hired Smith last season, highly unlikely
DET - yes
WAS - no
PHI - no
PIT - unlikely
CAR - no
CLB - no
NYI - no
NYR - no
NJ - yes

There’s a reason Ward hasn’t been named permanent replacement. So that leaves CGY, DET and NJ as almost certain, DAL, MIN, ARI, BUF as maybes and SJ, MTL, BUF, PIT as unlikely. Backup the Brinks truck and scoop up one of Laviolette or Gallant before DET and NJ do.

Seattle