[PGT] Bad final 40 sinks Flames

[2ArmBands]

Originally Posted by Fan in Exile

I agree you can't let McDavid build up speed. But don't see what Rasmus did wrong on the game winner. You let him try to beat Markstrom from that angle every time. Clever disguised shot. Caught Markstrom deep in his net. You don't see him beat like that from a spot like that often, let alone at such a critical juncture. Not a terrible goal but one I'm sure he feels bad about and you expect him to stop.

I mean McDavid is such an X factor you’re almost going to lose no matter what you do... I just struggle with letting the best player in the world walk inside the dot and take a shot at that point in the game. Rasmus totally screened Markstrom.

Yes the shot was perfectly placed... but ofcourse it was.

Give him time and space which is what Rasmus did - you get burned.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by 2ArmBands

This is a hope and a prayer but I really hope Sutter can rejuvenate Sam. Even as it stands now I don’t understand Leivo on this line. Even an unmotivated Sam can’t do any worse than Leivo. They keep trying and it keeps failing. The guys brings nothing.

They need someone on that line that’s physical and can retrieve pucks.

How many games was Bennett gifted time with Monahan and Gaudreau and was tasked with winning puck battles and puck retrieval? How many assists did he earn while retrieving the puck? Should take you long to count them. ZERO. Bennett is a drag on skill players because he doesn't have the skill to make a good pass and instead tries to beat multiple players by himself. He neuters his line with his lack of skills and smarts.

[Burning Beard]

This team really needs a right winger. This Covid season is super annoying without the ability for trades to happen.

[2ArmBands]

Originally Posted by New Era

How many games was Bennett gifted time with Monahan and Gaudreau and was tasked with winning puck battles and puck retrieval? How many assists did he earn while retrieving the puck? Should take you long to count them. ZERO. Bennett is a drag on skill players because he doesn't have the skill to make a good pass and instead tries to beat multiple players by himself. He neuters his line with his lack of skills and smarts.

Don’t disagree with anything here but what better option do we have? We are pretty limited. It’s either blender the top 6 (return to Johnny - Monahan - Lindholm) or another run with Bennett.

We will see both again before the year is done I’m sure. Will be interesting to see.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by 2ArmBands

It’s pretty obvious they give McDavid way too much respect. The game winning goal and how Rasmus played it basically summarizes how conservative they are playing him. It’s not working.

The thing with McDavid is, yea, he's a dominant player and you're not gonna stop him every time. But you can certainly play him tight or shadow him, and limit his chances. Flames have done this in the past to great effect, and the Leafs just did it three games in the row. So we know it can be done.



Last night the Flames gave him way too much space and respect, and it killed them. They were in control of that game at the start of the 3rd and unfortunately found a way to piss it away as per usual. Hopefully once Sutter is able to implement his system, he can help the team remember how to properly play against McDavid. They've done it before, and they can do it again.

[Backstop]

• Objectivity in broadcasting would go a long way for sportsnet
• First period Flames were refreshingly entertaining to watch
• Lack of clarity on individual roles eats up energy early
• Team unity and the desire to protect our own is lacking
• Turris' entire family tree felt that Tanev hit
• The Rasmus IDGAF who you are punch in the head for McD was gold

We may have lost this battle Edmonton but make no mistake, we will win this war.

Absolutely looking forward to tonight.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

What is Josh Leivo exactly? I haven't followed his career much except for a bit when he was with the Marlies.

What is he supposed to bring?

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by 2ArmBands

I mean McDavid is such an X factor you’re almost going to lose no matter what you do... I just struggle with letting the best player in the world walk inside the dot and take a shot at that point in the game. Rasmus totally screened Markstrom.



Yes the shot was perfectly placed... but ofcourse it was.



Give him time and space which is what Rasmus did - you get burned.

But he wasn't inside the dot. That's the nature of the complaint. It was a perfectly placed shot, but the position where he shot it from gives Markstrom the advantage if he's in a good position. He seemed to be too deep and got beat. Doesn't make him a bad goalie or mean the whole loss is on him, but I wasn't surprised at all when he was disappointed in himself post-game because most nights he's going to make that save.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

What is Josh Leivo exactly? I haven't followed his career much except for a bit when he was with the Marlies.

What is he supposed to bring?

Good question. I had previously never heard of the guy despite the fact that he played the last two seasons in Vancouver. I don't see what his role is in Calgary even though he has been up and down the lineup and has had a chance to basically play with everyone. From his career stats it looks like he generally plays about 1/4 to 1/3 of a season so his time is probably coming to an end soon.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

What is Josh Leivo exactly? I haven't followed his career much except for a bit when he was with the Marlies.

What is he supposed to bring?

He’s been a guy who’s had injury problems but looked pretty good when healthy. IMO Treliving was hoping his PPG meant he was “ready to pop”, like he figured with Lindholm. The goal he got the other day was a scorer’s goal. On the line, I think he’s meant to be decent defensively.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Flames0910

He was invisible last night!

