[PGT] Flames lose another boring one. 2-1 Dallas

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Meanwhile Jankowski is floating around in no man's land. Seriously, someone please explain to me who or what Jankowski is trying to cover there?

I have been a fan of Jankowski since day 1....

But he plays with the fire of an air conditioner.

Your breakdown of Jankowski half assing it on that play is accurate, but it all started with yet another brain fart from Brodie. He even had the time and space to skate it out. No idea what he was trying to accomplish. And that’s how the scramble all started.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

How about "Just clear it out - off the glass or up a clear lane"?

If Brodie had just done that when he had the puck then no goal. He chose to try to make an in-zone pass. At that point, yes, he is out of the play and not responsible.

He tired to make something out of nothing rather than ice the puck.

You're manufacturing excuses. You want him to rush a blind clearing attempt through the middle while spinning towards the boards, with a Stars player right behind him instead of letting Hanifin, who has far more time and space. If Brodie rushes that icing attempt it probably gets picked off by the defenseman and you're blaming Brodie for an idiotic pass down the middle.

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

That "pretty corral-able pass" should have been "Just clear it out - off the glass or up a clear lane."

Off the glass? What are you talking about? There was no angle for him to clear that off the glass.



The pass to a wide open Hanifin directly in front of his forehand was absolutely the play he and virtually every other good penalty killer makes. There were three Stars on the right side and only one Star on the left side. Hanifin would have cleared that with a lot more ease than Brodie could ever have cleared that.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CSharp

What's missing on this team at this time of the year is grit and some heavy bodies. This team cannot go toe to toe with a big heavy team in the playoffs.

I don't buy that. They aren't getting beat up or bullied. Teams are playing tighter this time of year and the forwards aren't getting all the open ice they were in the first 3/4 of the season. It's on them to battle through the traffic and be smarter with their passing up the ice and in the opponents end.

For a while when they were rolling we were worried how they would fare in low scoring games as they were having issues keeping the puck out of the net due to poor defensive play and soft goaltending so the bright side here is that have played pretty well of late defensively and the goaltending has been better to the point it's at least average. I would argue that they could get by playing like this if the powerplay was functional as losing the special teams battles is ultimately costing them in these close games. This is one area where the coaching could also be better as they haven't changed their approach and teams are simply boxing them out knowing they like those cross ice passes from Gaudreau to Monahan and Lindholm.

[Ben_in_Canada]

After the game.
Anyone else feel bad for the kid standing on the red carpet, waiting to meet the Flames star of the game only to see Gio step on the ice, do a button hook turn throwing the stick over the glass at the blueline and going back down the tunnel.
Poor little guy must've been standing there for a minute before being ushered away. Empty handed.

[Teroy]

This animosity towards Brodie is beyond ridiculous. Brodie isn't the reason we're losing. Monahan isn't the only reason we're losing. Some of you think that because he's not scoring, he's not making a contribution. That's bull. He's playing with two player who have been doing less than nothing. Lindholm has disappeared and Gaudreau has been practicing his figure skating all over the ice. The Flames have had a good season but they are a soft team. They appear to have run out of gas. To think that they'll just turn on the switch and we'll be off and running again isn't going to happen. If Peter's thought that those lines in the first two periods were going to inspire a return to form it sure failed. Two periods of scramble. Our 2nd and 4th lines have been producing. Make changes to the other two if need be in the hope of getting them producing. We might make it past the first round but I doubt we'll go beyond that. I hope I'm wrong but I'm prepared for the worst.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

You would NOT think this was the #1 team in the west who have locked up home ice based on this thread.

Some of you need to relax in a big way. The next 5 games don’t matter. They’re completely irrelevant. Vegas or Dallas/Colorado/Arizona, doesn’t really matter. None of them are much of a threat, with Dallas being the only one who has given us trouble this season, which might make our current position a little less appealing.

Flames are in the playoffs. That right there is enough to get me through the next few. I just do not care if they stink it up for a few games.

I sure hope the coaching staff doesn;t share your view. Vegas isn't a threat? Right.

The fact is that this team does not look great right now. The first line is a liability most nights. I don;t care what Monahan and Lindholm did back in December. April is what counts and both are playing bad hockey right now. They are also dragging Johnny down. Brodie scares the #### out of me.

