[GDT] There’s a hockey game today Flames at Stars 6:30 PM SNW

[Erick Estrada]

Would be nice to win this one to get on a winning streak but the Stars are always a tough out for the Flames.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Seeing Ritchie on the 3rd line is all the proof you need to know the Flames need to make at least a move or two to upgrade the forwards. Some offensive black holes in there.

[CsInMyBlood]

Ritchie had a good showing against the Canucks, lead the team in expected goal% 5 on 5 and was second in corsi. Not sure why people are ragging so hard on him today.

[agulati]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Ritchie had a good showing against the Canucks, lead the team in expected goal% 5 on 5 and was second in corsi. Not sure why people are ragging so hard on him today.

I think it is because he is sitting without a point so far this season. Doesn’t move the needle when it comes to depth scoring.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Ritchie had a good showing against the Canucks, lead the team in expected goal% 5 on 5 and was second in corsi. Not sure why people are ragging so hard on him today.

Yup, I think Sutter's bar for rewarding different players is different since his expectations are different for a bottom 6 guy vs a top 6 guy and I have no issue with him rewarding Ritchie for a good game (by Ritchie's standards) last game. No hesitation to stick up for his teammate and didn't hurt his team in his minutes. It's a good thing for the players to push each other.

[OptimalTates]

Originally Posted by Makarov

I actually think this is a big game too. Flames really need to get back to stringing some wins together. And this is game is against a team that is neck-and-neck with the Flames in the wildcard race.

I think it's a big game for the exact reason you said, because the Flames haven't been able to string together a series of wins lately, and Dallas has been a pretty big kryptonite to them in recent years. Including the playoff series, the Flames have won only 4 of their last 16 games against them so a statement game would be nice.

But if the Flames are fighting for a wildspot with Dallas by seasons end, something has gone drastically wrong. In that case even if they make the last wildcard spot it's one and done against Colorado as Colorado, Minnesota, St. Louis and Nashville are making the playoffs.

No, the Flames should be looking at winning this game to keep pace with Vegas for the Pacific crown and not some ####ty wildcard spot.

[Inferno]

Other than a win I'd like to see Benn get punched in the face repeatedly.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by agulati

I think it is because he is sitting without a point so far this season. Doesn’t move the needle when it comes to depth scoring.

A prime example of why my eyes start to gloss over when I start hearing about advanced stats. They have some relevance but at the end of the day, whatever possession stats and our goal differential say, we're still only one point up on the Oilers halfway through the season. But fair is fair - it's not such a bad thing if the Flames have more possession and scoring chances when he's on the ice, even if he hasn't finished a chance all season.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by agulati

I think it is because he is sitting without a point so far this season. Doesn’t move the needle when it comes to depth scoring.

Right but is Ritchie the guy that should be responsible for depth scoring? I can think of many other names when I think of depth scoring.

Im sure Ritchie will get a point soon enough, I've been pleased w his responsible play, hard forecheck and physicality. There are different roles on a hockey team and I have zero issue with what he is bringing.

Obviously Sutter agrees.

[mennoknight]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Ritchie had a good showing against the Canucks, lead the team in expected goal% 5 on 5 and was second in corsi. Not sure why people are ragging so hard on him today.

I think it might be because he sucks

[Huntingwhale]

Dallas seems to be the Flames' kryptonite for a while now. Seems they are always managing for either their goalie to put in a Vezina performance, Benn channeling his inner Iggy or Seguin breaking out of whatever slump he's in. Will be a good test for the Flames to see if they can get the Stars' monkey off their back.

[FanIn80]

These are the games we usually win. It's the sh#t teams like the Oilers we can't beat.

[agulati]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Right but is Ritchie the guy that should be responsible for depth scoring? I can think of many other names when I think of depth scoring.

Im sure Ritchie will get a point soon enough, I've been pleased w his responsible play, hard forecheck and physicality. There are different roles on a hockey team and I have zero issue with what he is bringing.

Obviously Sutter agrees.

I’m not disappointed in Ritchie’s play so far when it comes to his responsibilities as a 4th liner. With additional minutes though, he should be able to contribute more on the score sheet.

[EVERLAST]

Hasn't Bowness been really pissy lately.
I hope we give him bitter beer face tonight .
I cannot stand Benn , Radulov and Seguin and want to see their faces punched IN .
We got the guys to do that job too even though I'd rather see the " W" and 2 points ....a caved in face would be a bonus on any of those 3.
We need ALL the points in these games in hand we have .
Go Flames .

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by OptimalTates

I think it's a big game for the exact reason you said, because the Flames haven't been able to string together a series of wins lately, and Dallas has been a pretty big kryptonite to them in recent years. Including the playoff series, the Flames have won only 4 of their last 16 games against them so a statement game would be nice.

But if the Flames are fighting for a wildspot with Dallas by seasons end, something has gone drastically wrong. In that case even if they make the last wildcard spot it's one and done against Colorado as Colorado, Minnesota, St. Louis and Nashville are making the playoffs.

No, the Flames should be looking at winning this game to keep pace with Vegas for the Pacific crown and not some ####ty wildcard spot.

Totally agree with all of this. I was just too lazy to write out the caveat re: competing with Dallas for a wild card spot.

[GordonBlue]

Be interesting to see where Joe Pavelski ends up on this list by the end of the year.
what a season he's having.

37-Year Old NHL Players - Regular Season Stats

https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/play...l-players.html

[timbit]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

Be interesting to see where Joe Pavelski ends up on this list by the end of the year.
what a season he's having.

37-Year Old NHL Players - Regular Season Stats

https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/play...l-players.html

He is 6th all time , when you look at points per game.

[GreenLantern2814]

For a whole bunch of reasons, I don’t even know what day it is. I think it’s Tuesday.

It’s more disorienting when there actually is a game.

[Redliner]

go flams

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Always Earned Never Given

After having seen them destroy the Bruins and the «#perfection line#»on Sunday this game makes me feel uncomfortable.

I watched that game too. Every turnover by the Bruins ended up in the back of their net. Plus, Radulov ended a long scoring drought.