[PGT] Canucks 5 Flames 3

[badradio]

Just finished the game... Frustrating. GG reminds me of Brent Sutter with his stubbornness to try and fit square pegs into round holes. Flames get scored on so he puts out the Brouwer line and our worst defensive pair against the Sedins... A sucker for punishment? How is that going to spark a comeback? The fact Bartkowski is even on this team is a huge failure by the GM, but the fact that he gets played so much is on the coach. Also, Sam Bennett has low hockey IQ, reminds me of Taylor Hall with less skill, but I do think he will get better with time, just like Hall did, it's just a matter of how patient they want to be.

I'm not sure why they spend so much on elite defencemen if they don't use them... They could have 2 cannons from the point on two PP lines, but they use Brouwer and Versteeg instead? Not to mention they would be more defensively responsible by having 2 Dmen out there. Frustrating game.

[icarus]

Bennett made a strong play along the boards on Hamilton's goal, but okay he still doesn't have a point. But before all this trade talk shouldn't the first option be sitting him in the press box like Hartley did with Johnny a couple years ago to see if that gives him a kick in the pants?

[GoJetsGo]

I just hope we see Andersson in next game if Hamonic isn't ready to go.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by icarus

Bennett made a strong play along the boards on Hamilton's goal, but okay he still doesn't have a point. But before all this trade talk shouldn't the first option be sitting him in the press box like Hartley did with Johnny a couple years ago to see if that gives him a kick in the pants?

It is honestly baffling that he and Jankowski are still both pointless. They both did a lot of good things tonight—although Bennett really needs to figure out how to stay on his skates (is there another player who falls down as frequently as him?), and Jankowski needs to get his shot off faster.

[GoJetsGo]

Our bottom six has had a lot of time and still isn't producing.

We have one of the highest scoring players in the AHL in Stockton.

Seems like it might be time to give Mangiapane a look?

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Psytic

He wasn't that good.

The game could have been 5-1 Flames at one point in the second if not for him making some insane saves. I wasn't happy with how the Flames fell apart in the third and let Vancouver score two quick goals but if not for him it probably wouldn't have mattered in the end.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Our bottom six has had a lot of time and still isn't producing.

We have one of the highest scoring players in the AHL in Stockton.

Seems like it might be time to give Mangiapane a look?

So a Mangipane-Versteeg-Brouwer 4th line.

And Freddie to Stockton?

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by icarus

Bennett made a strong play along the boards on Hamilton's goal, but okay he still doesn't have a point. But before all this trade talk shouldn't the first option be sitting him in the press box like Hartley did with Johnny a couple years ago to see if that gives him a kick in the pants?

If they aren’t worried about declining trade value then yes 4th line & press box should be next.



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[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by icarus

Bennett made a strong play along the boards on Hamilton's goal, but okay he still doesn't have a point. But before all this trade talk shouldn't the first option be sitting him in the press box like Hartley did with Johnny a couple years ago to see if that gives him a kick in the pants?

"Strong play".... in other words, a play that every other player makes. He won a board battle, nothing to write home about.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't for a second think that Gulutzan is on the proverbial 'hot seat' at the moment. I do think that the Flames played well, had a few sloppy plays that cost them, and I do think that Gulutzan made a couple of poor decisions (like Enoch mentioned above). I do, however, see a team that is playing better.

I do think that if Gulutzan misses the playoffs this year, Treliving will hire a new coach. If the Flames' season goes off the rails with a long winless streak, or a stretch of loss-loss-loss-win-loss-win-loss-loss - I think that may convince Treliving to pull the trigger.

Personally, I am all for an upgrade. Gulutzan is a rookie coach, and it does really show at times. However, I haven't really seen a reason to fire him at this point either. I wish the Flames had a better coach (and no, I wasn't hoping for Boudreau - show me a coach that turned a team around and at least came close to winning something even with a stacked team). If Treliving can find an upgrade, great! I just don't think Gulutzan is really deserving of getting fired. Not at this point. Every coach is going to make questionable decisions, and when Gulutzan was hired, you almost expect a coach with his limited NHL coaching experience to get 'schooled' once in a while. He isn't a Darryl Sutter or Ken Hitchcock that have decades of making adjustments and spotting match-up opportunities.

I don't think this is the game you point at and demand Gulutzan get fired over. That 4th line he deployed SHOULD be decent defensively, that 3rd defence pairing was suspect, however. What I looked for in this game was if the Flames would actually come out hard tonight from the start (they have come out flat in the 1st period too often this season) and if they played with a lot of effort. I wanted to see a Flames' team dominate a team that they should be dominating. I knew the Canucks were going to come out hard, and they didn't have much of an answer.

One questionable third pairing thrown out at an inopportune moment by Gulutzan, and an opportunistic team being propped up by a heroic goalie tonight doesn't make me want to fire Gulutzan. If there is a clear upgrade that wants to come here? I will be all over that. I don't find Gulutzan thus far endearing, nor do I find him an idiot. He seems to me like an average coach who is learning on the job, and the Flames are a team that just opened their window this season. We just have to see what happens.

