[PGT] Nadir: Part II! Flames lose 5-1 to Chicago

[Samonadreau]

The Flames did most things right tonight for the first 50 minutes - let's not pretend that didn't happen. The problem tonight was their best players weren't their best players which has been a trend all season. If we can all agree on that at least then let's not jump all over Gulutzan, he is doing some things right and guys like Backlund, Frolik and Stajan are flourishing under him. There's more than the system and coaching that are making Monahan, Gaudreau, Gio and Brodie struggle right now.... these 4 guys are using the same systems that the guys flourishing are. The bottom line is our best and highest paid players are letting the team down right now. Part of it is probably the fact that they are putting too much pressure on themselves but they have to be better.

The 2 things I will put on coaching right now are the special teams are brutal and Gio and Brodie need to be paired back up. Wideman on your top pairing means your not a playoff contender.

[doctajones428]

Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Bennett - Brouwer
Who cares - Stajan - Versteeg
Bouma - Freddie - Chiasson

Jokipakka - Dougie
Kulak - Engelland
Who cares - Wideman

Elliott

[tvp2003]

Part of me actually feels bad for Gulutzan. He comes in with two young studs on the top line and both are massively underperforming. The garbage powerplay is not helping.

I think you have to get Johnny going first -- put him with Bennett and Brouwer (they can't be any worse than Monahan and Chaisson). Keep Backlund and Frolik together as your second line. Then pair up Monahan with Ferland and Chaisson and let them grind it out for a few games (assuming Monahan isn't injured -- I really don't know).

[1qqaaz]

Actually finishing/scoring is a big part of playing well.

At the end of the day, if your reflexes, power, and aim aren't good enough, nothing else matters offensively.

Someone can have 12 shots a game for 82 games. But if they end up with zero goals and assists, I don't think it was a good year.

The Flames may have driven some of the play in the first 50 minutes. They may have been good defensively. But at the end of the day, they didn't score. They didn't play "well" in terms of finishing. Tough for Elliott to win when the Flames only score 1 goal.


...Monahan needs to pick up his game.

[Racki]

I wonder if Brad Treliving is laying in his bed right now staring up at the ceiling in the dark wondering what the hell he was thinking hiring this coaching staff? Or if it's just me that's doing that?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Racki

I wonder if Brad Treliving is laying in his bed right now staring up at the ceiling in the dark wondering what the hell he was thinking hiring this coaching staff? Or if it's just me that's doing that?

The coaching staff aren't signed to 6 year deals.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

The coaching staff aren't signed to 6 year deals.

Might as well be, the Flames are paying guys not to coach.

[OzSome]

I thought Flames were playing well until that phantom penalty called on Bennett. Chicago scored on that power play and momentum goes to Chicago. I really like our 3rd(Backlund, Frolik and Tkachuk) and 4th line(Stajan, Ferland and Bouma). The 1st and 2nd line is still struggling a bit but I am sure it'll come. I also thought Elliot was good tonight. I wasn't expecting the Blackhawks to lose two games to the Flames in their own barn in a week or so.
Anyways I thought the difference was Chicago's top 6 forwards outplayed our top 6. Now off to the California. I got the feeling Flames will break the Anaheim jinx on this trip, the same way they broke the St. Louis jinx.

[darthma]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Prediction for lineup changes next game?

Jokipakka out, Grossman in. Maybe Chiasson off top line and Johnson starts.

Chiasson goes offside often. It drives me nuts. I think he doesn't have the IQ to be with Johnny and Monny. I hope that experiment ends soon. The problem is, we really still don't have an RW. Maybe Shinkauruk can fill the spot? We need some call-ups, if you ask me.

[bigrangy]

Monahan and Gaudreau (and Brodie) are all sitting in the mid 30 percent range for expected goals for % after 10 games. The lowest any decent player had last season was 43% (Tyson Barrie). I can't see any halfway decent player ever finishing with this stat sub 40% unless the team pulls a tank. So, this will get better. Despite being fancy-statistically terrible, Gaudreau still has 7 points in 10 games, so I'm not too worried about him yet. Monahan is a little more concerning though.

Backlund is still basically Jesus, so at least that's good.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Strip Monahan of the A and staple it to Backlund.

