[GDT] WCQF: GAME 4 - CALGARY FLAMES AT DALLAS STARS 7:30pm TV: SN/CBC/TNT/TVA - RADIO 960

[Toonage]

I wanted to see something in the way of line changes and well, that's something.

Will it work? Here's hoping.

[FanIn80]

Man, if this roster had even a quarter of the heart that the '04 roster did... that would be something to see.

[soulchoice]

Come on Flames, I stay up till 230am(game time start) here in London, UK, to watch your games.

Make this one worth it please.

Yes, to those who know me on CP, I moved to London for a year or more…..

Crash the net, don’t be perimeter players.

For the love of god, we need Toffoli, Backlund and Hanifin to step up their games. Not to mention the other usual suspects.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I actually don't hate it.

1) they need to do something
2) Ritchie might drag Backlund and Toffoli into the fray
3) Mangiapane might be able to turn Lewis and Looch's hard work into productivity
4) The big Ls can protect Mangiapane

88-11-20 were one of the better lines in the league this season for chances for/against. It’s crunch time. Put them back together.
Leave the first line alone.
Mix and match the bottom 6 if you want.

That Ritchie-Backund-Toffoli line……..that’s ugly. Obviously things change and maybe Darryl plays around with the lines 5 minutes in, but to start that doesn’t look like line combos that give the team the best chance to succeed. Guess time will tell.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Is there are good reason Sutter refuses to use
Magiapane-Backlund-Coleman?

That is the question I have, as I am sure that line had great metrics.

[indes]

I can kind of see Lucic-Lewis-Mangi as Lucic is a pretty good distributor but Ritchie-Backlund-Toffoli sounds like a line that would struggle to break 25 goals over the entire regular season.

My 0.02

Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Mangi - Backlund - Coleman
Dube - Jarnkrok - Toffoli
Lucic - Lewis - Ritchie

[FanIn80]

God, how I wish we had that [Mangiapane - Monahan - Toffoli] second line I daydreamed about after the trade.

[kobasew19]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Mangi on the 4th line is interesting. That line was able to hem Dallas in for long stretches in game 3. I guess he wants more speed and skill there to try and take advantage of all that zone time.

Given the way Lewis and Lucic have been playing, that's probably our second line right now.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Ritchie has slid up the line up in the past. Unfortunately, it's never yielded results. I will admit he's looked much better lately and I can see it might be viewed as a potential shot in the arm to Backlund/Toffoli.

Or, maybe, just maybe, Lewis/Lucic moved up to Mangiapane and Toffoli/Backlund moved down to Ritchie. I know, I know, mind blown.

[delayedreflex]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

More high danger chances, because they are shooting more.

But they aren't better high danger chances. That's why their success rate is down. Some luck, some lack of creativity.

Gotta wonder how much of this is because of how good Dallas is at clogging the middle of the ice and getting into passing lanes though. It seems to me that the Flames are shooting more because the pass option is not as available as it has vs. many of their past games. How much of this is due to the Flames being off their game vs. good structure/defence by Dallas is not that clear.

The unfortunate thing is that Oettinger has been very good at stopping direct shots this series. Flames have certainly scored on a number of shots in the regular season that were similar to the ones that we've been getting in this series (eg. Johnny shooting instead of deking on a breakaway) - I do feel like Oettinger has been a bigger difference maker than people are giving him credit for. I think that's why the Flames really need to get more deflections/screened shots because those are the ones that even the best goalies can have no chance on.

[Erick Estrada]

Ritchie on the 2nd line eh? Sure the 2nd line hasn’t produced but adding a winger that put up 4 points in 41 games is not likely going to yield positive results. A little too early for panic moves like this IMO.

[mile]

Seems like every time Sutter does something with the lineup that doesn't make sense to me, the Flames end up winning.


Maybe putting Ritchie up there will get the other two to keep it more simple in the offensive zone? idk

[neo45]

Yikes Darryl. Yikes

[Tron_fdc]

I don't get those line combos at all.

I'd like to see a Mang-Dube-Coleman line at some point.

Toffoli has to step up here and be the player he was supposed to be when we brought him in. I'd also take him off PP1 if he continues to throw muffins at the net and flub passes like he was doing last game. Dube, Mang or even Backlund is a better choice than him the way he's played this series. Hell, if you want to have a "presence" put Lucic back out there. He can't be any worse.

[HighLifeMan]

I don't understand the insistence on having Jarnkrok play down the middle. He has generally found the most success as an NHL player on the wing. He is one of the least creative players on the roster and does very little in terms of creating for his linemates. The middle six has been a complete let down for quite some time now. Not sure why Toffoli replaced Mangiapane on the top PP unit either. Revert that back.

Mangiapane - Dube - Toffoli
Coleman - Backlund - Jarnkrok

[Philly06Cup]

I can see what Sutter is trying to do. At this point, We have a top line and 3 third lines. Sutter wants to roll 4 lines. Expect Johnny's line to see a lot of Faksa/Glendening, who did a good job shutting them down. Lucic's line has been generating possession -- now with Mang, they will actually be a threat to score. Other two lines: they are both responsible enough to contain Hintz/Robertson/Pavelski; whichever isn't on them will be able to feast on Benn/Seguin.

[Flamesfan05]

Lucic/Lewis have been playing and producing better than Backlund and Toffoli so it’s a promotion for Mangipane

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by delayedreflex

Gotta wonder how much of this is because of how good Dallas is at clogging the middle of the ice and getting into passing lanes though. It seems to me that the Flames are shooting more because the pass option is not as available as it has vs. many of their past games. How much of this is due to the Flames being off their game vs. good structure/defence by Dallas is not that clear.

The unfortunate thing is that Oettinger has been very good at stopping direct shots this series. Flames have certainly scored on a number of shots in the regular season that were similar to the ones that we've been getting in this series (eg. Johnny shooting instead of deking on a breakaway) - I do feel like Oettinger has been a bigger difference maker than people are giving him credit for. I think that's why the Flames really need to get more deflections/screened shots because those are the ones that even the best goalies can have no chance on.

I don't think there's any question that Dallas deserves some credit. A LOT of credit. It has been their solid defensive play that has gotten the Flames shooting instead of passing.

But I would also argue that the Flames haven't worked hard enough to get open for passes. In the playoffs, there is going to be less space, you have to make your space.

Instead of finding ways to get open and play their game, they are turning away and taking the simpler plays. That is why they are behind in the series, IMO.

[tvp2003]

Sutter must be anticipating the endless string of 4-on-4's will continue, so he's countering with pairs:

Gaudreau-Lindholm
Backlund-Toffoli
Dube-Coleman
Lewis-Mangiapane

Seriously, that's all I've got. In Sutter we trust.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Don't think so.



Counts/60 are out right not percentages. They're literally getting more high danger chances in 60 minutes of hockey than they did in the regular season.

More chances but playing tight and not capitalizing? I like what these stats are painting but I have to wonder the 'why'.

They need to play looser, play the way they played in the regular season. Pressure can make a player shoot a high danger shot right into the goalie's crest or miss the net.