[PGT] Flames lose 4-2, trail series 2-1

[chedder]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Yeah, Johnny, Markstrom, Lucic, and Lewis were the standouts for the Flames in this game.

What about the other guy that scored tonight? Number 28 with an actual beauty of a goal.

[Macindoc]

Can Gaudreau be better? Sure, but so can every single player on the ice tonight. But he’s got points on 2/3 of the team’s goals. He’s not the problem. Tkachuk is contributing nothing to that line because he’s too emotional and overreactive and keeps trying to even the score with toughness rather than scoring. And the middle six have been underwater all series. Those are their most glaring problems.

[Sainters7]

I will love this team until the day I die, but if they lose this series, I will view this franchise in a MUCH more pessimistic light going forward until they show me otherwise. Like you're better than this, what are you doing?? This is disgraceful..

[chedder]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Losing some STHs might be a blessing in disguise though as maybe the ones that replace you guys will always wear red and cheer loudly.

Dallas crowd embarrassed the C of red tonight.

Yeah yeah, “more exciting” or some nonsense.

The dome would have been deafening if that game was played here instead of the stinker we got to see Thursday.

[Murph]

Time for the core to grow up.

Tkachuk, Gaudreau, Anderson, Hannafin… Feels like I’m watching a bunch of punks.

Reflecting an earlier comment I saw, I was 9 in ‘89 and barely remember. If I don’t see something Monday, well, I might be done.

[Ferarri]

Honestly don’t know what to think at this point. Going into the playoffs I wanted to believe that we had figured it out and that this year would be different. I mean the team checks a lot of boxes on paper. All star coach, triple threat top line, crushing back end and elite goaltender. Yet here we are.

Is Calgary done at this point? No, but there isn’t a lot that inspires confidence right now. Being a fan of this team is really tough. I guess I was hoping that Sutter would be our secret weapon and the demons of past years had been corrected after a brilliant regular season.

This one hurts as nothing seems to be working. Having a tough time scoring 5 on 5, ineffective power play, invisible middle 6 and the inability to shut down an average Stars team.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you never get too high because it’s always in the back of your mind that this is the Calgary Flames. Another poster had a breakdown of the teams success over the last 30 years and it’s downright embarrassing. Trying hard to believe but games like this are a stiff reminder of who we are unfortunately.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

I think we're still winning the series. A win on Monday and we're back to Calgary with home-ice advantage. It's not like the Flames have been outplayed in the losses. This is what happens when two evenly matched teams play each other. I suppose the disappointment comes from expecting it to be easier than this.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

Sure. But of all the things that went wrong tonight, that’s what you say? The middle six is getting dominated. Toffoli is terrible. So is Backland.

I trust Sutter and have to believe he knows what he is doing motivation wise. It was just surprising to me that he chose to call Johnny out. All I’m saying. He’s not the issue here.

But it’s not a statement. It’s a Q&A.

If the question was “how big was that missed breakaway in the 3rd?” He’s not gonna start laying into Toffoli.

[Flamescuprun2018]

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

I just want to say, on nights like this I’m glad to have Calgarypuck to know that I’m not alone in my frustration and disappointment!!!

I want to be optimistic but we have seen this movie before. I hope they can pull this off but it’s going to be a real uphill battle now.

Well said! Shared frustration amongst CPers offers some solace for sure!

It has been one hell of horror movie with so many sequels! Not sure why I pay to keep seeing it but I do.

[NewFan]

Dallas coach figured out our line ups. So lets mix all the lines and add some bigger bodies in every lines to confuse his tacticks.
Johnny-Lindholm-Toffoli (Hope Johnny and Lindy find Toffoli that he can shoot)
Dube-Backlund-Tkachuk (Hope they play their top 4 D against them)
Mangi-Ruzicka-Coleman (Hope Mangi gets one for us)
Lucic-Lewis-Jarn (Just bring some energy)

I have no idea how it will work, but Dallas also has no idea too��

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by DJones

Thought it was a questionable penalty to be honest. Andersson initiated contact.