Always thought it should have been Backlund. Nice to see him bloom into a very solid veteran.

[Alpine Fisher]

Originally Posted by darthma

Chiasson goes offside often. It drives me nuts. I think he doesn't have the IQ to be with Johnny and Monny. I hope that experiment ends soon. The problem is, we really still don't have an RW. Maybe Shinkauruk can fill the spot? We need some call-ups, if you ask me.

Yes, I noticed this while watching the games "live". He is a repeat offender.
Dumb signing. Even dumber to put him on the top line.

[Coach]

Nothing frustrates me more than offside. It's literally the easiest infraction to avoid, and it almost always takes away a good scoring chance. Momentum comes to a screeching halt. It's lazy or stupid and rarely incidental (long passes, pushed over the line).

I don't think either Chiasson or Versteeg should be there. Versteeg has been good, but he best in his current place. Either put Gaudreau with Backlund and Frolik to see if they can create some offence, or bringing up someone from the farm you think has a shot at making a difference. Shinkaruk, Poirier, Mangiapane, Klimchuk. See what Pribyl's got. Time to look at some different options.

[Barnet Flame]

Gaudreau and Monahan are both -8. Monahan hasn't scored a single assist.

Our first line stinks no matter who GG puts in with them. Maybe it is time to try splitting them up and see how that plays out because nothing else is working for them right now.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Well then how did the Hawks only have 6? Those stats are honestly garbage and mean nothing when whoever is counting them must have been drunk. It doesn't matter where they were counting them from the Flames didn't get 4 times as many "chances".

And like I said, my biggest problem is the way people use these stats in arguments when they really mean nothing.

Judging by the first period alone (could only watch that much tonight), I could totally see the imbalance in scoring chances. Flames carried the play for most of the period, having some B grade scoring chances up close in front of the net. A couple deflections that also made simple shots much more difficult for Crawford to save. What did the Hawks accomplish outside of a Hossa rush down the left wing and Kane's goal?

Stats themselves don't have meaning, people who infer from stats create the meaning. Unfortunately too many use it in absolutes or incorrectly. It's no more than another piece of the puzzle on top of watching the game.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by Groot

I was watching the game at Roosevelt on 17th Ave and at the 12 minute mark of the 3rd when it was 1-1 they turned the damn game off for 2nd quarter of the GSW vs Portland NBA game!!! So it's safe to say we blame Roosevelt.

I wish I could comment on what happened afterwards but I couldn't watch the damn game, thanks Roosevelt!!

Knowing that they turned off a 1-1 Flames game to show an NBA game makes me not want to ever visit that place again.

I've been there once. Tried to bite into an 'ice cube' from a glass of water to find out that it was actually a chunk of glass. Probably wasn't going back anyway but now I know I won't ever step foot in that place again.

Down with the Roosevelt!

[nik-]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

PK - 28th
PP - 29th

Basically throwing the season away if that continues.

But hey, at least we're also going to throw it away in a relatively weak draft year too. It's not all bad!

No, wait, it is.

[vanisleflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Groot

I was watching the game at Roosevelt on 17th Ave and at the 12 minute mark of the 3rd when it was 1-1 they turned the damn game off for 2nd quarter of the GSW vs Portland NBA game!!! So it's safe to say we blame Roosevelt.

I wish I could comment on what happened afterwards but I couldn't watch the damn game, thanks Roosevelt!!

Great South Wales?
German Stampede Wrestling?
Grand Swedish Women?
Green Steel Wire?
Geological Survey of Winnipeg?
Get Sweaty Wednesday?
Gerontology Support Workshop?

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by nik-

But hey, at least we're also going to throw it away in a relatively weak draft year too. It's not all bad!

No, wait, it is.

The most important thing now is to make any kind of progress. Even if it's just drafting 11th overall rather than in the top group of losers. The vibe around the team will be incredibly depressing if they can't take even a small step forward this season.

I genuinely worry what will happen if they draft high again.

[flamesforcup]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

The most important thing now is to make any kind of progress. Even if it's just drafting 11th overall rather than in the top group of losers. The vibe around the team will be incredibly depressing if they can't take even a small step forward this season.

I genuinely worry what will happen if they draft high again.

Thats what im scared of. Something needs to happen fast. Its time to split up the top line and put the pairings back to normal.