[PGT] Flames 4 Sharks 2: Saved The Best For The Last!

[OminousFlames]

I'm alright with Calgary giving some rookie defencemen some time to shine. Defence typically play the most time per game, so resting those older vets late in the season will keep them fresh for the potential playoffs the Flames could make.

[hurtin_albertan]

Originally Posted by OminousFlames

I'm alright with Calgary giving some rookie defencemen some time to shine. Defence typically play the most time per game, so resting those older vets late in the season will keep them fresh for the potential playoffs the Flames could make.

My concern is that this is not at all what’s going on. Hopefully I’m wrong but my thinking is that these guys would not be sitting just to have a night off. Not when the stakes are this high. They may be limping into the war.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by hurtin_albertan

My concern is that this is not at all what’s going on. Hopefully I’m wrong but my thinking is that these guys would not be sitting just to have a night off. Not when the stakes are this high. They may be limping into the war.

Sounds like worrying for the sake of worrying.

Just swept Cali for the first time and our nicked up players are getting healthy. Against SJ the stakes were not high.

[pappa jan]

Very happy with the win. I just wanna add that I think the fourth line of Carpenter, Lucic and whoever have been really impressive these last few games, especially in the third periods.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Mackey looks looks nhl ready. Nhl speed, strength and iq

Valimaki not so much. Gave up 3 grade a giveaways in the defensive zone right up the middle. He dosent look like he has improved at all.

Valimaki was awful. I kind of figured this a couple of years ago once the injuries mounted. For defensemen, those first couple of years of development are critical.

I didn't want to sound cynical, but I kind of figured we lost a huge asset when he suffered his second major injury during the critical development years.

[jayswin]

Man, attendance in California after so many years of sellouts (San Jose and LA anyways, Anaheim has always been more in the 13500-16000 range) keeps making me look up capacity restrictions thinking Cali must still have them, but no.

San Jose was even worse than Anaheim. Just over 11000 tonight announced, but butts in seats was way worse. Almost the entire ends of the lower bowl were empty, plus an extended shot of the second tier showed about 80% empty.

That's more like 5-6000 people in the building. Pretty crazy to see after San Jose being mostly full for 25 years through ups and very major downs.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by hurtin_albertan

Asked about the lineup shuffle I think I heard Darryl say something along the lines of (paraphrasing) “I don’t appreciate being asked that kind of question this time of year, we don’t want to give away any information to the teams we might face in the playoffs”.

Happy with the win but I feel a bit concerned about the team all of a sudden. They’ve faced a ton of adversity already what with the ridiculous travel before December, the whole team getting wiped out by covid around Christmas, and then the crazy condensed schedule they faced in March having to make up all of those lost games. Despite all of that they’ve been consistently good and really healthy too - how many games in a row did they just roll out the same 6 defencemen and not even have to think about it. But all of a sudden Monahan is done, Lucic is fading fast, Jarnkrok is out, Kylington is out, now all of a sudden Gudbranson and Zadorov are scratched…this is not the time of year to start breaking down. I just wonder if “everything”, including the demands of Sutter, is starting to show its weight.

Hahaha. You're right. Lewis scored. Top line was a beauty. Gudbranson and Zadorov weren't scratched. They're going to get a few games off here in the bottom end if the team is winning. A long playoff run depends on them and Darryl knows it.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Man, attendance in California after so many years of sellouts (San Jose and LA anyways, Anaheim has always been more in the 13500-16000 range) keeps making me look up capacity restrictions thinking Cali must still have them, but no.

San Jose was even worse than Anaheim. Just over 11000 tonight announced, but butts in seats was way worse. Almost the entire ends of the lower bowl were empty, plus an extended shot of the second tier showed about 80% empty.

That's more like 5-6000 people in the building. Pretty crazy to see after San Jose being mostly full for 25 years through ups and very major downs.

The team lacks that superstar also. Plus winter feels like it's been around for the last 3 years.

[shadowlord]

Shout out to Rasmus Andersson tonight. Saw a couple of plays where he really hustled on the backcheck to nullify a potential breakaway or odd man rush. His skating and speed have improved noticeably.

