[PGT] WIN CITY in SIN CITY!

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by blankall

Every year we keep hearing that mantra of just get to the playoffs.... This year it seems true.

A coming in hot Colorado is likely the best team in the West, but their aren't what they were last year. It honestly seems like any of the top ten teams in the West could advance to the finals.

Colorado probably is the best team. But who knows how they place when it's all said and done. They seem to hit a slump every time they look ready to overtake Dallas.

It is a bit of a different year as there hasn't been much to differentiate the top 7 teams.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by 81MC

Not to be ‘that’ guy, but the incessant bitching about Lucic is really tiresome. We knew full well that his contract was bad when we traded for the even worse James Neal. We’ve undeniably won that trade and Lucic has by and large been a bigger asset to the team than most would have thought when we unloaded Neal for him.

Good character guy, knows when to scrap, and has years of experience that is important for the younger guys. Haven’t heard anything negative about him as a teammate or person. And honestly I’d need to see the advanced stats on his play but I don’t think he’s the albatross out there some of you make it seem.

I get it, he’s on the tail of his career and he’s overpaid. Again, we knew that going in, it was the best option and he’s been way better than Neal. Can we stop relentlessly ####ting on the guy every ####ing thread?

The issue is when the coach FINALLY drops his ice time. The other players are getting more ice time and we get a big win. Some of us have been asking for this forever. I’m fine with Lucic 5-7 mins ice per game. Just not 12-14 and in horrificly managed spots like right after a goal against or in the last 3 mins of a game.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by FBI

The issue is when the coach FINALLY drops his ice time. The other players are getting more ice time and we get a big win. Some of us have been asking for this forever. I’m fine with Lucic 5-7 mins ice per game. Just not 12-14 and in horrificly managed spots like right after a goal against or in the last 3 mins of a game.

Except the some of you bitching about Lucic nonstop were losing it yesterday when you saw the line combinations ahead of the game and him riding next to Kadri on the 3rd, and now it’s suddenly exactly what you had been asking for.

[Young Guns]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Except the some of you bitching about Lucic nonstop were losing it yesterday when you saw the line combinations ahead of the game and him riding next to Kadri on the 3rd, and now it’s suddenly exactly what you had been asking for.

Kadri was on the 4th line with Lucic, not the 3rd. I like Lucic and Lewis but we would be a better team with them in the press box.
Pellletier and Duehr playing with Kadri instead.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Young Guns

Kadri was on the 4th line with Lucic, not the 3rd. I like Lucic and Lewis but we would be a better team with them in the press box.
Pellletier and Duehr playing with Kadri instead.

Go check the line combos from the GDT thread again to see what I’m talking about.

How much better of a team do you think we would be? Would’ve won 8-2? 9-2?

[Strange Brew]

I understand that Lucic is a lightning rod for fan discontent.

Rather unfair to lump Lewis in there. He is consistently solid.

IMO I'm putting Dueher in over Ritchie.
And Pelletier needs to slot in again soon but I'm OK giving Ruzicka another game.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I understand that Lucic is a lightning rod for fan discontent.

Rather unfair to lump Lewis in there. He is consistently solid.

IMO I'm putting Dueher in over Ritchie.
And Pelletier needs to slot in again soon but I'm OK giving Ruzicka another game.

Yeah, Lewis is old, but he’s very solid. He’s not even slow - I’d say his wheels are on par with the forward group as a whole.

[Naitix]

-Lucic, -Ritchie
+Duehr, +Pelletier, shift Dube based on positional need

[The Hendog]

Lucic & Ritchie out

Pelletier & Duehr in

Play them with Kadri

Maybe young energy will cure Kadri

[Savvy27]

Wow, I wish I could have seen this one. Huge to get a win in Vegas finally and obviously the points are huge with the Jets faltering.

Big HNIC against Dallas coming up. Was thinking of selling my tickets but the Dallas games have been wild this season and hope for playoffs remains somehow.

[Young Guns]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Go check the line combos from the GDT thread again to see what I’m talking about.

How much better of a team do you think we would be? Would’ve won 8-2? 9-2?

