[News] Flames recall Phillips

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Sounds like there won't be a Sutsie's Choice. Ritchie sits.

What?

[chedder]

4th line with Lucic and Lewis. Better keep expectations low.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by textcritic

what?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1601253733010067457

[CF84]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What?

I'm assuming it's a play on "Sophie's Choice."

[Toonage]

Yes, sorry. Poor attempt at humor. Earlier I suggested Sutter would have a hard time choosing between Lucic & Lewis.

Won't happen again.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by chedder

4th line with Lucic and Lewis. Better keep expectations low.

It was always going to be like this; Phillips has played a grand total of 14:19 in the NHL before today. The place for him to start is by making a positive impact: possessing the puck, getting it out of the defensive zone, keeping it in the offensive zone. If this line is capable of doing that much, then this is already a good showing for him.

[CF84]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Yes, sorry. Poor attempt at humor. Earlier I suggested Sutter would have a hard time choosing between Lucic & Lewis.

Won't happen again.

You got a chuckle out of me...but I felt pretty old at the same time.

[Kasi]

Doubt he gets too much impact there with Lucic dragging him down. I’m not really sure what the point of that line is. It’s not to score really since Lucic is incapable of that. Maybe some sort of energy line or just try not to be caved in? I just don’t see how those players work together.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Kasi

Doubt he gets too much impact there with Lucic dragging him down. I’m not really sure what the point of that line is. It’s not to score really since Lucic is incapable of that. Maybe some sort of energy line or just try not to be caved in? I just don’t see how those players work together.

Lewis is a good player and it gives Phillips an opportunity to get acclimated to NHL game speed, something he has almost no experience with.

Mangiapane, Dube, and Ruzicka all spent time on the 4th line and all 3 are (arguably in Ruzicka’s case) everyday NHLers now. Relax.

[HighLifeMan]

Just how bad does Lucic have to play exactly to have a couple of games off.

My goodness. Some accountability would be nice.

[mennoknight]

did phillips score yet

[iggyloob12]

There’s no one to replace Lucic right now except Ritchie, but he’s a RW. And there was zero chance that the top 9 would get shuffled in the middle of a win streak to fit in one call up.

[Burning Beard]

They play back to back maybe Lucic sits tomorrow night for Zahorna and they don't want to run a line with two rookies on it for their first game in the NHL this year tonight.You guys got your wish with the call-up! Try to enjoy it.

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Lewis is a good player and it gives Phillips an opportunity to get acclimated to NHL game speed, something he has almost no experience with.

Mangiapane, Dube, and Ruzicka all spent time on the 4th line and all 3 are (arguably in Ruzicka’s case) everyday NHLers now. Relax.

Yes but those guys were playing with better players like Ryan or a younger more effective Lucic. It’s just hard to see the value in running Lucic out every game when he gives so little. But yeah as long as they don’t get caved as bad as they have recently that’s a win I suppose. Hopefully he gets some pp2 time as well.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by looooob

I didn't see that reference coming! my father in law is friends with him

I met him at a golf course in Mesa about ten years ago. Great guy.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Kasi

Yes but those guys were playing with better players like Ryan or a younger more effective Lucic. It’s just hard to see the value in running Lucic out every game when he gives so little. But yeah as long as they don’t get caved as bad as they have recently that’s a win I suppose. Hopefully he gets some pp2 time as well.

You have yourself to blame if you set expectations that he was going to be in the top nine after the team has won three games, with all three lines contributing.

The consensus last weekend was call him up to improve the fourth line.

Here it is.

It's up to him now. He has to prove he's better than Ritchie, then aim higher in the roster and go from there.

[Knut]

Lucic means Phillips can play his game with protection. Its fine. Lewis will back him up. It is a good spot to start.

[Canada 02]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1601266187777744897

[iggyloob12]

I knew it! Darryl doesn’t want him to succeed!

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Bingo

You have yourself to blame if you set expectations that he was going to be in the top nine after the team has won three games, with all three lines contributing.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli have zero 5v5 goals together in the last three games actually (and their larger sample is hardly impressive offensively, though they're not necessarily hurting us defensively). And they have an underwhelming xGF% of 50.94 in those three games, along with a goal against the only goal event for that trio. They did score an empty-netter, but.. it was an empty netter.

Mangiapane - Kadri - Dube have fared better offensively, with 2 goals and 1 goal against, but still have an underwhelming xGF% of 49.91 in those games. Their larger sample is concerning as they have 49.27% xGF% over 185:00 minutes together, despite being the runaway line that gets the softest usage in the top nine in terms of defensive zone faceoffs.

The only forward combo that genuinely seems to be clicking 5v5 over that three game win streak is Ruzicka-Backlund, accounting for 5 goals for and 1 goal against, and an xGF% of 73.39. Mangiapane scored one of those goals with them, and Coleman has been in on the rest. This duo is carrying us 5v5.

Not to take away from powerplay goals and empty-netters, but I don't think the top nine is above reproach based on either the three game win streak or the larger sample of the season. I would have to imagine Sutter is aware of this.

Am I concerned about Phillips on the fourth line? No.

Are two of the top three lines on the team still really struggling? Yes.