[PGT] Another Flames Honda Center loss. 6-1. Ducks lead series 1-0

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by heep223

Why? Teams are expected to win at home in the playoffs. You're not in trouble until you lose at home. Going back to the dome for Game 3 down 0-2 would be par for the course, particularly given our struggles in the Honda center.

It's like tennis, winning at home is like holding serve. Don't freak, man.

I don't think anyone in these playoffs would win 4 of 5 against the Ducks. Tomorrow night is must-win.

[CroFlames]

Oh and by the way, folks who are saying you have no faith in Hiller or he should be done for the series etc etc, those goals were not his fault. Personally, I'm not sure if I'd start Ramo or Hiller, but neither tender was given support and neither played bad.

Heck, Anderson almost let one in from center off Engelland. None of our goalies made a gaff that bad.

All the goals were a direct result of bad defensive coverage. Letting Perry walk out in front and have a cup of tea while he decides which corner he will pick? Perry is one of the preeminent forwards in the NHL.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's been a long time since I can remember a team getting destroyed like that in a playoff game. In fact that was arguably their worst game all season. Things can only get better from here but it does look like they are outmatched against a clearly better team.

Blues v Wild last round.

[terminator]

Chinta shaad yaar.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I don't think anyone in these playoffs would win 4 of 5 against the Ducks. Tomorrow night is must-win.

Maybe this is true, but holistically, nothing has changed. We need to win 4 games out of 7 tries. I agree with the thought that you aren't truly in trouble until you lose at home. A loss on Sunday means that every Home game becomes a must win, which is a very tough proposition, where as a win tomorrow actually gives us room for one mistake on home ice.

Game 3 (and Game 4 for that matter, regardless of if we win Game 3 or not) will be a must win if we lose on Sunday IMO, but not Game 2.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I don't think anyone in these playoffs would win 4 of 5 against the Ducks. Tomorrow night is must-win.

It most definitely is not a must win.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I don't think anyone in these playoffs would win 4 of 5 against the Ducks. Tomorrow night is must-win.

The only game that is a 'must-win' is when you're on the brink of elimination.

You are never in trouble in the playoffs until you lose a game on home ice.

Even if they come home down 2-0 its still okay.

[OzSome]

Flames looks out-of-sync in the first game. They were actually playing well in the first period until they started making mistakes. The first two goals killed them I guess. On the first goal, TJ Brodie made a mistakes in throwing a blind backhand pass which was intercepted by Beauchemin. Then they let Beleskey stand in front of net uncontested. The second goal, Corey Perry got away on his pick with TJ Brodie behind the net. The problem was the forward(I think it was Stajan) and Engelland was out of position and let the Maroon and the other guy behind them and positioned themselves in front of Hiller. After those to goals, Flames as a whole probably just started thinking about the Honda Curse and just lost focus the rest of the game. Flames played the Anaheim game and did not use their speed to their advantage. Too many mistakes and they looked nervous the rest of the game. They can still steal a game in Anaheim on Sunday though and I am sure the 2nd game will be much different. Game #1 over and there is nothing they can do now. I am sure they learned from it.

Sucks that we lost Micheal Ferland, Jiri Hudler and Gaudreau in that game. I hope all three gets back in the lineup 100% on Sunday.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Blues v Wild last round.

Just goest to show teams can bounce back although this team is going to have to start having better first periods as they can't continue to spot teams leads.

[Weitz]

I think a more pressing concern should be how much the Ducks seemed to let off the gas after the 4th goal.. and still dictated the play and scored 2 more goals.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

The third goal?

When former 50 goal man and Hart trophy winner Corey Perry was allowed to saunter right in front of the net and take his time figuring out where he should put the puck?

That was Hiller's fault?

What was said was that the goal was stoppable. I really didn't like Hiller on this goal and neither did Hartley. There was a breakdown that led to a very good scoring chance for Perry but you still expect your goalie to battle, to challenge the shooter instead of staying on his knees on the post while Perry skates around him and gets a better angle. No push towards the shooter, no lateral push, he may as well have closed his eyes.

Part of it is just Hiller's style. He's positional and he just goes down on his knees most of the time and hopes the puck will hit him. I think the reason people have an easier time getting behind Ramo and Ortio is that you can see the effort, the battle, the athleticism. Maybe Ramo would have given that goal up too but you can bet he wouldn't have stayed on his post without challenging Perry.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Just goest to show teams can bounce back although this team is going to have to start having better first periods as they can't continue to spot teams leads.

