Cliche and boring, but true: need your best players to be your best players the rest of the season. It's that simple. Might as well start tonight and carry it over to tomorrow as well.
Huberdeau, Kadri, Lindholm especially need to find another level.
At some point this will have to happen, but this little run is happening without these guys being that great.
I have mostly lost hope in Huberdeau and Kadri finding another level this season, but I think there is room for the team to tighten up on chances against still. And I'm hopeful Markstrom can lock in again. Those things happening and flames can win the next two games.
They were saying that on Saturday morning the team looked pretty gassed.
I think over the next two nights they likely need to dig into the depth and add some energy to the group. But with Ritchie, Stone, and Lucic scoring last game tough to sit them. But those bigger forwards like Lucic and Ritchie likely help more against the Jets. Not an easy call. But I might get Ruzicka and Pelletier in tonight. Than go Ritchie, Lucic and Gilbert tomorrow in place of those two and Stone.
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They were saying that on Saturday morning the team looked pretty gassed.
I think over the next two nights they likely need to dig into the depth and add some energy to the group. But with Ritchie, Stone, and Lucic scoring last game tough to sit them. But those bigger forwards like Lucic and Ritchie likely help more against the Jets. Not an easy call. But I might get Ruzicka and Pelletier in tonight. Than go Ritchie, Lucic and Gilbert tomorrow in place of those two and Stone.
Every team is gassed. It is an 82 game marathon, they are all tired and sore as hell.
At some point this will have to happen, but this little run is happening without these guys being that great.
I have mostly lost hope in Huberdeau and Kadri finding another level this season, but I think there is room for the team to tighten up on chances against still. And I'm hopeful Markstrom can lock in again. Those things happening and flames can win the next two games.
Huberdeau has found another gear in the last month or so. It's not top gear yet though. Kadri is less than he was at the begining of the year.
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Only issue with starting Markstrom is I think he should be in net against Winnipeg. Not sure we need him tired in any fashion, and I'm sure Vladar is capable of securing the win against the Blackhawks.
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Only issue with starting Markstrom is I think he should be in net against Winnipeg. Not sure we need him tired in any fashion, and I'm sure Vladar is capable of securing the win against the Blackhawks.
Unless Sutter is running Vladdy against the Jets, this makes no sense to run your #1A B2B with really the biggest game of the season tomorrow.
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If they lose this one tonight, it's going to inspire maximum disdain among the fan base.
I am expecting a win, and am cautiously hopeful about them making the playoffs, but I am also very conscious of how this franchise is elite at keeping an ember of hope burning as long as possible before dousing it in disappointing fashion. Fool me once, shame on you Flames. Fool me 30 times, I'm probably mentally deranged.
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I don't know if Sutter plans on playing Markstrom tomorrow too, or maybe just doesn't trust him in a big game against a Canadian team given those maybe haven't been his best efforts? Weird.
A good point to consider with which goalie to start - we can't overlook Chicago and focus on the Jets. Chicago game is a must win just like the one tomorrow, you have to take it game by game. You already know Chicago is not going to keep Markstrom busy, Flames are good at limiting shots, most likely they get <25 shots. He should be fine to start B2B
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A good point to consider with which goalie to start - we can't overlook Chicago and focus on the Jets. Chicago game is a must win just like the one tomorrow, you have to take it game by game. You already know Chicago is not going to keep Markstrom busy, Flames are good at limiting shots, most likely they get <25 shots. He should be fine to start B2B
Agreed! Now it's on the team to make sure he isn't busy. Just like the third period last game what was it like 3 shots against and two of them were dump ins?
I don't know if Sutter plans on playing Markstrom tomorrow too, or maybe just doesn't trust him in a big game against a Canadian team given those maybe haven't been his best efforts? Weird.
Or he is being Sutter and running his starting goalie hard. Vladar hasn’t really been much better this season.
If Markstrom plays ok and doesn't see a lot of work tonight he can easily play tomorrow too. After getting yanked I can see why Sutter wants him in net tonight to get in a groove before facing the Jets.