The only really worry I have with Gulutzan right now is one that is really tough to measure. Raise your hand if you thought Bennett would be the player he is today, after watching him enter the league under Hartley. Is it coaching? Is it Bennett? Absolutely nobody can definitively say one way or another. Heck, it could be both or neither as well. I also don't subscribe to the 'Bennett has no hockey sense'. That's a rubbish statement. I don't know why he isn't playing well, but I see a kid with really good IQ, awesome speed, pretty high skill level, and this toughness to him that should be adding up to a really great player that should be busting out. Seeing Bennett under Hartley and under Gulutzan is really night and day, but coaching might just be a coincidence and nothing more. Just something that I wonder about.

Either way, Gulutzan is probably here to stay at least until the midpoint of the season (again, unless the Flames go on a long losing streak). Would love an upgrade, but it could seriously be much, much worse.

[nemanja2306]

On the positive side, each loss is one step closer to the firing of GG which would be fantastic.

I can't imagine management being happy at being a. 500 team considering all the picks we have traded.

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[JJFlash]

Originally Posted by Meers

I didn't realize Markstrom could play so well. He stole this one.

No need for the Flames to hang their heads. If they play that way they'll win most nights.

Does anyone else think that if all these goalies continue to look good against the Flames that it is more a function of our lack of finish than playing against a hot goalie. Remember, most of these goalies we have faced are back-ups.

[Brick]

This team lacks intestinal fortitude, for the most part.

[blender]

Markstrom was great, but the Flames scored three on him. It should be enough. Loose play in the neutral zone directly led to two goals against. Plus three players being asleep at the switch on the PP led to another.
That is what cost Calgary the much-needed win.

[MisterJoji]

I’m an ardent Gulutzan disliker but hard to call for his head when 9 times out of 10 we win that game. Markstrom made some stupid ridiculous saves, another sure goal went off Tanev’s head, and the Flames had all the pressure for 50 out of the 60 minutes. The Canucks had all the luck in this one and were able to capitalize on pretty much every limited chance they had. Hockey is a fickle sport and sometimes you just have one of those games. Yeah Smith was average and Brodie was terrible but the top 6 was so good tonight and even Bennett-Jankowski looked good. Jagr still has a lot of rust. Learn from the mistakes in this one and move on to Thursday’s game.

[MisterJoji]

I don’t think Bennett’s lack of finish can be blamed on Gulutzan. He’s getting PP time, he’s on the wing and playing with one of the best AHL players and a legend. All those things should point him to success. Hard to blame Gulutzan when Gaudreau is 6th in the league in scoring and Monahan is on pace for 40 goals. Skilled players seem to do alright in the system. Sam just needs a “#### you Jobu, I’ll do it myself” moment.

[crapshoot]

The Flames have won three straight while being the better team against three very good teams, and now lost to the Canucks in ridiculous fashion while completely dominating every aspect of the game except the only thing that matters in the end. The sky is by no means falling, rather the opposite. I feel that this team is on a real upswing here, and I believe they are about to have themselves a really good season, but it's still extremely disappointing to lose a game like this.

At least now we know how the fans of every good team that dominated but lost against the Flames in 14-15 felt after the game.

[bigrangy]

It pisses me off that Tanev whiffing on a puck negates a Gaudreau and Monahan assist on the Ferland goal

I’ve already lost two weeks in fantasy by smaller margins than that

[camm13]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Change of scenery is likely best for Bennett but agree difficult to judge what the return would be.

I think what's best for Bennett at this point is to be thrown on Backlund's line where he's had success. Have two skilled vets who can help his play. Having him with a rookie and a 45 year old coming off injury is not going to get him going.

Benett's not a game changer, he doesn't have the skills to carry a line which is disappointing for a 4th overall pick. If he can't get anything going with Backlund, then well this kid's a bust for this team and maybe then consider a trade in the off season.

I see a line of Tkachuk, Janko and Jagr maybe having some success as they would be a strong possession line. Honestly at this point something needs to give, 15 games in and the flames still only have 1 even strength goal from their bottom forwards. We're one year removed from having the most players on a team with 10 or more goals.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It is honestly baffling that he and Jankowski are still both pointless. They both did a lot of good things tonight—although Bennett really needs to figure out how to stay on his skates (is there another player who falls down as frequently as him?), and Jankowski needs to get his shot off faster.

Agree about Jankowski but it's expected for a kid like him. He's a smart player though and will realize that he doesn't have as much time and space to do things in the NHL and adapt.

Bennett though, definitely concerned. He's not some fresh rookie like Jankowski. He does look better, but in spurts only.

I don't envy Gulutzan that's for sure, who is tasked to help him figure things out and quickly here as they approach the 25% mark of the season.