Jeez, he might as well not have even behind the bench last night, didn't see him engage his players at all!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by 2ArmBands

Don’t disagree with anything here but what better option do we have? We are pretty limited. It’s either blender the top 6 (return to Johnny - Monahan - Lindholm) or another run with Bennett.

We will see both again before the year is done I’m sure. Will be interesting to see.

I’ve been begging all year for Dube on that line. Fast, defensively responsible, great shot, not afraid to dig, relatively creative. Not big, but feisty enough. It’s not like the Lindholm line is really gelling anyway.

If you just want a big guy with decent speed and who will hit the corners hard - Ritchie.

Or you could go Tkachuk-Monahan-Dube, Gaudreau-Lindholm-Mangiapane, Lucic-Backlund-Bennett/Leivo, Nordstrom-Ryan-Ritchie

Or, and hear me out - Gaudreau-Lindholm-Lucic. No more liberties with Johnny, and Lucic is quite decent in the puck battles, and near the net. It’s not like he has zero offence.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

I feel like Huska can't really give the order to hammer Draisaitl but Sutter won't hesitate to once he is at the helm.

Jack shouldn't have to order the code red.

Originally Posted by New Era

How many games was Bennett gifted time with Monahan and Gaudreau and was tasked with winning puck battles and puck retrieval? How many assists did he earn while retrieving the puck? Should take you long to count them. ZERO. Bennett is a drag on skill players because he doesn't have the skill to make a good pass and instead tries to beat multiple players by himself. He neuters his line with his lack of skills and smarts.

He has exactly as many assists on that line as Leivo and Simon...and Bennett has 3 goals to Leivo's 1 (Flames leading 3-1 to OTT, though it turned out to be GWG) and Simon's 0.

Sam's goals:
0-0 vs. TOR early 1st GWG
0-1 vs. VAN mid 2nd
5-4 vs. EDM mid 3rd


I wish we had a better option, but every way you look at it that line has produced better with Sam than anyone else. Which sucks and maybe says more about the common denominators than the changeable parts...

[dammage79]

I think you could see last night was the abandonment of what ward implemented or tried to.

The team overall was far less static in their break out and puck flow. Case in point: under Ward the D men would pass back to a stand still defensive partner 100% of the time, heck even the fw pass back to d on a break put was static and the player had the puck on his stick before he would start skating. Last night we saw a pretty remarkable drop off where the D man was already skating up the ice before the pass back to him was made. A cleaner, quicker breakout.

I'm guessing Ward was all about set play breakputs and the set play cpupd not begin until everyone was in place and the d man had possession. IMO, more like football.

I thought the effort was more consistent for a game after a big win so that's a step.

Also there was much much less ringing ringing puck around the boards trying to set up the cycle. Which is a good thing.

All in all the loss sucked, that was a massive swing game and the Flames knew it, blew it and not have a steeper hill to climb.

I think the Flames were freed of Wards system last night and it showed. Now it's time to really slap on the work boots because the Sutter system requires your feet to be moving constantly. The players are going to have to get used to that.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

He’s been a guy who’s had injury problems but looked pretty good when healthy. IMO Treliving was hoping his PPG meant he was “ready to pop”, like he figured with Lindholm. The goal he got the other day was a scorer’s goal. On the line, I think he’s meant to be decent defensively.

So a jack of all trades, master of none?

Sounds like a third-liner at best, then?

[Robbob]

The Flames were unlucky not to build on their lead, where Edmonton were lucky with their tying goals. The one thing that frustrated me was they couldn't get more generated when the dynamic duo were not on the ice.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

This team really needs a right winger. This Covid season is super annoying without the ability for trades to happen.

It’s ridiculous that it got to this point. This team has been lacking at that position for years.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

It’s ridiculous that it got to this point. This team has been lacking at that position for years.

Literally years now. It's almost comical how even if they want to address it now there has never been a harder time to do so.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

So a jack of all trades, master of none?

Sounds like a third-liner at best, then?

The Flames have a choice - they have 4 guys who are first liners of various levels. They can go with a line of 3 first liners and a line of a first liner with a 2/3 C in Backlund or they can have two 1Cs, 2 1LWs and whatever fits on the RW. I can see why they do the latter. Thing is, the have Mangiapane and Dube, and IMO they should both be RW over Leivo on the top 2 lines. I know that leave Backlund and Lucic with Bennett, Leivo or someone else, but oh well.

But they should also be flexible within the game to go to the purple drink line, just like Tippett decided within the game yesterday to go with one power line. Just for a big push.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

It’s ridiculous that it got to this point. This team has been lacking at that position for years.

But they’ve been lacking at a bigger position as well, so that’s what Treliving focussed on this off season. Plus he had a D hole to fill that was more important as well.