[PGT] Flames lose 11th consecutive season opener. 4-3 Jets (OT)

[transplant99]

I wouldnt be too concerned just yet about the foibles Markstrom and his dmen had when it came to playing the puck.

This was their first time ever playing together and they arent familiar with where one expects the others to be. That will come with time. There were a couple times last night when it was Tanev on the ice and JM played the puck quickly and confidently right to where CT was....thats them playing together the last few years. It will happen with the others as well.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I wouldnt be too concerned just yet about the foibles Markstrom and his dmen had when it came to playing the puck.

This was their first time ever playing together and they arent familiar with where one expects the others to be. That will come with time. There were a couple times last night when it was Tanev on the ice and JM played the puck quickly and confidently right to where CT was....thats them playing together the last few years. It will happen with the others as well.

Totally. The whole starter adjusting to his new D and team breakouts will be a thing for them for a little while.

Hopefully Andersson figures out how to get enough mustard on the puck to complete a full pass too (obviously he will).

Early-early season stuff...

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Leivo is kind of a Ferland replacement. And Simon is kind of a Hudler replacement.

But until Gaudreau and Monahan play better, it won't matter who their winger is.

Leivo is a pretty average player, he does not bring the heavy game Ferland does. Lindholm hits way more than Leivo does

Both him and Simon are middle / bottom 6 guys, not top line guys. Monahan and Gaudreau are not Crosby

They need to figure out what Johnny and Monny need. If it’s speed, try Mangiapane. If it’s a heavy player, they could try Bennett.

Not sure what the thinking is here. If it’s an average guy who doesn’t have a full 82 game season in 8 years, never hit 20 points, and no particular style of play he introduces, try ... Leivo?

Hopefully we see what the GM and coaches see in him begin to emerge

But I don’t get saddling two stars with a bottom 6 guy

[Vinny01]

Here is how I hope the lines look Saturday

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Dube
Gaudreau-Monahan-Mangiapane
Bennett-Backlund-Leivo
Lucic-Ryan-Simon

[djsFlames]

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Gaudreau-Monahan-Simon
Bennett-Backlund-Dube
Lucic-Ryan-Leivo

Swap Bread and Dube over the course of the game if needed.

[jlh2640]

Last night I saw all of the frustrating things I saw last year. Great start. Good 4 lines rolling. Then a terrible period. Followed by an average period. Finished off by a bad bounce in overtime. Markstrom looked Average. Let’s see where things go from here.

[Toonage]

You have the ability to craft your own roster and you leave Lucic on it? Shame.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Toonage

You have the ability to craft your own roster and you leave Lucic on it? Shame.

Lol, what are they going to do, trade him back for Neal?

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Lol, what are they going to do, trade him back for Neal?

Its a fantasy roster ultimately. Just sit him.

Actually that could happen in real life. Give him more practices to get his legs back if he can.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Lol, what are they going to do, trade him back for Neal?

Well, they do have the depth to have him munching popcorn...

Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube
Mangiapane - Backlund - Bennett
Nordstrom - Ryan - Simon

I think Nordstrom and Lucic should be rotating for now, depending on the opponent and whether they want speed or size.

For example, Vancouver is next, and I would go with Nordstrom, as above.

[Bonded]

Doesn't he have to agree to sit on the taxi squad though?

[Toonage]

Nope. They just carry 21 guys on the roster in that case.

They just wouldn't send Ryan down to save that extra money

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Here is how I hope the lines look Saturday

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Dube
Gaudreau-Monahan-Mangiapane
Bennett-Backlund-Leivo
Lucic-Ryan-Simon

Me too

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Leivo is a pretty average player, he does not bring the heavy game Ferland does. Lindholm hits way more than Leivo does

Both him and Simon are middle / bottom 6 guys, not top line guys. Monahan and Gaudreau are not Crosby

They need to figure out what Johnny and Monny need. If it’s speed, try Mangiapane. If it’s a heavy player, they could try Bennett.

Not sure what the thinking is here. If it’s an average guy who doesn’t have a full 82 game season in 8 years, never hit 20 points, and no particular style of play he introduces, try ... Leivo?

Hopefully we see what the GM and coaches see in him begin to emerge

But I don’t get saddling two stars with a bottom 6 guy

The way I see it Monahan and Gaudreau have been struggling 5 on 5 for a very long time now. If they couldn’t get it done with Lindholm on their line then it’s hard to see how Leivo gets it done.

It’s back to the two of them and I’m still waiting for signs of hope they can be more effective. They are very important to the success of this club so long as they are on the roster so I hope there is some kind of plan here.

[stang]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Lol, what are they going to do, trade him back for Neal?

No trade backs.

[Super-Rye]

I thought the boys played pretty well last night. Season opener so i basically figured it was a loss anyways so it was nice to see it was a good close game.

The Good
Top line of Chucky - Lindy - Dube was really strong.
The defense looked really good.

The Bad
Mony and Looch had pretty rough games.
Outside of Backs and Eat Bread, the team wasnt getting much from their bottom 6.

Would have been nice to get the win but it's a good starting point.

[dino7c]

Markstrom was the best goalie on the ice and the Vezina winner was at the other end of the ice.

It's the first game after no exhibition games...I think we need to see more before making conclusions

[Rejean31]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

Again, don't lump this on Monahan. A good example is the stupid bump back on the pp rush. Everyone has to stop skating at the blueline and wait for Johnny, where he proceeds to get half way across the line and passes to Monahan who is standing and waiting with a defenceman right beside him, it doesn't work. The only guy who seems to carry the puck into the zone on the pp is Backlund, who never gives a pass to a guy standing still. I would rather see Monahan playing with Mang/Dube etc., than with Johnny.

God I would like to kick the coach that came up with that stupid PP bump back right in the nads!! It is ridiculously stupid. You have a man advantage. Everything should be going towards the opposition net. Not back towards the defending net. So stupid!!

[The Boy Wonder]

This game looked like the playoffs last year all over again...

It's still just game 1 but I think Mony and Johnny need to be split.

I'd love to see them try something like this next game:

Thachuk - Lindholm - Dube
Mangiapane - Mony - Leivo / Simon
Gaudreau - Backlund - Bennett
Lucic - Ryan - Nordstrom/Leivo/Simon

I know splitting up Backs and Mang isn't necessarily the best idea but Johnny and Mony look broken and they need to get fixed.

Backlund makes everyone he plays with better and he and Bennett have decent chemistry, and can clear up a lot of space for Johnny and play with pace and Bennett getting to the net and Backlund's responsible High C play could be ideal.

It also gives us a chance to see if Mang is ready to start driving play on a line of his own. That "second" line is the one that gives me the most hesitation about this but I could really giving us 3 equally threatening lines.

The fourth line becomes a bit of a quagmire but oh well.

[Burning Beard]

I think you give Johnny and Sean the next 2 games to get it together and see if anyone clicks with them and if not you have 5 days off to try to figure something else out with those two.

Also Ward needs to give them ozone starts and shelter them a bit until they can (hopefully, lord please) get it together again offensively.

I still find it so bizarre how the switch for them just turned off after that all star break.