[Game Takes] Leafs 4 Flames 3

[Bingo]

Leafs 4 Flames 3

- Flames solid five on five
- Too many penalties
- Too many turnovers
- Honzek with first goal

[Sec214]

- Two McKenna Points

[DeluxeMoustache]

Such an odd feeling to be so anti a market for one sport and so pro the same market for a different sport in the same night. I know I’m not alone.

It’s easy
1. There are 7 NHL teams in Canada
2. Leafs fans and media are beyond insufferable
3. There is 1 baseball team in Canada
4. That ball team is very likeable

This stuff is easy

Good write up on the whole

So great to see Honzek finally score

[Enoch Root]

Last year, even though I wanted that top 10 pick, I found it really hard to cheer for a loss, I was fully in, cheering for every win, and it was easy to support their success, even though I knew a top 10 pick was a better situation.

This year, I am finding myself much more comfortable, watching the losses. It's the same situation in my head (losing is good for the rebuild), but very different in my heart, where I am now completely fine with losing.

Especially losses like last night where they played well again, Farabee and Honzek got huge goals, they fought hard to the end, but somehow came away with an L. Perfect!

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Last year, even though I wanted that top 10 pick, I found it really hard to cheer for a loss, I was fully in, cheering for every win, and it was easy to support their success, even though I knew a top 10 pick was a better situation.

This year, I am finding myself much more comfortable, watching the losses. It's the same situation in my head (losing is good for the rebuild), but very different in my heart, where I am now completely fine with losing.

Especially losses like last night where they played well again, Farabee and Honzek got huge goals, they fought hard to the end, but somehow came away with an L. Perfect!

And it's easier to feel that way when you start 2-8-1 vs the 5-3-1 they were last year.

At 5-3-1 the team needs to win at it's current pace and land at 96 points. This year's edition now needs a 105 point pace for 71 games.

6 teams played to that pace last year.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

And it's easier to feel that way when you start 2-8-1 vs the 5-3-1 they were last year.

At 5-3-1 the team needs to win at it's current pace and land at 96 points. This year's edition now needs a 105 point pace for 71 games.

6 teams played to that pace last year.

Yup.

And if you look at the standings on Nov 1st each year, the teams at the bottom on Nov 1 tend to be the teams at the bottom at the end of the year. The bottom 5 teams last year were all in the bottom 7 on Nov 1st (with the bottom 2 teams already bottom 2).

[Bingo]

I just love the worry free aspect of owning their own first round pick this year.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I just love the worry free aspect of owning their own first round pick this year.

That stress and uncertainty drove so much of the angst and frustration last year.

This year, we can focus on the plan, and on acquiring more picks. It does make things a lot simpler.

[FBI]

I'm still stressed and pissed at the losses, gotta let it go

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by FBI

I'm still stressed and pissed at the losses, gotta let it go

You're not alone.

Most of the tank crowd is getting their losses, but still complaining about Huska, Conroy for not doing things sooner, or the team for not releasing tank updates.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Bingo

And it's easier to feel that way when you start 2-8-1 vs the 5-3-1 they were last year.

At 5-3-1 the team needs to win at it's current pace and land at 96 points. This year's edition now needs a 105 point pace for 71 games.

6 teams played to that pace last year.

The schedule from here on out is much easier than the schedule they've had to slog through so far. They still have a chance to salvage this season. That said, it's time to make hay right now. If they can't string together a bunch of wins here in the next several weeks, the decision to pivot toward landing a top pick will be an obvious one.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by FBI

I'm still stressed and pissed at the losses, gotta let it go

I'm not mad about the loss. More the way they lost it with veteran players making the miscues. Backlund right before the end of the 2nd period and Weegar letting the air out of the balloon shortly after Honzek gets his first. Weegar's play in particular has been worrisome as he's never been fleet of foot and this season he looks like he's lost a step, being caught up ice a lot. His salary is pretty good but he's under contract until 30/31 which is starting to look a little scary.

[Caged Great]

Including yesterday there are 17 games between now and the end of November. Realistically the Flames need a record of 11-6-0 (22 points in whatever format) to get back into making up ground. Now they need to go 11-5.

The more the losses pile up the narrower the margin.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm not mad about the loss. More the way they lost it with veteran players making the miscues. Backlund right before the end of the 2nd period and Weegar letting the air out of the balloon shortly after Honzek gets his first. Weegar's play in particular has been worrisome as he's never been fleet of foot and this season he looks like he's lost a step, being caught up ice a lot. His salary is pretty good but he's under contract until 30/31 which is starting to look a little scary.

Thank you yes the way we lost drove me crazy.

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Including yesterday there are 17 games between now and the end of November. Realistically the Flames need a record of 11-6-0 (22 points in whatever format) to get back into making up ground. Now they need to go 11-5.

The more the losses pile up the narrower the margin.

This seems correct. In other words, they need to rattle off a number of wins in a row now to even get back into the conversation. Returning to around .500 + or - a few won't do it.