Yup. An ugly loss and a 2-1 OT loss are no different in the end. The Flames need to play stronger in game two, that's the bottom line.

[PrettyBoyFlizzy]

Anaheim is a bug rugged team that can skate and play with skill. That's the difficult part they want to play along the boards and a deep forechecking game. Hartley needs to make adjustments for our breakouts maybe have wingers come back deeper.

We have to get away from the boards and expose the middle of the ice and use our skill and speed.

I thought we started well but like always in Anaheim they get a few bounces and it turns into a rout.

Hiller was awful but even worse Ramo looked like garbage as well. I would go with Ramo for game 2, I can't stand watching hiller on his knees 95% of the time.

[CliffFletcher]

I don't see the downside to starting Ramo.

[ScorchyScorch]

I think we just need a first period without any goals against to get our confidence going. seems every frickin game in that building the first bad bounce goes in against us and it just goes from there. it is a confidence killer. if they can play sound defensively, even just to get out of the first on sunday scoreless, it would go a long way. I don't remember a game in the honda center in recent seasons where the team hasn't surrendered at least a couple goals in the first half of the game. all focus should be on shutting them down early. play it close to the vest and grind it out. don't make it a track meet.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I think a more pressing concern should be how much the Ducks seemed to let off the gas after the 4th goal.. and still dictated the play and scored 2 more goals.

You keep trying to present this as some kind of damning omen.

Yes, the Ducks took their foot off the gas - but so did the Flames. Hudler and Ferland were out, so down to 10 forwards. Gaudreau didn't play in the 3rd and Monahan only played a tiny bit. SO 8 forwards, all from the bottom 9. Wotherspoon and Schlemko were the busiest defensemen.

In other words, Hartley managed the bench.

Saying that the Ducks took their foot off the gas is entirely disingenuous because, if anything, the Flames did more.

[northcrunk]

I'm ready to move on to the next one and forget this last one. Hopefully the boys are too and can get set for sunday. Maybe Getz and Perry will tie one on at the NKOTB concert Saturday.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by heep223

Why? Teams are expected to win at home in the playoffs. You're not in trouble until you lose at home. Going back to the dome for Game 3 down 0-2 would be par for the course, particularly given our struggles in the Honda center.

Originally Posted by Locke

You are never in trouble in the playoffs until you lose a game on home ice.

I know that sounds nice and all, but you guys don't really believe that do you? This is a Ducks team that toyed with the Jets in the first round like a house cat with a gimped mouse. And then they made us look even worse. We all knew they were going to be a very formidable opponent, but that loss yesterday was about as demoralizing as it gets...another one of those, and I think our injury-depleted team is good as done.

I think the only way we have a shot is if we sneak in a win game 2, split them at home, and then hope for some sort of miracle in Game 5 to bring it home. The longer a series goes the harder it seems to win on the road, bad juju or not. And the loud crowd didn't bother the Ducks in Winnipeg, and I'm not sure it will bother them that much in Calgary.

It's not a must win in the technical sense, but If we don't pull out a win (no matter how ugly) in Game 2, it's pretty much game, set, match in my opinion.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I know that sounds nice and all, but you guys don't really believe that do you? This is a Ducks team that toyed with the Jets in the first round like a house cat with a gimped mouse. And then they made us look even worse. We all knew they were going to be a very formidable opponent, but that loss yesterday was about as demoralizing as it gets...another one of those, and I think our injury-depleted team is good as done.

I think the only way we have a shot is if we sneak in a win game 2, split them at home, and then hope for some sort of miracle in Game 5 to bring it home. The longer a series goes the harder it seems to win on the road, bad juju or not. And the loud crowd didn't bother the Ducks in Winnipeg, and I'm not sure it will bother them that much in Calgary.

It's not a must win in the technical sense, but If we don't pull out a win (no matter how ugly) in Game 2, it's pretty much game, set, match.

Agree to disagree. Obviously it'd be nice to win but I really don't share your opinion that it's game set match if we lose the first two on the road.

[AcGold]

I doubt they'll ever quit, a lot of these guys will be thinking it's their one and only chance so they'll go until the bitter end.