Quote:
Originally Posted by Strange Brew
A 2 goal lead in the first and it's game over? A 2 gaol late in the second and it isn't? We both know that doesn't really make any sense.
It's not like Flames dominated the first and were on their way to mentally beating them. Montreal was better team that entire period.
There was no single turning point in this game other than the GWG obviously. Flames were off, Montreal was pretty good and there you have it.
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Going up 2-0 instead of 1-1 would've had the Flames on track for the blueprint they've used for most of the games in the winning streak. Get a lead of one or two, withstand the subsequent pushback, from better teams than the Habs, with solid defence, get the next goal, and watch their confidence rise while the other team either gets frustrated and makes mistakes, or shuts down and the Flames get 5 or more goals.
The game was effectively over vs Minnesota two nights ago when the Flames answered 20 seconds to go up 3-1 mid 2nd, after the Wild finally broke through to make it 2-1 after pushing and pushing.
Flames had gone up on Minnesota by multiple goals the first game last week, the second game vs them a few days back too. St Louis earlier too when we beat the 6-1 here.
Key in those games was the Flames withheld a push back when it was 1-0 or 2-0 from those far better teams and then got the next goal.
Tonight, the Kylington gaffe gave Montreal an excellent chance out of nowhere and a chance they didn't give up against the above mentioned teams at those critical parts of the game,. The shorthanded goal buoyed the Habs after the Flames missed a glorious chance.
We can agree to disagree but if Toffoli scores there at that point and they don't give up a shorthanded goal, IMO Flames win that game 5-1 or 5-2 at least.
That is becuase a very good chance the Flames would regained the swag they had in the streak by going up by multiple goals, and the rest of the game by the Flames doesn't turn near as sloppy as they did defensively after it was 1-1, which also would translate to less penalties taken and the momentum the Habs got and built on from those 5 on 3s through the game.
But, take the point and the sting from the loss and poor play with make them better. Flames were in the Canucks game even at 3-0 with good push back after each goal, then Vladar goes in cold and it's 5-0 and over.
Long story short, not worried at all after this game, as it shows IMO an untimely mistake at the wrong time can derail things, which the Flames have avoided mostly in the past calender month. Sutter will have them well aware of that.
