[PGT] Flames lose to Toronto again, 4-3

[VANFLAMESFAN]

It’s truly amazing how this place is after a couple losses in a row this early in the season.

I get the “we have seen this before” mentality, but we haven’t seen this flames team before. They finally have a very dependable goalie and that’s a game changer.

Johnny and Monahan are showing flashes of form from two years ago. Be excited about that.

The calls for coaches head and deep depressions people are going thru right now just confuses me more than anything.

It’s been five games and two one goal losses to the odds on favorite to win the division. I would suggest pumping the brakes but people can obviously vent/do as they see fit.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Same six guys can't play the whole game...new coach would have the same players to work with.

Thing is the lines need more balance and that’s his fault. He didn’t need to move Mangiapane up with the Dube injury.

If the coach wants to roll 4 lines at 5v5 then he can’t load up the Tkachuk-Lindholm line because it leaves the bottom 6 barren. Especially if he’s going to use Backlund in a defensive role against lines like the Matthews line, you can’t have Bennett and Lucic as his wingers if you’re going to do that.

Especially with Dube out the top 4 forwards need to each carry another player on their line.

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

And Nordstrom isn’t very good either and the GM needs to trust a young guy.

Gawdin and Phillips both played good enough last year in the AHL to deserve an NHL call up. Both are natural RH shots, and could provide a spark in the bottom 6, give them a shot.

[Kovaz]

Bright spots: I thought Hanifin was excellent and that was Gaudreau's best game in a while.


Lots of negatives though.
Sloppiest first period I can remember.

Backlund had a rough game. Lazy backcheck on the Simmonds goal.
Monahan was absolutely brutal on the powerplay. I counted 5 turnovers at the blueline. If he would just move his feet and lower his shoulder, he's strong enough to make a better play than that. So frustrating watching him glide and fire a puck into the D's skates.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Our top players were fine. It was game management and line matching. Players have no choice in that.

Our top players were AWFUL in the first period.

More games are won in the first period than the third period!

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Leafs are the best team in the division currently...Calgary lost two one goal games to them despite tons of errors and bad bounces

sort things out, don't throw in the towel just yet

Not throwing in the towel, most people would just have a better outlook with a different person making decisions behind the bench.

I still have faith in this roster, just think its not utilized properly most times.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

The calls for coaches head and deep depressions people are going thru right now just confuses me more than anything.

This is the same hockey we've seen from Ward during his entire tenure as head coach, the only difference is that Gaudreau and Monahan are playing well.

Maybe if it was a new coach, but this is Ward. This will always be Ward. This is the Flames peaking under Ward.

[transplant99]

nm...just not worth it

[flylock shox]

I think it's a function of Covid. This is all any of us have until those vaccines get fully rolled out.



We're all in!


Edit: hmm... seems the "quote" feature isn't working.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Our top players were fine. It was game management and line matching. Players have no choice in that.

Actually this is half right considering the poor start to the game! Coach has to be smarter as it could cost us in the standings later on!

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

First off, the frequency people here rail on about "have you ever played the game BRO!?" is ridiculous. Yes, I have. I have been hit with pucks, both rubber and roller, I've been hit with hockey balls of varying hardness, I've been hit with dryland training balls. Describing what was done there, was not a wrister. It was a flick. It had no real momentum behind it. Tkachuk's meathead reaction was hilarious and reeks of a guy more upset he couldn't do anything of relevance in game than what was actually done to him.

Back after a win against a terrible team to crap on one of our top players.

Where was your analysis in the game thread? Ballsy.

[djsFlames]

I guarantee this:

If you don't play the first period against Montreal you can circle that one as a loss too.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

This is the same hockey we've seen from Ward during his entire tenure as head coach, the only difference is that Gaudreau and Monahan are playing well.

Maybe if it was a new coach, but this is Ward. This will always be Ward. This is the Flames peaking under Ward.

Flames record under Ward is really good fyi

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Sweet christ, that wasn't a shot.

Ok say your at a bar and a person only flicks a butt at you or violently throws it at you are you less pissed off?

[savardandjokinen]

I am one to #### on the flames after a poor showing but I don't think this one was as bad as people are making it out to be. Excluding the abysmal 1st period obviously.

Markstrom had a rougher game, but that's only 1/5 below average games.

Valimaki made some mistakes but he's also showing real good signs. That pass for deflection to Ryan in the 1st period was really nice.

Backlund was horrible but that's not something that occurs too often

Bennett, Lucic, Nordstrom and the invisible Leivo continue to bother me. Shake that up a bit.

Gaudreau and Monahan have been the two of the best Flames and I am enjoying that

[lazypucker]

To quote general manager Brad Treliving - "It's part of the process...."

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

First off, the frequency people here rail on about "have you ever played the game BRO!?" is ridiculous. Yes, I have. I have been hit with pucks, both rubber and roller, I've been hit with hockey balls of varying hardness, I've been hit with dryland training balls. Describing what was done there, was not a wrister. It was a flick. It had no real momentum behind it. Tkachuk's meathead reaction was hilarious and reeks of a guy more upset he couldn't do anything of relevance in game than what was actually done to him.

My face doesn't like get hit by things.

Do you even lift, BRO?

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Can't hear you from the basement ..again...

Shut up, Dad. I'll move out when I'm ready.

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

My face doesn't like get hit by things.

Do you even lift, BRO?

Hey, neither does mine. But other than maybe watery eyes and some discomfort, that flip wasn't doing #### all.

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Back after a win against a terrible team to crap on one of our top players.

Where was your analysis in the game thread? Ballsy.

Oh lawdy. I take a weekend away from the computer and some of you guys act like I was gone for months. You guys need better hobbies than tracking my forum time.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I think the point is if he does it we have front page news for two days on what a rat he is

He's earned a reputation, deserved or not, so he's not going to get a lot of sympathy when other players do dirtbag things to him. Plus Toronto gets kid glove treatment, so of course the media isn't going to spend much energy focusing on Muzzin.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames record under Ward is really good fyi

Outside of the first 7 game, old-racist-coach-is-gone, new-coach-is-here surge, it has been as middling as ever.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I guarantee this:

If you don't play the first period against Montreal you can circle that one as a loss too.

No kidding.

Flames are in DEEP trouble if they don't work out more than a few kinks before this set in Montreal.

Just realized it's their home opener too, lovely.