[PGT] Why Can't We Beat Sens

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Getting in a rhythm could definitely help - but it could also destroy the season. Once this team gets the ball rolling on a busy part of the schedule, if they don’t have things sorted out the season could be over in two weeks. As is, going 2-7-1 in their last 10 has erased their strong start. They’re now in a fight for their playoff lives, and now we can see what the team is really made of.

I’m concerned to hear Sutter echo the previous coaches. There’s a small number of players who have been here for it all, and an even smaller group that have been part of the leadership group through the years. I don’t have a lot of belief in Monahan and Backlund’s ability to deliver what they need to deliver for this team to find success.

This is a bit dramatic...they are still #2 in points percentage. Sure its closer but they still in the drivers seat...play even with just a couple of the teams in the race and you are in. If they all pass you well, you don't deserve playoffs

Still 8 points back of 1st with 5 in hand...bottom line, win some games

[Burning Beard]

Woof. Beat Florida on Tuesday and get the train back on the tracks. Backlund looks especially lazy.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Woof. Beat Florida on Tuesday and get the train back on the tracks. Backlund looks especially lazy.

He looks lazy because he is lazy. Maybe one of the laziest players in the league. He thinks the team is his personal country club, where he can show up in shorts and sandals with his sunblock and pull up a deck chair and get hours of sun.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1481852586865033216

What I don't like about this comment is that it sounds like he's decided to go with this roster and these combinations regardless of results. Maybe they turn it around and reward his faith but it doesn't feel very likely right now and this is how we missed the playoffs last season.

[Chingas]

Sure feels like a lot of dump and ineffective chase lately. A lot like Peter's first year as a coach when we played a fast quick up Vegas type offence and stood up at the blue line to begin the year and get off to a great start. Only to regress to crap dump and chase and backing onto our own end and allow easy entry to the other team. Am I missing something or is this looking eerily similar?

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Macman

Disappointing loss, you can't really blame anybody here but the players and the team needs better depth.

As much as I like Lucic he can't be your best and most consistent player after the top line.

The schedule has been terrible too so hopefully with all these home games coming up things will get better. After 5 days off they should have been better though.

I was glad to see Sutter didn't pull the goalie in the final minutes down 4-1, admit you got beat and move on which is what he did.

I agree with most of this, except for your point about the upcoming home games.

We are snakebit at home. Good performances lead to losses as much as wins. Bad and mediocre performances are locks for losses.

Maybe it changes with a consistent run of games at home, but I’m struggling to see signs that it will.

[dino7c]

First game back after a road trip is supposedly the hardest game...almost all the Flames home games have been one offs or short stands

Need a run of games

[Mattman]

This is a back down to earth kind of season game for the Flames. Calling Major Brad. We need help or else we are going to crash land again.

[Off the Wall]

I read this blog just to entertain myself. It kinda reminds me of Mr Wilson from Dennis the Menace.

Mr George Wilson : Who else has a night-blooming mock orchid flowering this year?
Mrs Martha Wilson : It's an awfully homely-looking plant, George.

George Wilson : Hang the looks at the thing! It opens before your eyes in the light of a full moon. It's a marvel, Martha. 40 years to mature and blossom. The flower opens and withers in a matter of moments.

[Mr. and Mrs. Wilson approach a rare mock orchid kept alive for 40 years]
George Wilson : There isn't a gardener in town who has a plant that requires a 40-year investment for ten seconds of splendor.

I think George has it right. 40 years of investment for 10 seconds of splendor.
We have a mock orchid- enjoy the moment if and when it arrives!

[Johnny Makarov]

Tkachuk for the Drake. One for one.

[djsFlames]

These types of "trap" losses happen to every single team.

But it makes them no less painful & discouraging to watch.

They're not as bad as this, and they're not as good as 7 shutouts in 11 wins.

Ebbs and flows... but how long this pendulum swing goes on will be reflected in their record. You need to cut the head off this snake before it gets out of control.

Whatever they need to do to reset and re-focus on the fundamentals and at least get back in sync with one another, they need to do it soon, if they want to remain in the company of the "good" teams and continue to be associated with that group.

They still have a shot to redeem themselves against the same measuring stick teams at home and get back to a positive narrative about this team and it's identity it established early, but that takes digging in and turning things around shift to shift, game to game on an individual basis.

This is called adversity. How they handle it and how quickly they do will determine how they're ultimately judged.

Time to rally around the 2-time champ coach again and get back to being his students and trusting in his guidance. They're not on their own in this like they were before under unproven bench bosses of old.

Their secret weapon is their coach who knows how to ice a team that can be greater than the sum of its parts.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

1st line doesn’t play at 100 percent and flames have no chance . Has another line actually won us a game this year? I’m not talking about another line getting a couple of goals while the first line plays lights out . I’m talking about a game where 1st line doesn’t show and another line takes over and gets the flames a win .

