[PGT] Lucic, Hanifin, Rittich dominate Sharks en route to 6-2 W

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Another big win on the way to another division title! Beauty.

Ribbit!

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

They were claiming dives which is stupid. Like Tkachuk is going to dive instead of skating ahead for a break with the puck. Like Gaudreau is going down instead of getting the puck in a great position behind the net.

Which makes it more ridiculous. All of them are just lazy plays with them getting the stick in the players feet. Either they are completely clueless or are not taking any accountability in their play, which is probably why they are in their current spot in the standing.

[me_dennis]

Originally Posted by me_dennis

It's my birthday, so 3-6 for the Flames today!
Go Flames Go!

I was pretty close, I guess I can be 26 instead.

[taxbuster]

I really liked Johnny Backcheck in that game. Thought he came to play. He's chipped in with some decent D from time to time but none better than those last night. And it didn't hurt his offence. Maybe he's waking up?

Thought the D overall was good, if a bit runny-aroundy at times. Got a bit tense when everyone was gassed but they stayed the course for the most part.

More of this please against the weaker clubs!! Play above them, not down to them!!

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

He's the perfect 13th/14th forward.

It's really really hard not to like what he brings when he plays. I looked it up. 3.9 hits per game. Probably not enough games played to compare to Reaves and B. Tkachuk who are the only two players with a higher hit rate. Lucic is 13th in the league at 2.8.

Not to get ahead, but I'd be surprised/disappointed if he wasn't a regular during the post season. Keep him fresh until then, but he will make us a better playoff team.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

It's really really hard not to like what he brings when he plays. I looked it up. 3.9 hits per game. Probably not enough games played to compare to Reaves and B. Tkachuk who are the only two players with a higher hit rate. Lucic is 13th in the league at 2.8.

Not to get ahead, but I'd be surprised/disappointed if he wasn't a regular during the post season. Keep him fresh until then, but he will make us a better playoff team.

It also helps to have an agitator on 3/4 lines.

Tkachuk on 1st/2nd line, Lucic on 3rd, and Rinaldo on the 4th. Teams have a hard time chirping or trying to get aggressive with us because we have these guys just causing trouble.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Stauner

Another thing in my opinion that has happened is that Matthew Tkachuk has grabbed the bull by the horns and dragged this team through without Gio and also lucic has stepped up

But, but according to Oiler fans Kassian threw fear into him and broke him.

[wired]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Yup, guy starts every year looking like a well groomed young man and by the 2nd week of playing for the Oilers he looks like a hobo. Edmonton will do that to you though.

I guess ill give that one to you.... When I lived in Calgary, I would wear sweats to work out in, that's it.
Now, I tend to wear them out to the mall, or grocery shopping, I have changed. And I have 4 pairs of sweats.
BUT, I refuse to get a pair of crocs.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by wired

I guess ill give that one to you.... When I lived in Calgary, I would wear sweats to work out in, that's it.
Now, I tend to wear them out to the mall, or grocery shopping, I have changed. And I have 4 pairs of sweats.
BUT, I refuse to get a pair of crocs.

That's sad, man. That is goddam sad.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by me_dennis

I was pretty close, I guess I can be 26 instead.

That is just way better.

[UKflames]

Really pleased to see JG engaged last night, especially with the backchecking. I just hope he keeps it up, he has had flashes like this before and then drops back again. Fingers crossed because if he stays engaged the scores are going to come.

[Textcritic]

I don't want this to get lost amid a bunch of other good things that have happened over the past two games, but Rittich has put together two really solid performances in a row here. Before last night he has not won back-to-back games in more than a month (22/27 Dec). Prior to the Vancouver game Rittich had allowed only two or fewer goals in three of his last ten games. I really like that he is putting together some strong games here own the stretch, which is something he has been criticized for in the past.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by HitterD

On Backlund, I was surprised to see that he has 28 points on the season and is now Calgary’s 5th highest point getter, like really surprised...

Interesting. So, the Flames's second/third line centre amid a "down" year is scoring at a +0.5 pts/gp rate, and is on pace to finish with more than 45 pts for a fifth consecutive season.

This is a player who is supposedly lost a step and is deteriorating before our eyes into dead cap space.

Whatever.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Interesting. So, the Flames's second/third line centre amid a "down" year is scoring at a +0.5 pts/gp rate, and is on pace to finish with more than 45 pts for a fifth consecutive season.

This is a player who is supposedly lost a step and is deteriorating before our eyes into dead cap space.

Whatever.

His emotional engagement this year has been horrid (not exclusive to him, but he is a leader so he can't be in that group). As people have talked about - the guy may just be tired as a first time dad, but he also may have just had career-low confidence levels after getting absolutely destroyed by Colorado in the playoffs last year.

The last two games have been his best of the year in my eyes. He was playing aggressive, and (like the rest of the team) skating his ass off.

I've been impressed by Backs and Lucic in the last two games. Those two were the biggest offenders during that three game home-slide, and they've both come out on this roadtrip with some "anger". If they can keep this up, it'll be a very good/exciting end to the season.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Interesting. So, the Flames's second/third line centre amid a "down" year is scoring at a +0.5 pts/gp rate, and is on pace to finish with more than 45 pts for a fifth consecutive season.

This is a player who is supposedly lost a step and is deteriorating before our eyes into dead cap space.

Whatever.

Quick trivia question:
Who is Calgary’s highest scoring right winger?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Buddy Robinson. He’s the only person listed as a right winger. Crazy!

[old-fart]

Just finished watching the game on PVR. Great effort throughout the lineup - thought the score actually flattered the Sharks and that Dell really played pretty well considering. Could have easily been 5 or 6 to 1 at the end of the first period.

Is that back-to-back Gordie Howe hat tricks for Lucic?

[GioforPM]

I suspect the frustration with Backlund is goals, not points. He has missed a lot of chances this year, especially on the top line.

I think he doesn't handle the wing as well as I hoped - I thought he'd be like Lindholm, but the latter played wing a lot in Carolina whereas Backlund never played it here in my recollection.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by old-fart

Just finished watching the game on PVR. Great effort throughout the lineup - thought the score actually flattered the Sharks and that Dell really played pretty well considering. Could have easily been 5 or 6 to 1 at the end of the first period.

Is that back-to-back Gordie Howe hat tricks for Lucic?

Ripped off last night by getting just a roughing despite dropping gloves and throwing a punch. Also only got a roughing minor in Vancouver.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by old-fart

Just finished watching the game on PVR. Great effort throughout the lineup - thought the score actually flattered the Sharks and that Dell really played pretty well considering. Could have easily been 5 or 6 to 1 at the end of the first period.

Is that back-to-back Gordie Howe hat tricks for Lucic?

I think in both this and the Canucks game the opponents goalies kept if from being a laugher. As funny as it is say that that in a couple 6-2 games.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I wouldn’t be upset to give Rinaldo an extension for another year or two (obviously at a very low price). I’ve really grown to like the guy. He’s the perfect player to rotate in and out of the lineup.

His post game radio interview last night was outstanding

Never heard a guy slip in "little bitch" in such an inspiring way.