[GDT] Calgary Flames at New York Rangers 5:00pm TV: SNW, MSG - RADIO SN960

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Zary was just sticking up for his fellow player. This crap about him making a mistake is just that; crap. Other players have done much worse and only served the 2 minutes. With regard to his contribution lately; he's been bounced all over the lineup, no consistent line mates so what do we expect. Huska throws him out there and expects him to carry a line. Maybe it's time to criticize the vets who are doing nothing.

No, it was a mistake. Sure he was defending a fellow team mate but he was far too overzealous about it and left his feet and clobbered a guy with his elbow.

Zary isn't a large individual. He lost his head. He could have grabbed the guy by the jersey. Just shoved him. It took some effort to do what he did. Thats a mistake.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Demaeon

They should just win out.

Much easier said than done,.

Since Feb 1 they have been one of the worst teams in the NHL via the advanced stats.

This is a bad team. Thier goal differential is worse than Buffalo's.

It will take great goaltending and lots of luck to likely win 50% of their games.

Winning out would require Power Ball odds.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Zary was just sticking up for his fellow player. This crap about him making a mistake is just that; crap. Other players have done much worse and only served the 2 minutes.

Who didn't need to be stuck up for.

That was a big game and he needed to pick his spots. Focus on the puck and trying to score. If the play gets blown dead and you see Kadri hurt then yeah, try and stick up for him.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Can't be worse than last night. Go Flames!

Someone woke up feeling the need to tempt fate today!

[dissentowner]

I am torn. On one hand I know the best thing for this team is to finish bottom 10. On the other hand I want them to make the playoffs just so it pisses off the posters who are only happy when they can bitch about the teams lack of success over and over.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am torn. On one hand I know the best thing for this team is to finish bottom 10. On the other hand I want them to make the playoffs just so it pisses off the posters who are only happy when they can bitch about the teams lack of success over and over.

Sneaking into the playoffs and getting swept first round isn't success. I want them to win the cup.

I'm tired of the decades of Flames mediocrity. Let's properly tank and build a contender. I know some others feel the same way.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Sneaking into the playoffs and getting swept first round isn't success. I want them to win the cup.

I'm tired of the decades of Flames mediocrity. Let's properly tank and build a contender. I know some others feel the same way.

Agreed.

If not for the last 10 games of performance, I would have thought the Flames had a very good chance of playing the role of first round spoiler. Maybe that's as far as they would go, but it would have still been fun none the less.

However, their recent performance shows just how much of a "waste of 8 days" it would be for them.

Drop down. Keep a high pick. Add it to the pool.

[konradical]

It is crazy that if we win and the nucks lose we are still somehow in the driver's seat based off of point percentage lmao

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Sneaking into the playoffs and getting swept first round isn't success. I want them to win the cup.

I'm tired of the decades of Flames mediocrity. Let's properly tank and build a contender. I know some others feel the same way.

Lets dive into this!

We haven't talked about this on the site yet!

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Yeah the Flames looked like they could feasibly upset someone up until the last week before the 4N break and since then. In that time frame they've truly looked like a team hanging on by their fingernails rather than the quick pivot retool that some of us and management were probably talking themselves into believing they might be.

I guess in the end it's the final quarter that separates the real clubs from pretenders. Which sucks because you get your hopes up for most of the season only to have it unravel.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Yeah the Flames looked like they could feasibly upset someone up until the last week before the 4N break and since then. In that time frame they've truly looked like a team hanging on by their fingernails rather than the quick pivot retool that some of us and management were probably talking themselves into believing they might be.

I guess in the end it's the final quarter that separates the real clubs from pretenders. Which sucks because you get your hopes up for most of the season only to have it unravel.

It's a big loss losing Backlund too. Because even when he is struggling offensively, he is still matching up against the other team's top line. Now other teams best players are running circles around us.

It's a bigger loss than I thought it'd be.

[Toonage]

At the same time, they do need to figure out how to play without him. He's only got a year or two left. And even his defensive acumen will suffer in that time.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Yeah the Flames looked like they could feasibly upset someone up until the last week before the 4N break and since then. In that time frame they've truly looked like a team hanging on by their fingernails rather than the quick pivot retool that some of us and management were probably talking themselves into believing they might be.

