[GDT] WCQF-G5: (W2) Colorado -3 @ (P1) Calgary –1 ~ 8:00pm (CBC, SN, NBCSN, TVAS)

[Mr.Coffee]

Is he that useful on the PK though?

Anyway, the other change needs to be icetime allocation to line 4 and D pairing 3. Flip line 1 and line 4’s icetime and D line 2 and 3’s icetime.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

Disagree, adding Bennett adds another guy who can drive a line which takes some pressure off Monahan. Hopefully he gets some classic garbageman goals tonight!

I think what it is is that it will add someone who will force Kinahan bad Johnny to get involved. And add skill to the 2nd unit as well as a right handed target.

[etdpratt]

Originally Posted by Coach

I think what it is is that it will add someone who will force Kinahan bad Johnny to get involved. And add skill to the 2nd unit as well as a right handed target.

I would just prefer someone in that center position that can hold on to the puck. To me Backlund is probably one of best on the team and can buy time for gaudreau to find space to get open. Right now his dancing around with the puck isn’t getting him much.

[JohnnyB]

Glad to read about the roster changes and dumping Neal. Finally some shake ups from Peters. Gives me a bit more optimism that we'll actually see different play on the ice today.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by BigBrodieFan

This whole Neal situation sucks all the way around, for him and for fans. Everyone can say that he contributed nothing to the team this year as far as points go, and of course that's true. However, he was a very positive force in the dressing room and at practice, always encouraging the kids. Gio said, just a couple of weeks ago, that he finds value in Neal's positive attitude.

Neal didn't just come to Calgary and collect his millions either, like he could have. He partnered up with 'Power Play' and donated his time to the kids in that program on a regular basis. A lot of professional athletes donate money to charities, but Neal donated his time and encouraged kids to do well.

All I am saying is that a lot of people are so quick to write players off for a bad game (in this case, season), and we don't look back and see the positives. I have a hunch that although he didn't do much on the ice, he did help the Flames get to Number 2 in some other ways.

He's being paid 5.75 million and over 7% of our cap to do a job. He's had an entire year and 86 games to help the team and has yet to. In fact, he's probably a net loss on the ice in these playoffs.

He deserves criticism.

[iamca]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I'm not sure I could take a game 7 in person. I nearly had a heart attack during game 6 against Vancouver in '15

I hear you. My blood pressure from the 3rd period of game 4 was through the roof after they relaxed. The last 10 minutes an OT was borderline heart attack.

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[tkflames]

Originally Posted by Mitt31

Go Flames Go

Swap The lines to the following please and win

Gaudreau Lindholm Bennett
Thachuk Backlund Czarnik
Mangiapane Ryan Hathaway
Frolik Monahan Jankowski

I think Benny and Lindholm who are both aggressive I’ve and fast would get Johnny going

I hope this is a good lesson for the team regardless. It would have been nice to see the team experiment during the regular season with Backlund or Lindholm centering different players. At this point, experimenting with hail mary line combinations seems like a difficult ask.

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

He's being paid 5.75 million and over 7% of our cap to do a job. He's had an entire year and 86 games to help the team and has yet to. In fact, he's probably a net loss on the ice in these playoffs.

He deserves criticism.

I am not saying he doesn't. I get it. I just wanted to bring up some positives about the guy in the midst of all of the negative. Not saying he doesn't deserve it, just saying that he's done some good.

[Jore]

Originally Posted by tkflames

I hope this is a good lesson for the team regardless. It would have been nice to see the team experiment during the regular season with Backlund or Lindholm centering different players. At this point, experimenting with hail mary line combinations seems like a difficult ask.

This. I wish they had tried to separate Monahan from Gaudreau even once during their tepid post-asb play. Hell, I wish they tried it at any time since 2014.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by BigBrodieFan

This whole Neal situation sucks all the way around, for him and for fans. Everyone can say that he contributed nothing to the team this year as far as points go, and of course that's true. However, he was a very positive force in the dressing room and at practice, always encouraging the kids. Gio said, just a couple of weeks ago, that he finds value in Neal's positive attitude.