The fact that the first line has been broken up days before the playoffs start should cause everyone concern. There are problems on this team right now. The power play is disgusting. The PK is also bad lately.

They have afforded themselves the luxury of being in a position to work through this stuff for the last 5 games and will probably still win the division. That is great. But, if you are not playing well going into April you will golfing by May almost every time. Just look at recent history of Stanley Cup winners. I think maybe Pitt once and Chicago once are the only examples from the last 10 years of teams backing in and still doing well.

I'm not saying panic or anything. I'm saying this team needs to play a lot better than they have since the all-star break if they are going to win even one round. Colorado is no layup. They are beating good teams right now and getting excellent goaltending. That series will be a war.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by Teroy

This animosity towards Brodie is beyond ridiculous. Brodie isn't the reason we're losing. Monahan isn't the only reason we're losing. Some of you think that because he's not scoring, he's not making a contribution. That's bull. He's playing with two player who have been doing less than nothing. Lindholm has disappeared and Gaudreau has been practicing his figure skating all over the ice. The Flames have had a good season but they are a soft team. They appear to have run out of gas. To think that they'll just turn on the switch and we'll be off and running again isn't going to happen. If Peter's thought that those lines in the first two periods were going to inspire a return to form it sure failed. Two periods of scramble. Our 2nd and 4th lines have been producing. Make changes to the other two if need be in the hope of getting them producing. We might make it past the first round but I doubt we'll go beyond that. I hope I'm wrong but I'm prepared for the worst.

Brodie does stupid things all the time. You can't have boneheaded #### like he does in the playoffs. that first Dallas goal was all on him. Over commits to chasing the puck and gets walked. Just terrible.

Monahan is a total liability right now. Pucks go to die on his stick. Game after game after game.

I don't know what to say if you can't see that.

[Vox]

Originally Posted by Ben_in_Canada

After the game.
Anyone else feel bad for the kid standing on the red carpet, waiting to meet the Flames star of the game only to see Gio step on the ice, do a button hook turn throwing the stick over the glass at the blueline and going back down the tunnel.
Poor little guy must've been standing there for a minute before being ushered away. Empty handed.

This has actually been bugging me since last night. Logged on to post the same thing. Very curious if anyone knows what the Flames may have done afterwards. Hoping he got a stick or dressing room tour, or something! Felt terrible for him.

Anyone hear the outcome?

[dino7c]

No

Originally Posted by taxbuster

Just an interesting query for those saying the Flames have "punched their ticket" and are not too worried about the crappy play of late.

Tampa punched their ticket a LONG time ago. They're still playing well.

What's the difference (other than talent)?

Tampa is having one of the best seasons of all time... nobody is at their level.

Calgary is similar to the Jets, Sharks, Knights, Leafs...all who are losing to loose teams or teams fighting for their lives. It's not an excuse, just an observation.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't buy that. They aren't getting beat up or bullied. Teams are playing tighter this time of year and the forwards aren't getting all the open ice they were in the first 3/4 of the season. It's on them to battle through the traffic and be smarter with their passing up the ice and in the opponents end.

For a while when they were rolling we were worried how they would fare in low scoring games as they were having issues keeping the puck out of the net due to poor defensive play and soft goaltending so the bright side here is that have played pretty well of late defensively and the goaltending has been better to the point it's at least average. I would argue that they could get by playing like this if the powerplay was functional as losing the special teams battles is ultimately costing them in these close games. This is one area where the coaching could also be better as they haven't changed their approach and teams are simply boxing them out knowing they like those cross ice passes from Gaudreau to Monahan and Lindholm.

They aren't getting beat up per se, but to suggest they aren't getting bullied all over the ice is false. No they arent getting punched in the head or whatever, but they have been pushed out physically to the perimeter and no answer how to get inside to the scoring areas. It's clear as day.

They are unable to create space on their own all of a sudden and thats happening in all zones. This is when hockey IQs are really brought to light and why certain guys appear to be struggling so badly. Two guys are really struggling in particular, one on D and a certain centerman. The good news is this is a coachable problem, but they are running out of time to get things going/fixed and in the case of one guy it may not even matter as he has been making boneheaded mistakes for years now.

