[PGT] 2 big bedard points

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by Bingo

That's not what happened last night.

Guessing Jake Allen would have a pretty different opinion as well.

The Flames have certainly gone through games and stretches where high volume doesn't equal much by way of scoring chances, but last night wasn't one of them.

Seriously
I think they played really well last night actually
Much better’s than they did against Florida. I thought that was a sloppy win.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by mdubz

My favourite part was our PP which consists of Andersson taking turns passing to the 2 high wingers on each side, then eventually taking a low-danger wrist shot that is immediately cleared out.

Yeah this is so frustrating. Guy will not shoot. He should be taken off the PP, and maybe Weegar given a shot back there. Borderline Stone, and just let him bomb it in from the point.

They try to be too pretty, and yet ironically, nobody moves their feet.

[Huntingwhale]

Best part of the game was Monahan's return and his contributions. Sucks the Flames lost, but couldn't he happier for the guy. It was extremely conflicting hearing Rick Ball call PBP with Monahan's name and then remembering he was on the opposition. Made me sad.

Hope he manages to put up a 50-60 points season and sign another contract.

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by Goriders

As much as we crap on Markstrom. You should win the majority of your games giving up 2 goals and 19 shots.

It’s unusual that none of his team mates like Kadri, Mangiapane ect who are doing absolutely nothing offensively

It's not unusual - people tend to not want to remember but that is Darryl Sutter hockey. Lack of execution and diminished production has been an issue that has plagued his team's his entire coaching career, and it's a biproduct of his system. Last year was the outlier due to the first line dominating as much as it did. If you don't get elite goaltending under such a system - these are the results.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

It's not unusual - people tend to not want to remember but that is Darryl Sutter hockey. Lack of execution and diminished production has been an issue that has plagued his team's his entire coaching career, and it's a biproduct of his system. Last year was the outlier due to the first line dominating as much as it did. If you don't get elite goaltending under such a system - these are the results.

More than the first line had career seasons last year under Darryl...half the team did

[bubbsy]

Flames played well enough to win.... But they lost the Special teams battle yet again.

Like his first year, where he got hurt, markstrom appears to be trying to do too much last night which hurt the team. I really think they should have given vladar the met until he stumbles (’ride the hot hand’).

Markstroms postgame was sad to watch... Think he needs more time, away from game starts, to get out of his funk.

I am also shying away to bring someone up from the wranglers. This team looks broken, not sure it's a good time for guys to be getting into their first stints with the nhl team.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by dino7c

More than the first line had career seasons last year under Darryl...half the team did

The Flames 1st line played against the other team's best players last year, which I think is the first time that has happened in a while. They also dummied that competition.

Not really the same thing this year with no true first line.

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by dino7c

More than the first line had career seasons last year under Darryl...half the team did

Disagree. Mangiapane is the only other forward that saw a direct increase in production - and look at his play this year.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

Disagree. Mangiapane is the only other forward that saw a direct increase in production - and look at his play this year.

Disagree all you want, stats are stats...more than four guys had career seasons last year

[Naitix]

On the bright side… if we finish bottom 10 this year it gives us decent lottery odds and even if we pick at #10, that’s basically equivalent to a top 3-5 pick in last 6 drafts. Could be some game breaking talent around that spot

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Disagree all you want, stats are stats...more than four guys had career seasons last year

Look at the team's results with and without the first line on the ice. They were underwater. Stats are stats.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Disagree all you want, stats are stats...more than four guys had career seasons last year

Out of curiosity, who were the career year guys last season?

[DropIt]

Markstrom taking 100% of the heat for a lazy, anemic team in front of him.

Id say the entire team has been as bad in front of Markstrom, as Markstrom has been in net.

[Kasi]

I’d guess Dube would be another. Hanafin too. Markstrom arguably as well.

[Goriders]

I guess at what point do you start looking at addressing underperforming players. Historically it seems to be 20 games.

Overall I think the defence has done it’s job. Goaltending of late has improved enough as a tandem to give the team a chance each game. The big problem now seems to be consistent scoring. Both primary and secondary.

Players that would stand out to me would be Kadri, Dube, Magiapane. Kadri started out hot and has disappeared. Dube has not taken a step from last season. Mangiapane is probably in the same boat. Coleman might also fall in this category.