[Haplo]

[OptimalTates]

Originally Posted by hurtin_albertan

My concern is that this is not at all what’s going on. Hopefully I’m wrong but my thinking is that these guys would not be sitting just to have a night off. Not when the stakes are this high. They may be limping into the war.

Why are the stakes high? They aren't catching the Avs. The Flames had 6 points, a game in hand and the tie-breaker over the Oilers starting the day. Start of the season that's meaningless, at this point in the season it's nearing insurmountable.

The Oilers' next 6 games are against the conference leading Avs x2 (8-1-1 in their last ten), and four teams fighting for position and playoff spots (Minnesota, Nashville, Vegas, Dallas).

Now the Flames enter, or remain in, the softest spot of their season playing the worst three teams four times in five games (Back-to-back against the Kraken, Coyotes and Blackhawks).

Prior to tonight's win the Flames were given a 99% chance of finishing in the division lead by the weighted system of Sport Club Stats.

[Monahammer]

Low stakes back to back in garbage time if season. Great to see the boys keep chugging.

[AC]

It's honestly hilarious this pass from Tkachuk to Lindholm resulted in a goal.

[Huntingwhale]

Solid win and a solid effort overall. The D looked a bit off with the insertion of the 3 rotation players, but Vladar came up huge when needed. Can't say enough about the top line. Johnny is gonna smash 100, and I'll bet Tkachuk hits it too. Both are gonna get PAID, and I hope the team can find a way to make it with us. That will be quite the duo for years to come.

I could have sworn the Flames swept the Cali road trip earlier this year, but obviously it's another region I was thinking of. Still, quite the accomplishment at this time of the year.

Can't wait to see Johnny get point #100 Saturday on home ice!

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

The amount of Seinfeld is getting out of hand.

[Tsawwassen]

Postgame links
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl...il-7-1.6412537
http://sportsstats.cbc.ca/hockey/nhl...cap140703.html
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/games/2367760
https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401350270
https://scores.nbcsports.com/nhl/rec...=03&final=true

[WhiteTiger]

Excellent! Always love seeing a W!

NSFW!

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Again early shift precluded a watch but damned if'n it doesn't rock to wake up to another W.

[EVERLAST]

Originally Posted by hurtin_albertan

Asked about the lineup shuffle I think I heard Darryl say something along the lines of (paraphrasing) “I don’t appreciate being asked that kind of question this time of year, we don’t want to give away any information to the teams we might face in the playoffs”.

Happy with the win but I feel a bit concerned about the team all of a sudden. They’ve faced a ton of adversity already what with the ridiculous travel before December, the whole team getting wiped out by covid around Christmas, and then the crazy condensed schedule they faced in March having to make up all of those lost games. Despite all of that they’ve been consistently good and really healthy too - how many games in a row did they just roll out the same 6 defencemen and not even have to think about it. But all of a sudden Monahan is done, Lucic is fading fast, Jarnkrok is out, Kylington is out, now all of a sudden Gudbranson and Zadorov are scratched…this is not the time of year to start breaking down. I just wonder if “everything”, including the demands of Sutter, is starting to show its weight.

^^^^^^^

Darryl was brought in to win, said he had unfinished business and has set right to it.

This team has responded extremely well and as a result if we do actually do some winning in the playoffs it's precisely because of the depth worked in here at the end.

The amount of character shown here tells me it was here all along and Darryl just proved it....along with the help of Treliving who Darryl said when he returned was a good blueprint.

All things I thought I'd never say but the Flames have blown the doors off of anyone's expectations.

Seriously....its great to see this all. Now the real answer will be answered .....can we win when it matters ?
I feel pretty comfortable with the way they've played and responded.
GFG

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

All things I thought I'd never say but the Flames have blown the doors off of anyone's expectations.

Seriously....its great to see this all. Now the real answer will be answered .....can we win when it matters ?
I feel pretty comfortable with the way they've played and responded.
GFG

3 W streak, 3 games in 4 nights on the road, the last one with half the D out sick or injured. SJ is not as bad as their record. That's a gutsy effort on the back end of a gruelling stretch. I'd say they're built for what comes next.

I've been watching this team since they moved to Calgary 42 years ago. This group is among the best handful the team has ever had. Enjoy it.