I just meant any line with Lucic on it should be considered the forth line. At the very least he should be creating havoc in front of the net. He never goes near the front of the net. Any type of scrum on the ice he is no where to be found. Usually off in the corner watching or going to the bench for a change. He looks like a guy that knows his carrier is coming to a end and not interested in playing next season.

Duehr should have been given Lucic's spot a long time ago. Not just talking about last nights game.

[Goriders]

Last night defined what is so frustrating about this years team. Beat the number one team in the conference relatively easily on the road. But lose to the fourth worst team the game before.

They are keeping themselves in the mix thanks to Winnipeg falling off the map. But Nashville has worked themselves into the mix as well.

I still don’t think they are going to make it because they are so inconsistent. But I’m not as worried as others about the future because they have shown that with half decent goaltending they can beat anyone in the league.

There’s something off with the team though. There are enough smart people though that I think they will figure out what tweaks are required in the offseason. I also think a lot of players are going to look themselves in the mirror and come back much stronger.

We shall see what happens.

[Paulie Walnuts]

That Toffoli goal felt like a Iginla like goal a power move right into the net.

I hope Mangiapane saw that goal and starts taking the puck right to the net.

The Lucic thing is strange because he truly is useless and Walker brings something the teams needs some speed and has scored some big goals for the team as well.

Hard to complain after a win, but Lucic should sit for the rest of the season he has not earned his ice over Walker.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Last night defined what is so frustrating about this years team. Beat the number one team in the conference relatively easily on the road. But lose to the fourth worst team the game before.

They are keeping themselves in the mix thanks to Winnipeg falling off the map. But Nashville has worked themselves into the mix as well.

I still don’t think they are going to make it because they are so inconsistent. But I’m not as worried as others about the future because they have shown that with half decent goaltending they can beat anyone in the league.

There’s something off with the team though. There are enough smart people though that I think they will figure out what tweaks are required in the offseason. I also think a lot of players are going to look themselves in the mirror and come back much stronger.

We shall see what happens.

Good news is there is no weak teams in the playoffs if they squeak in. Probably prefer this over a team that is rolling the weak teams but losing to the top teams. If they get in they will be a nightmare to play against and there is no 3 vs 3 in the playoffs!

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Good news is there is no weak teams in the playoffs in they squeak in. Probably prefer this over a team that is rolling the weak teams but losing to the top teams. If they get in they will be a nightmare to play against and there is no 3 vs 3 in the playoffs!

Flames could find themselves on a lot of 3 on 3 in the playoffs just not OT, but refs calling cheap penalties during a 5-3 powerplay.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Flames could find themselves on a lot of 3 on 3 in the playoffs just not OT, but refs calling cheap penalties during a 5-3 powerplay.

That's a worry if they play the Diving Divas up north.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Wasn't that the big issue with Dallas to start the series the amount of 4 on 4 we played.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Wasn't that the big issue with Dallas to start the series the amount of 4 on 4 we played.

Yeah I remember that too. Wasn't a lot of it Tkachuk related?

[Toonage]

They got a win in LV, killing the curse before it really got going, I got all I asked for.

The season can go peacefully if thats what happens.

But I'd rather it go out kicking & screaming.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Young Guns

I just meant any line with Lucic on it should be considered the forth line. At the very least he should be creating havoc in front of the net. He never goes near the front of the net. Any type of scrum on the ice he is no where to be found. Usually off in the corner watching or going to the bench for a change. He looks like a guy that knows his carrier is coming to a end and not interested in playing next season.

Duehr should have been given Lucic's spot a long time ago. Not just talking about last nights game.

I don’t disagree with anything you’re saying here, my only point was connected to 81MC’s, which is that the complaining about Lucic is relentless and boring.

People complained about him being on the “3rd” line in the GDT, then when he was barely used it was actually what they were asking for but they complained it didn’t happen soon enough, and now we’re complaining that he played at all because we could’ve done better than winning 7-2.

It’s just one of those things where you think, eventually, people would run out of steam. But I’ve noticed this season maybe more than any other (though it’s gotten progressively worse since 2019/2020), that once people don’t like a player or coach or whatever, they will find or create any opportunity to complain about that person. Win or lose, high or low, anything good is only because their complaints were met and everything bad is the reason they’re complaining. End of the day nobody who can do anything about it hears them, so who is it for?