The first line has contributed offensively in 16 of the team's 17 wins this season. It appears the only game that the Flames won without them producing was the 2-1 shootout win in Pittsburgh.


Gaudreau's splits in wins vs losses:

Wins: 17gms, 12g, 15a, 27p +25
Losses: 10gms, 3g, 4a, 7p, -7


This is the very definition of a one line team. The team's strategy is to seemingly have one or two random lines get scored on, then hope the first line can clean up their mess by outscoring their screwup. "It's a bold strategy Cotton, let's see if it pays off for them."

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Chingas

Sure feels like a lot of dump and ineffective chase lately. A lot like Peter's first year as a coach when we played a fast quick up Vegas type offence and stood up at the blue line to begin the year and get off to a great start. Only to regress to crap dump and chase and backing onto our own end and allow easy entry to the other team. Am I missing something or is this looking eerily similar?

I'd say 3 of the 4 lines are pretty ineffective at dumping and chasing most nights minus the odd game or two. Darryl's strategy is all about generating offense from dumping and chasing and really, only the first line excels at it. The other lines aren't generating much on the rush either, so couple the two together and that's why more than half this team is producing at bottom 6 levels. The Flames have essentially an elite top line and three 3rd/4th lines. I think it's about time Treliving did something; a waiver pick up, future considerations, ANYTHING...

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

The first line has contributed offensively in 16 of the team's 17 wins this season. It appears the only game that the Flames won without them producing was the 2-1 shootout win in Pittsburgh.


Gaudreau's splits in wins vs losses:

Wins: 17gms, 12g, 15a, 27p +25
Losses: 10gms, 3g, 4a, 7p, -7


This is the very definition of a one line team. The team's strategy is to seemingly have one or two random lines get scored on, then hope the first line can clean up their mess by outscoring their screwup. "It's a bold strategy Cotton, let's see if it pays off for them."

Wait...just checked...in that Penguins victory, Gaudreau still scored in the shootout and Lindholm was named the third star of the game. So technically they may have been left off the score sheet, but they did contribute greatly towards the victory....soooo....is that 17 out of 17 then?

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by dino7c

This is a bit dramatic...they are still #2 in points percentage. Sure its closer but they still in the drivers seat...play even with just a couple of the teams in the race and you are in. If they all pass you well, you don't deserve playoffs

Still 8 points back of 1st with 5 in hand...bottom line, win some games

The koolaid is strong if you don’t think they are in a fight for a playoff spot

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I'd say 3 of the 4 lines are pretty ineffective at dumping and chasing most nights minus the odd game or two. Darryl's strategy is all about generating offense from dumping and chasing and really, only the first line excels at it. The other lines aren't generating much on the rush either, so couple the two together and that's why more than half this team is producing at bottom 6 levels. The Flames have essentially an elite top line and three 3rd/4th lines. I think it's about time Treliving did something; a waiver pick up, future considerations, ANYTHING...

He’ll trade a pick for a depth dman. It changes nothing. That’s all he can do since the big trade.

Treliving needs to go. He is incapable of improving this team. A hot start saved his butt but this is essentially the same team that missed the playoffs last year without Gio.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I'd say 3 of the 4 lines are pretty ineffective at dumping and chasing most nights minus the odd game or two. Darryl's strategy is all about generating offense from dumping and chasing and really, only the first line excels at it. The other lines aren't generating much on the rush either, so couple the two together and that's why more than half this team is producing at bottom 6 levels. The Flames have essentially an elite top line and three 3rd/4th lines. I think it's about time Treliving did something; a waiver pick up, future considerations, ANYTHING...

I want something to be done as well, and we do need to make urgent changes. I’m just not confident in Brad’s ability to make changes for the better. The only good change I’ve seen him make in recent years is the hiring of Sutter. I’m not sure he was the guy that even made that call, and if he did, he was more or less forced into doing so.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Sutter talking about lack of emotion in the game.

Why do we think this has been a problem during this entire era? Perhaps it has something to do with Backlund and Monahan being in leadership roles on the team? Neither of those guys can even spell intense.

They thought you meant “in tents”.

[Toonage]

So a few days ago Sutter referenced some players "testing positive" and then mentions Lindholm still being under the weather. Makes you wonder. I have no idea how any of this works when it comes to testing positive, going through the protocol and then still testing positive? You have to test negative to get out and play correct? Or is it just a set amount of time and they let you back out there?

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by dino7c

This is a bit dramatic...they are still #2 in points percentage. Sure its closer but they still in the drivers seat...play even with just a couple of the teams in the race and you are in. If they all pass you well, you don't deserve playoffs

Still 8 points back of 1st with 5 in hand...bottom line, win some games

And just 10 back of 1st place in the western conf. with 4 games in hand.