Rooney and Lucic provide no offence whatsoever.

Huberdeau seems to be coming around. I think Lindholm, Toffoli, Lewis, Ritchie, Backlund and Ruzicka are providing about what they were expected to provide.

So if you play Vladar more to help with the goaltending until Markstrom can get his head straight it looks like decisions would center around Kadri, Mangiapane, Dube, Coleman, Lucic and Rooney.

It seems like the decision had been made on Rooney. He has dissappeared. Highly doubt anything happens with Kadri. But Magiapane, Dube, Lucic and Coleman would be the players I would experiment with replacing in the lineup with players from the AHL.

Lucic offers less and less value as the league seems to be moving further and further away from fighting. I would look at replacing him first with a skilled player and start bumping others further down in the lineup.

Coleman seems to fill more of a defensive role so Mangiapane and Dube would probably be the next two I would rotate out of the lineup.

I don’t see what it would hurt to give Phillips, Zary or Peletier a shot. Ruzicka has turned out well. I’m not sure they could be worse than Lucic, Dube, Mangiapane or Coleman in terms of generating offence. If they are then the experiment can end.

But I think at this point doing nothing and crossing your fingers isn’t going to work. The lineup needs more skill. I don’t think it’s coming from the current group. So if AHL experimenting doesn’t pan out then I guess trades might be required. Or give up and wait until the offseason. I doubt that will happen either based on the money they have invested.

[VilleN]

What a snoozefest. Obviously, Markstrom had a big gaffe to start the game (wasn't entirely his fault though)- but this wasn't on him - at all. When you have 46 shots and only score once, that is on the skaters. We don't have any elite finishers. Huberdeau is a pure playmaker, unfortunately not a lot of guys there to finish his plays. The hole that Gaudreau left in our offense is so noticeable. We don't have that guy on offense who is a real threat with the puck on his stick.

I also think this team currently has no cohesion, they seem like a collection of players right now rather than a team. I think the heart of this team was ripped out this offseason with the departures of Gaudreau, Tkachuk, and Monahan. It seems as though they are struggling to find leadership on the ice. IMO that will ultimately have to come from Huberdeau. He needs to be our best player. He needs to be the player that other teams fear and gameplan for, and he needs to be the guy that sets the tone for the rest of the team. I don't know enough about Huberdeau if he is that player or has that in him though.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Kasi

I’d guess Dube would be another. Hanafin too. Markstrom arguably as well.

Raz, Zadorov, Gudbranson

We are up to 10 players...nearly half the roster had career years last season and probably missing some

Not buying that players can't excell in Sutter's system...they are getting the chances and not executing.

[Naitix]

Loved Ruzickas game last night, he could have easily had 3 goals with a bit more luck. I think he will be a good player for us, he wins so many board battles and has an amazing shot. I think his biggest asset is understanding which areas to be in to get the puck on his stick, so many times he is just at the right place and the puck comes to him

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Raz, Zadorov, Gudbranson

We are up to 10 players...nearly half the roster and probably missing some

Not buying that players can't excell in Sutter's system

You are including defensemen who played massive minutes with the top line..

Literally no other forward other than Mangiapane produced at a career best rate. Dube didn't (he was more productive the year prior), Monahan didn't, Backlund didn't, Coleman didn't, Toffoli didn't, Jarnkork didn't, Lucic didn't, Lewis didn't, Ritchie didn't, Pitlick didn't, Richardson didn't.

Johhny Gaudreau was a +58 at 5 on 5 last year - while the team's goal differential at 5 on 5 was +57.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by jar_e

The book is out with the flames system. Play a perimeter only defence in the zone, allow a million low quality shots, win games. Sutter’s inability to adapt or create a new system with the tools he has is incredibly frustrating. He should be getting as much heat as Markstrom gets on this board. How we have a woefully losing record when we shoot 40+ shots is actually so sad it’s impressive.

This is simply incorrect. The Flames had 19 HDCF in all situations last night.

The Panthers, who generate the most shots in close, average 15.23 HDCF/60. Calgary is middle of the pack with ~11 HDCF/60 but last night was not one of those games.

Lack of finish? Yes. Perimeter shots only? No.