[Teroy]

I don't know what to say if you can't see that.


What I can see is that you think you're right and I'm wrong. Good thing you don't have the power to delete opinions that you don't agree with. Pucks die on Gaudreau's stick all the time too. I don't know what to say if you can't see that.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by transplant99

They aren't getting beat up per se, but to suggest they aren't getting bullied all over the ice is false. No they arent getting punched in the head or whatever, but they have been pushed out physically to the perimeter and no answer how to get inside to the scoring areas. It's clear as day.

They are unable to create space on their own all of a sudden and thats happening in all zones. This is when hockey IQs are really brought to light and why certain guys appear to be struggling so badly. Two guys are really struggling in particular, one on D and a certain centerman. The good news is this is a coachable problem, but they are running out of time to get things going/fixed and in the case of one guy it may not even matter as he has been making boneheaded mistakes for years now.

I agree. It is most noticeable on the first line forecheck. Or lack of forecheck to be more accurate. Johnny is scared to get hit (not that I blame him).

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by Teroy

I don't know what to say if you can't see that.


What I can see is that you think you're right and I'm wrong. Good thing you don't have the power to delete opinions that you don't agree with. Pucks die on Gaudreau's stick all the time too. I don't know what to say if you can't see that.

I don't think Gaudreau is playing his best right now, but he is the only one on that line who drives play. Yeah, he turns it over sometimes. He's a tiny dude.

But Monahan does nothing. And has done basically nothing since the all-star break. And Monahan's terrible play is affecting the whole line's production. He didn't get moved down to third line for no reason. Derek Ryan took his job last night.

[genetic_phreek]

It's amazing how some people talk about these last couple losses and the remaining games don't matter. These games matter just as much if not more. Sure I can agree, you need to be able to reserve your energy for the playoffs but you also need to be a lot more sharp. You look at TB and Bos, they are fine tuning and still rolling.

If these last few games don't matter, Peters should start rotating the dmen so guys get in reps (Kylington, Stone, call up Valimaki). Why doesn't Peters start swapping in bottom 6 forwards like Lazar, Quine, call up Dube so other guys can get in rests?

I'm more than concerned how we are trending and it's not just these past couple losses but over all how we have been playing after the all star break. Sometimes we can play well and still lose, it happens, but I just don't feel we've played that great lately even in some of our wins.

Hopefully we can turn things around.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

I agree. It is most noticeable on the first line forecheck. Or lack of forecheck to be more accurate. Johnny is scared to get hit (not that I blame him).

People also overlook that bigger guys have a longer reach and are stronger when reaching. Easier to win board battles.

We aren't getting punched. We are getting angled off.

To counter we need speed and accurate passing. They are able to do both, but haven't been good lately.

[Flash Walken]

James Neal played 5 minutes more than Mangiapane did last night.

[corporatejay]

Does anyone have the video of Neal making the laziest play in the history of the world at the blue line on the first goal. Feet firmly planted, reaches for the puck, easily gets outbattled by the Stars player who goes coast to coast. Just awful.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Does anyone have the video of Neal making the laziest play in the history of the world at the blue line on the first goal. Feet firmly planted, reaches for the puck, easily gets outbattled by the Stars player who goes coast to coast. Just awful.

Are you talking Radulov's goal? Pretty sure Neal wasn't on the ice.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Does anyone have the video of Neal making the laziest play in the history of the world at the blue line on the first goal. Feet firmly planted, reaches for the puck, easily gets outbattled by the Stars player who goes coast to coast. Just awful.

From the bench?

[agulati]

We appear to have problems playing bigger teams. That makes sense when you consider we have Gaudreau, Ryan, Czarnik, and Mangiapane currently in the lineup. We are missing grit, and it is up to the more physical players to make up for it.

I remember this interchange in front of Rittich from last night. Anderson was pushing and shoving with a Star (I'm not sure who), but just lost his own ground. That is just a one-off play but just underlined the lack of grit the team has. Playoffs appear to still be gritty hockey, even though regular season is moving away from it. Players like Hathaway, Tkachuk, Neal, Bennett, Giordano, and Hamonic have shown the ability to play gritty. They just have to do it more consistently IMO.