[PGT] Avs 3 Flames 2 on the brink

[azzarish]

It hurts but it doesn’t hurt as much if were losing by some unlucky bounces. We’re losing because we’ve been completely and utterly outclassed.

[Passe La Puck]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

No it wasn't.

Sure it was a fantastic season but gambling our future for Stone who probably wouldn't have resigned here or if he did would put the team in utter cap hell.

Get rid of our "star" forwards and we can afford stone.

[Nelson]

Mike Smith has played incredibly well.

I think this is extremely depressing because the Avs have dominated possession for three straight games. They've done it because the Flames don't have forwards that can match up with MacKinnon, Rantanen and Landeskog. They are too big, too fast, and too skilled, especially MacKinnon. As much as I love him, Monahan just looks slow. Gaudreau looks scared and small. Lindholm has been physical but provided zero offence. Tkachuk is an absolute gamer and you could never call him scared or accuse him of lacking skill, but he is also not a burner.

I want to see the Flames fight like crazy in game 5. I say go for broke and shake up the lines because the Flames have been absolutely owned these last 3 games. I'm just throwing this out there:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Bennett - Frolik
Mangiapane - Ryan - Hathaway
Bennett - Dube - Czarnik

Giordano - Brodie
Hanifin - Hamonic
Valimaki - Andersson

I know scratching Jankowski and Neal will not be popular, but I want a lineup that emphasizes speed.

[Moneyhands23]

And poor ryan has to take the interview after the game. Where are the big leaders on the team?

[Atodaso]

Bitter. All the success in the early part of the season really spoiled us. Scoring has dried up, but the Avs have figured the Flames out and have only allowed small bursts of offense for Calgary.

It still really sucks to be down but all they can do is look towards game 5 and treat it like they did so many third periods during the season.

And for the love of god figure out how to clear the puck out of their zone!

[Angelino]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf_Phan

Johnny made several awesome complaints to the refs but it wasn't enough to win in the end. Maybe change his game-plan next game?

Guadreau is just a pouting baby when things don’t go his way. Too weak mentally and physically.

[Ashasx]

I made this post in the Tampa thread but I want to repost it here:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

It's just kind of ironic to me that the Flames were designed for 5+ seasons to just squeak into the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed and hopefully catch fire and go deep like we did in 2004. As many times as we finished in one of those seeds, the team looked listless in the first round.

Now that we have had the 2nd best regular season in the team's history and finish 1st in the conference, the top seeds in the NHL have never looked worse, including the Flames.

It really is frustrating being a hockey fan sometimes.

I'm really frustrated, but I really don't know what to make of it. We can panic, blame, and trade Gaudreau or Monahan but I don't know if that's the right answer. It's not just those two looking out of it. The entire team has been dominated for the last three games.

There just seems to be so much parity in this league. A lot of it artificial. But should Tampa trade Stamkos or Kucherov? Probably not, and we know they have at least had some post-season success in prior years.

But man, games like this just make me not want be a hockey fan. I'm not asking for the top seeds to get freebies on the first round. I'm not asking for no more upsets.

But why shouldn't I just cheer on a dice?

[Kovaz]

Tkachuk can't skate, so he disappears when the game gets fast.
Gaudreau can't win a puck battle, so he disappears when the game gets grindy.
Monahan can't skate or win puck battles, so he's even worse.

Outside of Bennett, not one skater has elevated their game in the slightest for the playoffs. Not even sure where to point fingers at this point.

[DMac]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

At least we’ll get a discount on Tkachuk’s contract because he has been invisible.

Who?

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Are you nuts? Smith is the only reason we haven't been swept. He'll continue to start until we're done.

Swan song

[GranteedEV]

Just too slow at forward. Monahan, Tkachuk, Neal, Jankowski, Hathaway. Even Frolik and Lindholm are remarkably average in foot speed.

[malcolmk14]

I'll try to convince myself sometime over the next 45 hours that the Flames can somehow come back and make this a series, but I know they're done.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a 5-1 or 6-1 blowout on home ice in Game 5 to end the season.

[badradio]

Continuing to put Neal on the PP is just as bad as Gully and Brouwer... always given never earned. 4th line should get PP time at least they care.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Even if there are infinite universes, it’s still hard to imagine one in which the Flames win this series.

[Manhattanboy]

James Neal needs to be sued for breach of contract.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Flames are done! Team is too soft. Even if they come back to win one more game or if by miracle they win this series, Vegas will run them over. How the eff can a team win when they're outshot over 50 shots a game? You got bonehead players like Backlund and Brodie who check with their sticks. You got Gaudreau who can wheel around a light post but is afraid to go to the boards. This team has not learned from losses from previous playoff games where the other team play the playoff games. It's sad and Treliving's gotta be a bit smarter with picking up bigger players who are willing to pay the price at the trade deadline.

I completely disagree.

They lacked skill and speed, not toughness. They already have enough penalties as it is, thanks.

We lean on the top line for these things and didn't get it. That was ultimately the difference.

[Dion]

[motorcrosser]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Epic choke job. Not sure why as a Flames fan I expected more.

Probably because they were #1 in the West, you dolt

Sent from Indianapolis

[Chonger]

Originally Posted by dsavillian

For sale: Gently used suicide booth. Retro Flames red. Must pick up.

Can i try it out before i buy?

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Stone leads the playoffs in goals and points.

Yeah, but Ray Ferraro was praising the play of Valimaki, noting how impressive he looks as a 20 year old.

Context is important. We don't have a future top pairing d-man if we trade for Stone, not to mention the other assets.

It's not only about this year, but years to come as well as the window opens for this team.

Yeah, this series is extremely disappointing, but it's not like we're the Sharks and our window is closing. It's only just begun (I hope).