[PGT] Habs 4 Flames 2

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Certain nights you just don’t have it, and tonight was one of them. No sugarcoating in this one, they were putrid and they have to know it.

Sucks that it comes on the back end of two losses.

Burn the tape and move on.

[kukkudo]

Rittich shouldn’t even be brought up. Ya he let in a bad goal but where were the leaders today? Absolutely brutal game by them and on top of that a boring game.

What is the flames system?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by browna

You miss the first three games?
This team has talent as did the team that won the WC two years ago.

The difference is that when the team gets in a rut within a game or after a few bad games, Peters got them out of that really quick. Maybe some hurt feelings but it was effective and those results meant it was easy for the players to buy in down the road.

Ward, like GG before him, is paralyzed by fear and does nothing in game or between the game that has any teeth, and thus lets the team stew in its issues which makes it even harder to pull out of.

Yeah, they may need a coach who hurts their feelings once in a while

[Boreal]

The Canadians are playing well. The SHG on Rittich sealed the loss. It eliminated an sniff of a comeback.

[neo45]

The drop pass to Johnny needs to go yesterday

But this team really isn’t as bad as the three game skid or overall record shows

[Dion]

The team struggled with generating offensive chances tonight. To me that was the difference.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Rittich shouldn’t even be brought up. Ya he let in a bad goal but where were the leaders today? Absolutely brutal game by them and on top of that a boring game.

What is the flames system?

I call it the Chip'n'Glide

[Burning Beard]

Like everyone is saying, these guys need a loud motivator for a coach, not a awww schucks buddy buddy.

And also this so called system is no good.

On to the next one. Hope for a better showing. I normally would call someone nuts if they wanted a coach gone after 6 games with no pre-season, but here I am.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Like Gulutzan modern coaches want the players to take ownership or take charge. I think Ward needs to be more demanding and harder on these guys because they are not holding up their end in the accountability department.

Hartley and Peters were demanding and got the most out of their rosters. But the players wanted a player's coach it seemed. I don't think they need a bully but Ward needs to lean more to demanding side.

It seems based on inability to push there is a comfort zone amongst them. These guys probably all have personal trainers to push them in training- to get most out of them. They don't train on their own. You need someone to push you for optimal performance

I like Ward, I'm not blaming him I just think a lot of adjustments need to be made and this leaving it up to players seems to be one of them. I mean what do I know I could be wrong but there is no fire to these Flames. I think Ward does have a harder edge but he wanted players to take charge.

Get some snarl in the lineup, create some energy. There just isn't the expected jump or pushback. They talk about what's needed but it hasn't translated to on ice performance. Frustration won't help but they need to evaluate approach. That's 2 games where you expected them to come out flying and they didn't. So what gives?

Access the depth and find a spark. Season is too short can only have so much patience.

I love the team but I don't like these results so maybe I'm just emotional venting but play with some God damn fire.

[Red]

It was expected.
Habs were rested after most of the week off. They were fired up for the home opener, a hot team coming back from an awesome road trip against a struggling team. We were doomed from the start.

[Anti-Hero]

If you are going to lose at least make it entertaining. I love Gio, but he needs to start showing some emotion and lead by example.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Anti-Hero

If you are going to lose at least make it entertaining. I love Gio, but he needs to start showing some emotion.

Guy plays with playoff intensity every game for a whole career

If there’s a knock on this team it isn’t the captain not caring

[The Boy Wonder]

Im just glad we put up that stinker against the Habs.

Would be so much worse against the leafs or oilers

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by Red

It was expected.
Habs were rested after most of the week off. They were fired up for the home opener, a hot team coming back from an awesome road trip against a struggling team. We were doomed from the start.

Home opener with no fans.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by davidus_49

I'm not holding my breath but I would like to see lineup changes:

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

Not that Bennett deserves it but Simon doesn't seem to bring much to that line.

The Simon and Leivo signings are failures so far. Yes we’re only 6 games in but both those guys have had ample time with Johnny/Mony and they collectively have 1 secondary assist and are -2. We need either a legit 2nd line center to slide Lindholm back on their wing or an actual top 6 RW. I like your lineup though. Best part, no Lucic. To the defense I would add:

Ras-Hanifin
Tanev-Gio
Kylington-Mackey

Valimaki needs to sit a game. He hasn’t been good to start this year and even Johnny was healthy scratched early in his career and responded very well. Nesterov had a really bad pinch and has looked pretty pedestrian. I know you can’t expect too much from the 3rd pair but why not let 2 hungry guys come in and see if they can earn/steal a spot.

[Anti-Hero]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

Im just glad we put up that stinker against the Habs.

Would be so much worse against the leafs or oilers

I just don't see it. He plays his position well, especially at 37 and I believe he cares, but I wouldn't say he played with any emotion.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Home opener with no fans.

I should have used green text. I just listed the typical flames excuses for no show games.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

I know you can’t expect too much from the 3rd pair but why not let 2 hungry guys come in and see if they can earn/steal a spot.

It would be so Flames for Kylington's first chance this year to be beside Stone

[CroFlames]

Do we panic?

[SuperMatt18]

The outcome of this game was predictable after the First.

Flames actually had a good start and played with a fair bit of energy. Game was a decent pace and was even at 5v5.

Then the refs decided to get involved. There was a 50/50 call they didn’t call against Gaudreau, made a call that never should have been called against Valimaki, and then made the 50/50 call on Lindholm.

All three of those decisions go against the Flames and it’s a 2-0 game. From that point on you could just tell the Flames confidence was shot. They played 5/6 periods strong against the Leafs and lost both, then played a good period here and were down 2-0.

On top of that Claude Julien showed you the benefit of a true top end NHL coach. Montreal played their system to perfection in the 2nd and 3rd. Clogged up the middle of the ice, kept everything to the outside in the defensive zone, and gave the Flames nothing on the counter.

Good coaching can make it look like the opposition team has stopped trying because they won’t give the team a CM, and that’s what happened tonight .

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Toffoli already has 6 goals. Sure glad we signed Leivo, Simon, Nordstrom and Robinson.

League minimum forwards are not the reason we can’t afford Toffoli.

That would be San Bennett, Milan Lucic, and Derek Ryan. Or Markstrom and Tanev if you prefer the direct compatibles from this offseason.