I don't lump game two in with the first half of game three, it was a pretty solid effort.
Five on five the Flames were very good in game two, but got caught in a penalty barrage that fed into Edmonton's game.
Even then they were tied up with half a period to play and on the powerplay.
Game three ... on their heels to start the game, but defending well enough to keep the danger to a minimum. Then an early goal in the second period seemed to knock them off their game and they got shredded with too much separation.
This hasn't been a one sided series at all, and if it is, not the way you think.
Flames Five on Five (124 min)
CF% 58.9%
xGF% 58.3%
HD% 59.6%
Even the powerplay is 3.48 expected goals for Edmonton to Calgary's 3.19 and Edmonton getting an extra nine minutes of powerplay time.
Flow of the game favours Calgary ... if there was a way to sort high danger into regular high danger and freaking scary high danger I think Edmonton would take an advantage for sure.
But for the most part it's come down to Edmonton shooters finishing more often, and Edmonton goalie making the stops more often.
The way to a series win is already there. Just execute.
Here is the series in all situations for expected goals ...
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Desperate Times call for Desperate Measures. I have broken out my vintage 89 Lanny Jersey and am wearing it today. The good Juju can only follow. GO FLAMES GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Its 2-1, and I refuse to believe that a Sutter lead team is just going to crawl into the corner and give up and cry.
I read a lot of posters with that remorseless feeling of this series being over in 5 games. So I choose to respond with some of the finest motivational speeches ever done, but with the names changed to reflect the current scenario.
Spoiler!
Quote:
Sutter: Hey! What's all this laying around Stuff? Gaudreau: What the hell are we supposed to do, ya moron? Backlund: [to Gaudreau] War's over, man. McDavid dropped the big one.
Sutter: What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! Tkatchuk: [to Gaudreau] Germans? Gaudreau: Forget it, he's rolling. Sutter: And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough...
[thinks hard of something to say] Sutter: The tough get goin'! Who's with me? Let's go!
[Sutter runs out, alone; then returns] Sutter: What the #### happened to the Flames I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst. "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Sutter, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. McDavid, he's a dead man! Draisaitl, dead! Kane... Gaudreau: Dead! Sutter's right. Psychotic... but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part! Sutter: We're just the guys to do it. Markstrom: [stands up] Gaudreau: [stands up] Let's do it. Sutter: [shouting] "Let's do it"!
[all of the Flames stand up and run out with Sutter]
Spoiler!
Quote:
Sutter: And even if we win, if we win, HAH! Even if we win! Even if we play so far above our heads that our noses bleed for a week to ten days; even if God in Heaven above comes down and points his hand at our side of the ice; even if every man woman and child held hands together and prayed for us to win, it just wouldn't matter because all the really good looking girls would still go out with the guys from Edmonton because they've got all the money! It just doesn't matter if we win or we lose. IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER!
Rest of group: IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER! IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER...
I put together a video on mental preparation for a team I was coaching. But I wanted a pump up at the start and I think the first 2:30 or so is needed on this forum today.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Tonight is the night! Tonight...I will find the one true superstition that makes a difference! Watching this one standing on my head with my pants inside out.
Someone on here said in the first round, that every time they win it feels like they’ll never lose again, but every time they lose it feels like they’ll never win again. So true.
So I get the feeling that they’re doomed, but I also know, intellectually, that things can flip very fast. Nice to see bingo’s stats that show it hasn’t been as lopsided as it feels.
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I feel oddly calm and confident about todays game - think this is where we see Sutter’s playoff experience shine. Flames take this one and make it a best of three.
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I just think it sucks that we had to face godmode Oettinger then godmode McDavid.
23 points in 10 games is absurd. Guys have won Conn Smythes with less.
If we beat the Oilers and face the Avs, look to Cale Makar to turn into the 2nd coming of Bobby Orr.
PS: Leon has 19 points in 10 games.
Mike Smith is actually 2nd in the playoffs after Oettinger now in expected goals saved against average. Oilers riding a historic one man offensive performance and incredible goaltending.
Don't know what to expect tonight. On the one hand, the goals they allowed last game all followed the same pattern of getting killed on transition from forwards getting caught high following bad D decisions, so theoretically they should be able to be corrected.
On the other hand the Flames game plan is to forecheck hard and I'm not sure the current D pairs have it in them to make good plays under pressure, and without that the structure is gone.
Biggest game in a while and perhaps for a while for the franchise. Hoping for their best effort of the season, some Sutter magic and some luck.
This is a big test of the coaching staff. The Oilers have pumped the Flames for 31 goals in 7 games. Try harder isn’t going to cut it. If the Flames can’t adapt and adjust it will be a short series.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
Need to get back to Flames hockey. They've been the better team for 2 maybe 3 periods out of 9? Big guns need to score, 3rd and 4th line needs to hit and play hard. Defence needs to tighten up. Goalie needs to play like he's the better goalie on the ice. We do that and we win.
Interesting from Pinder on the radio talking g about around 1.
7 of the 8 series in round 1 went 2-1 and 6 teams that were down 1-2 won the series. Only the Avs series never got there and only the Oilers won leading 2-1