I guess in the end it's the final quarter that separates the real clubs from pretenders. Which sucks because you get your hopes up for most of the season only to have it unravel.

It's the totality of an 82 game season. Factoring in all the road trips, homestands, surviving injuries that all play into it. It has been no secret that the Flames can't score and unfortunately a goalie can only take you so far. If you can't score at least league average and play elite defence, you don't have a hope in hell of knocking off the elite teams in the playoffs, let alone make it in.

What we're seeing now is simply the averages catching up with them and a tired, beat up group that is running out of gas from having to play such a tight, hard game all year.

[madmike]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

I'm not sure what they change to tank on purpose. Care to explain?

Just say Wolf has hit a wall and they want to give him lots of rest.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Agreed.

If not for the last 10 games of performance, I would have thought the Flames had a very good chance of playing the role of first round spoiler. Maybe that's as far as they would go, but it would have still been fun none the less.

However, their recent performance shows just how much of a "waste of 8 days" it would be for them.

Drop down. Keep a high pick. Add it to the pool.

It's really almost 20 games now going back to the 5-2 loss to the Jets on Jan 26th. After beating Minnesota on the 25th they were 7th in pts percentage in the conference, had a .585 points percentage and were 3 points up on Van with a game in hand and 5 points up on STL with 3 games in hand.

But since that win they've struggled.

6-9-4 in that time, .421 points percentage, 27th in the NHL. 44.9% xGF at 5v5 is 29th in that time, 42.8% xGF in all situations is 31st. 41 GF, 57 GA in those 19 games.

Lose tonight and it will be .400 hockey over their last 20 game stretch.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Sneaking into the playoffs and getting swept first round isn't success. I want them to win the cup.

I'm tired of the decades of Flames mediocrity. Let's properly tank and build a contender. I know some others feel the same way.

I think when the Flames snuck into the playoffs in 2015, it made young players like Monahan, Johnny, Ferland, TJ Brodie, Sam Bennett etc better players.

If this year's group makes the playoffs, it'll be great for development. If they miss, you hope they miss by enough to draft an impact player top-10.

It really feels like a true tank is out of the question with Wolf being Wolf. Flames drafted Parekh who, in other years, may have gone 1OA. So there's that to cling to.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I think when the Flames snuck into the playoffs in 2015, it made young players like Monahan, Johnny, Ferland, TJ Brodie, Sam Bennett etc better players.

If this year's group makes the playoffs, it'll be great for development. If they miss, you hope they miss by enough to draft an impact player top-10.

It really feels like a true tank is out of the question with Wolf being Wolf. Flames drafted Parekh who, in other years, may have gone 1OA. So there's that to cling to.

Who are those players on this team? I keep reading the sentiment that playoffs will be great for young players but how many impact players are even on this team? Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett were all supposed to be blue-chip young players and future superstars.

Most of this roster will probably not be here in 2 seasons.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It's really almost 20 games now going back to the 5-2 loss to the Jets on Jan 26th. After beating Minnesota on the 25th they were 7th in pts percentage in the conference, had a .585 points percentage and were 3 points up on Van with a game in hand and 5 points up on STL with 3 games in hand.

But since that win they've struggled.

6-9-4 in that time, .421 points percentage, 27th in the NHL. 44.9% xGF at 5v5 is 29th in that time, 42.8% xGF in all situations is 31st. 41 GF, 57 GA in those 19 games.

Lose tonight and it will be .400 hockey over their last 20 game stretch.

Is the last 20 more reflective of the team expected that is playing how we all anticipated or is this just a blip.

[Wastedyouth]

Won't cheer for a loss, but i have embraced the TANK!

[Vinsta13]

Flames need to have a convincing win today for me to get back on the wagon. 5-1 with goals from depth players and Kadri/Huby looking like 1st liners.

Loose today, fully embrace the tank. Winning 1/2 on a back to back has been the norm for this team and if we get 2 out of 4 points against Rangers/Toronto we should be happy.

Regardless,

Go Flames Go