Neal didn't just come to Calgary and collect his millions either, like he could have. He partnered up with 'Power Play' and donated his time to the kids in that program on a regular basis. A lot of professional athletes donate money to charities, but Neal donated his time and encouraged kids to do well.

All I am saying is that a lot of people are so quick to write players off for a bad game (in this case, season), and we don't look back and see the positives. I have a hunch that although he didn't do much on the ice, he did help the Flames get to Number 2 in some other ways.

Those are nice and positive thoughts, but he's the third highest paid forward on the team. We shouldn't have to be hoping and guessing what he does for the team, with his cap hit we need to see him make some kind of a difference on the ice.

[karl262]

The Flames need to hire Al Pacino to give his any given Sunday speech before the game tonight in the locker room. Maybe every game going forward.

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[Weitz]

I heard you need club seats to get into Dutton’s now. Is that true? Anyone know?

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Is he that useful on the PK though?

Anyway, the other change needs to be icetime allocation to line 4 and D pairing 3. Flip line 1 and line 4’s icetime and D line 2 and 3’s icetime.

I believe he is quite useful on the PK, certainly his SHG are something. Maybe someone can provide an analysis.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by AC

Flames lost 9-1 to PIT. Then followed it up with a close extra minutes shootout loss to WSH before going on a big run.

Same with the ugly 6-3 loss in TB. They followed it up with the close shootout loss in FLA. Then won 7 in a row.

It. Will. Happen.

I am really buying into this narrative. 3-1 comebacks are tough but being the higher seed and having 2 games at home gives me more confidence. One game, one period, one shift at a time. Go Flames Go!!!!!!

[Tron_fdc]

Just started pregaming. If you see a middle aged fella wearing a Jagr jersey in 105 getting escorted out come say hi.

If we win I hope I remember.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by iamca

If they win tonight and Sunday, I will buy you a ticket to Tuesday's elimination game.

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I’ll chip in $20 to this cause.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Jankowski and Lazar are the same age.

Correction:

Jankowski is 6 months older than Lazar

Yup. And I've been an advocate that one shouldn't write Lazar completely off at this point either. He had a great year in the AHL that should really have boosted his offensive confidence because he got a lot of touches in all situations. I think Lazar is a candidate to compete for a spot next season.

The majority of 22-24 year old hockey players significantly improve at some point in their careers. It takes some patience to ride out the mediocre years. We saw it with Backlund who took a few years to flourish. Same goes for Gio and Brodie. We all have to remember to be patient with players like Bennett, Janko, Lazar, Dube, Kylington, etc even though we've had them for years. The best should be yet to come for most of them if not all of them. You can't expect every young player to be a Monahan, Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Valimaki, etc. It's unrealistic, not every player is an instant impact player. Most players have their ups and downs and plateaus before finally figuring it out years later.

IMO we don't need to be focusing on the playoff rookie 3rd line centre for being only okay. Jankowski is far from the biggest problem, I don't think he'd make my top 5 biggest problems so far.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by iamca

If they win tonight and Sunday, I will buy you a ticket to Tuesday's elimination game.

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I'll pitch $20 as well.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Yup. And I've been an advocate that one shouldn't write Lazar completely off at this point either. He had a great year in the AHL that should really have boosted his offensive confidence because he got a lot of touches in all situations. I think Lazar is a candidate to compete for a spot next season.

The majority of 22-24 year old hockey players significantly improve at some point in their careers. It takes some patience to ride out the mediocre years. We saw it with Backlund who took a few years to flourish. Same goes for Gio and Brodie. We all have to remember to be patient with players like Bennett, Janko, Lazar, Dube, Kylington, etc even though we've had them for years. The best should be yet to come for most of them if not all of them. You can't expect every young player to be a Monahan, Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Valimaki, etc. It's unrealistic, not every player is an instant impact player. Most players have their ups and downs and plateaus before finally figuring it out years later.

IMO we don't need to be focusing on the playoff rookie 3rd line centre for being only okay. Jankowski is far from the biggest problem, I don't think he'd make my top 5 biggest problems so far.

Ok Man.

[Ducay]

Any sports bettors what know the over/under for number of times Cassie Campbell says "3M line"?