[PGT] Leafs 2-Flames 1

[Knightslayer]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Gaudreau is a winger. His job on breakouts is to be stationary, or catch a cheating defense sleeping.

He did EXACTLY what his job was on that Kylington goal. Please don't lump him in with Lindholm and Tkachuk.

I also think Tkachuk played his best hockey on a line with Backlund because Backlund has been, for the last decade, the best centre iceman on the Calgary Flames.

It's ridiculous that Backlund has been arbitrarily demoted to 3C when he is STILL our best centre.

I was about to thank your post until you said Backlund is our best center.

Although Lindholm has been bad lately he is still better than Backlund. At center. At hockey. At shooting. At passing. Literally everything.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by zamler

Giving up points in games that were winnable is what sank the team last year. Why is this season different?

Because last season they often ended up losing without a point. I'll take 1 over 0 any day of the week. Sure, I'd prefer 2, but....

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Knightslayer

I was about to thank your post until you said Backlund is our best center.

Although Lindholm has been bad lately he is still better than Backlund. At center. At hockey. At shooting. At passing. Literally everything.

The only things Lindholm is better at, is faceoffs (and I don't think the difference between ~48% and ~52% is significant enough to lose sleep over) and on the powerplay, where he's the only righthanded shot on a team loaded with lefties.

Backlund is a better playmaker than Lindholm, more shifty through the neutral zone, equal without the puck defensively, faster with/without the puck, and anything he lacks in raw finishing ability he makes up in volume. As a centre, he's never had a linemate like Johnny Gaudreau in his whole career, and he's never had the benefit of offensive line deployment either.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by heep223

Wat Gaudreau had a sick pass to Kylington on that goal and had a bunch of chances

Johnny is pointless in 4 of the last 6 games.

[Steve Macfarlane]

Former Flames goaltending coach agrees Vladar at least deserves to be considered for a second straight start after showing in Toronto. (Twitter exchange at bottom of gamer).

https://calgaryhockeynow.com/calgary...r-flames-loss/

[Classic_Sniper]

I’ll take the point. Honestly, the Leafs are just the superior team. They were better than us last season and they were the much better team today. They can ice 2 great lines with their stars and that’s something the Flames simply cannot replicate. Maybe if the Sam Bennett pick turned into a Nylander or Ehlers, then the Flames would have a more offensive depth. But it is what it is. Nothing we can do about it.

Phenomenal game by Vladar though and Kylington with an absolute dandy of a goal. Dandy of a turnover as well though. But overall, take the point and move on. Although, my tone will be much different agains the Sens.

Under no circumstances should the Flames be losing again to the lowly Sens. They beat up on us last season and cost us a playoff spot. So taking them lightly and losing to them again this season is down right unacceptable. Come out with some hate, play hard like they’re an elite team, get those 2 points and end this losing streak.

[Strange Brew]

The Leafs big 3 weren’t that great (1 point) and they ran into a hot goalie. Yet Toronto Puck is celebrating a win and we’re complaining about our top players who take up far less of the cap.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by timbit

Johnny is pointless in 4 of the last 6 games.

But not in this one. And he had been a play driver every game. Pointless is hand picking a small sample of data to try to support a bad take.

Honestly, I expected a loss tonight. The Leafs are hot, they have (IMO) the highest powered, best balanced offense in the league, they were playing their starter against a backup, and they were playing a team that has played 3 games in 4 nights with travel on 2 days. The fact that it was an OT loss is a bonus relative to reasonable expectations.

[Knightslayer]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

The Leafs big 3 weren’t that great (1 point) and they ran into a hot goalie. Yet Toronto Puck is celebrating a win and we’re complaining about our top players who take up far less of the cap.

Nylander was best player on the ice and it wasn't close but yes their top 3 were invisible. Mathews had a lot of shots but I didn't like his game overall.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by macindoc

but not in this one. And he had been a play driver every game. Pointless is hand picking a small sample of data to try to support a bad take.

lol.

Well then, no judgement on the Flames.

Too small a sample of data.

[Knightslayer]

Originally Posted by timbit

lol.

Are you ok?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by timbit

Johnny is pointless in 4 of the last 6 games.

Sidney Crosby was pointless in 3 of the last 6 games of the 2016 playoffs.

He won the Conn Smythe.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by timbit

Johnny is pointless in 4 of the last 6 games.

That’s fine but I was responding to a post that was saying Kylington had to pick up the slack for Gaudreau tonight when Gaudreau was a huge part of his goal. Non sensical

Also does anyone else hate typing Kylington? I always #### it up/autocorrects to something different, we need a nickname

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by timbit

Johnny is pointless in 4 of the last 6 games.

You’re being way too hard on the top line and especially Gaudreau. He’s 3rd in the league in even strength points (more than McDavid!) and virtually all his assists are primary.

FYI, top line players don’t score every game. If you look at your average top line forward, you’ll see that (generally speaking), they get shut out every other game. So 4 games without a point in 6 is not crazy. His slick pass helped this team earn a point.

There’s certainly a lot more players on this team you can single out then the top line who’ve been excellent this season.

[nieuwy-89]

Tkachuk needs to simplify his game. Trying to be too fancy. He’s at his best when playing in straight lines, being physical, and getting under opponents skin.

Flames were fortunate to get a point tonight. Credit to Vladar.

Need 7 points in the next 10 to equate to a winning record on this road trip.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

You’re being way too hard on the top line and especially Gaudreau. He’s 3rd in the league in even strength points (more than McDavid!) and virtually all his assists are primary.

FYI, top line players don’t score every game. If you look at your average top line forward, you’ll see that (generally speaking), they get shut out every other game. So 4 games without a point in 6 is not crazy. His slick pass helped this team earn a point.

There’s certainly a lot more players on this team you can single out then the top line who’ve been excellent this season.

Nope. They have not been excellent in 4 of the last 6 games.

Their job is to produce.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Knightslayer

Nylander was best player on the ice and it wasn't close but yes their top 3 were invisible. Mathews had a lot of shots but I didn't like his game overall.

Thought Marner had a whale of a game as well. Honestly, if the Flames drafted Nylander or Ehlers over Bennett, I think the Flames would be battling it out for best team in the league right now. They’re missing that one guy who can transform the second line into a consistent force out there and slot others down.

Perhaps Emil Heineman or that second round pick will turn into something ok down the road, but fact is, these assets are not helping the team right now.

[dino7c]

Shut up JP

[jg13]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1459360558503940098

Love to hear this from Kylington. As good as he's been which has been extraordinary for what we all expected to see from him this season he knows he can be much better. I think we're looking at a future all star for years to come.

[blankall]

I'm not concerned with the recent record. They lost a game of bounces to the sharks and haven't been able to win the skills competition, that is overtime. My concern is with the lack of consistent offence. 4 goals in 3 games is very troubling. Especially for this team, that hasa history of inconsistent scoring. A breakout game with 5+ goals would really help me deal with some of these doubts.