Benn should be suspended.

Absolutely … if the netting wasn’t there, he’d have been given 5 and a game … such a bizarre play for the officials to just ignore

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I hope to see this place happy and upbeat again soon. Until then, hold tight and don't lose say too much that you'll regret.

I don’t want any part of sports fandom that doesn’t involve wild mood swings.

Cheering for the flames, or any team, is like dating that crazy hot girl who deep down you know you have no future with but can’t bring yourself to break up with her because you keep trying to convince yourself things will work out and she’ll settle down.

When it’s fun, it’s really fun and you ride that high while it lasts. And when it’s bad, it’s really bad, with knock down drag em out screaming matches until 3am that wake the neighbours.

But the very next day, you make up with her because she’s just the right amount of crazy for you and you once again start thinking about how she might be the one.

[BigFlameDog]

Anyone who is actually trying to pin this on Markstrom should be embarrassed.

[CGY12]

Good Stanley Cup contending teams find a way to take over a game, score on a PP, elevate in crunch time, apply legit pressure when down. The Flames PP is what 1 for 12? Tkachuk is an absolute bone head who has no self control, they didn't even gain possession of the puck in the Dallas zone late, losing 3 draw in a row, the 2nd and 3rd lines are pretty much invisible, soft perimeter shots with no traffic cause they can't gain position in front. Its the same old story with this team.

I feel bad for Markstrom, he is the least of our worries, FYI.

[djsFlames]

Only change I would make up front:

Swap Tkachuk and Toffoli.

Those two are not on the same page as their line mates.

Tkachuk could use the work ethic of Backlund and Mangiapane and Toffoli could benefit from the playmaking of Gaudreau.

[Duffalufagus]

Lol at anyone pinning this on Markstrom. Has been out best player.

[BoLevi]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Only change I would make up front:

Swap Tkachuk and Toffoli.

Those two are not on the same page as their line mates.

Tkachuk could use the work ethic of Backlund and Mangiapane and Toffoli could benefit from the playmaking of Gaudreau.

you can also bring in Ruczzyzkza

[Stampede2TheCup]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

No it wasn’t. That’s ridiculous. It should not be close. Flames were an elite regular season team. Dallas was not.

No other team this playoffs is playing further below regular season performance than the flames.

At least florida and NY are playing really good teams. Dallas barely made the playoffs.

With the parity in the league and a lower proportion of teams making it nowadays, I think it’s silly to expect a top seed to automatically dominate a low one. Florida right now is another case in point. Dallas had goaltending issues this season but with Oettinger they got won at a pace to get 104 points on the season. Dallas was also a cup finalist two years ago. There’s also a long history of NHL teams riding hot goalies to success in the playoffs.

I have a question for anyone who is upset because they think the Flames should be running the table. Have you:
a) not been watching Sutter’s press conferences all season?
b) were watching Sutter’s press conferences while thinking he built an elite team but decided not to believe a word he said about expectations for and the status of the team?

As much some may think Sutter has no clue at all about hockey since he’s got his team down 2-1 in this series, I think his press conferences are full of hockey wisdom and you’re missing out if you don’t consume them.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

Completely disagree. Was the best Flame on the ice tonight.

I thought he was good, but it's not enough.
Dallas's top line has been 1 goal better than our top line 2 games in a row now and that's all that matters.

Would be great if our supposed depth would step up too, but our top line still needs to outdo theirs most games.
We are talking about a line most considered the best in the league this season.

[ikaris]

Markstrom was phenomenal tonight. Anyone who says otherwise is full of crap.

The personification of this game was when Gaudreau came in on a breakaway while we were down by one and didn’t finish. If you want 10-11M you finish that. The fact that he didn’t should weigh on him personally and any contract in the future if we don’t get out of the first round.

Regardless, we need the split in Dallas and still have the opportunity on Monday to leave with that.

Also Mr Coffees post is garbage regarding fan noise at the saddledome. I’ll be there in game 5 my expectation for someone to talk that nonsense that they’ll be there too to make noise.