[PGT] Flames fall apart, lose 4-3 to Ducks

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Haha. Passive aggressive much?

Ha - fair enough. Every so often I can't help myself.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames kinda beat themselves last night...still could have gone either way

The Ducks are ahead of Calgary on loser points, its not some massive mismatch IMO

Ducks and Oilers have owned the West Division while the Flames are .500 within the division. That tells me the Flames may be better off playing a team from the Central as the Flames have a 14-7 record against that division. Unfortunately the only possible matchup against that division in the first round is the Hawks.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Loudog

Have to say that I was super surprised when he didn't step onto the ice for the first star last night. Is that a thing? I don't know if I've ever seen that before... a home player not stepping out for his skate after being a star.

Just added to how weird of a game it was for Versteeg, two big goals but pretty dejected overall.

I have the feeling he got ripped a new one by the coaching staff as they came off the ice. You don't stay out for a 2:02 shift when your goalie is pulled and you need a goal. I don't give a flying fork if you've never had a hat trick in your career, change with the rest of your linemates.

Selfish decision for sure.

[calgaryblood]

Versteeg is only useful on the pp and a black hole every where else.

[automaton 3]

Notwithstanding Vertsteeg's long shift and Gaudreu's lack of back-checking, I'm still a bit grouchy with Bartkowski.

As soon as he started skating in I thought "what the heck are you doing" in late game with a 3-3 tie.

The fanned shot or pass or whatever he was trying to do was unfortunate, but he got into no-man's land there all on his own.

[howard_the_duck]

Lots of chatter about Bartkowski on that winning goal. IMO it was entirely Elliott, and his reaction said the same thing. It was a rebound he just hasn't given up the last few months.

[ASP#26525]

Just finished watching the replay at work...

...and it was heartbreaking

Hoping for a better game on Tuesday. Go Flames!

[djsFlames]

It's a pretty forgivable loss. Kept it close, could've taken it if they held on. Some uncharacteristic mistakes they should be able to shore up. PP was better. Depth players stepping up again and you know the top line will be better.

Might need to shuffle that bottom pairing and see who of bart/wideman/rasmus is the best option in the 6 spot. I feel like that pairing is slightly overplayed as well, and thus more exposed. I'm sure the top 4 can eat more minutes.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

I'm curious - for all the noise about "2nd half of back to backs" and "easy two points" being thrown Edmonton's way, why is Calgary not able to take advantage in a similar way now?

Just better teams. They took advantage last game anyway.

And to be fair Edmonton could've easily lost their game in regulation too without the late PP. Something the flames weren't granted, unfortunately.

[Robo]

The outcome was predictable ducks win on some lucky bounces.... Why the hell can't we beat this team arghhhhhhhh

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Robo

The outcome was predictable ducks win on some lucky bounces.... Why the hell can't we beat this team arghhhhhhhh

Laziness, lack of attention to detail and flat out piss poor defensive coverage cost the Flames last night.

Not lucky bounces.

[cannon7]

I ####ing hate the Ducks. I want nothing but bad things to happen to them.

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by Fan in Exile

I thought Engelland was atrocious all night. Drifting nowhere taking no one on 3 of 4 goals and about 5 needless icings.

This. Only 1-2 people have said this. Yes, Johnny could be more responsible defensively, but watch goals 1, 3 and 4 and tell me exactly whom Engelland covered. I like him and his physicality but he´s been brutal in his own end lately.

On each goal he goes to cover one Duck, leaves him for another and ends up covering no one. On the second goal, after the bonehead play by Bartkowski, he sends it up the middle Grossman-style before covering no one. He needs to be better. And on each of those 3 goals, he was last man back. He covered no one while has partner in each situation had someone covered. It´s not like we are talking about a 3rd man jumping into the play for the Ducks, so I wouldn´t blame any forward (Johnny or otherwise). That´s his job

Bouma and Bartkowski out, Hathaway and Rasmus in next game please

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by cannon7

I ####ing hate the Ducks. I want nothing but bad things to happen to them.

Yeah I hate them more than any other American team. Hopefully they continue to choke in the playoffs unless they face the Oilers.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

This. Only 1-2 people have said this. Yes, Johnny could be more responsible defensively, but watch goals 1, 3 and 4 and tell me exactly whom Engelland covered. I like him and his physicality but he´s been brutal in his own end lately.

On each goal he goes to cover one Duck, leaves him for another and ends up covering no one. On the second goal, after the bonehead play by Bartkowski, he sends it up the middle Grossman-style before covering no one. He needs to be better. And on each of those 3 goals, he was last man back. He covered no one while has partner in each situation had someone covered. It´s not like we are talking about a 3rd man jumping into the play for the Ducks, so I wouldn´t blame any forward (Johnny or otherwise). That´s his job

Bouma and Bartkowski out, Hathaway and Rasmus in next game please

Lol rips on Engelland, then suggests to replace Bartkowski.

Off game for Derek, but he has also been the hero on a number of occasions this season. I think Rasmus should get in for a game and Wideman too. Rotate and see what looks best.

[tkflames]

Looking at this game thread...I may be one of the few who actually feels better coming out than going in. Yesterday proved to me that not only are the Ducks beatable despite playing their best hockey of the season, but also that they can't shut it down with a lead.

I expected a down game from the Flames after the emotion of clinching a playoff spot and quite honestly I thought they came out well. A couple of key mistakes or an early goal and the score goes the other way. If yesterday proved anything...Flames are in a much better position to beat the Ducks than they were 2 years ago.

[calumniate]

I honestly thought Bart was going to score early in the game. Seemed engaged and Gulutzan was playing the bottom pairing quite a bit. Too bad about the gaff - hopefully he can maintain some confidence and keep bringing it.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by tkflames

Looking at this game thread...I may be one of the few who actually feels better coming out than going in. Yesterday proved to me that not only are the Ducks beatable despite playing their best hockey of the season, but also that they can't shut it down with a lead.

I expected a down game from the Flames after the emotion of clinching a playoff spot and quite honestly I thought they came out well. A couple of key mistakes or an early goal and the score goes the other way. If yesterday proved anything...Flames are in a much better position to beat the Ducks than they were 2 years ago.

For sure. And the mistakes last night were ones we haven't seen them make much of throughout this stretch. They weren't at their best clearly, maybe the emotional dropoff after the clinching game, but still pushed back and probably could've taken the game in OT.

Getzlaf is playing out of his mind, but the Ducks as a whole weren't in another league. Flames would put up a better fight against them this time around, undoubtedly. Still, the Honda centre looms large and will be a test.

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Lol rips on Engelland, then suggests to replace Bartkowski.

Off game for Derek, but he has also been the hero on a number of occasions this season. I think Rasmus should get in for a game and Wideman too. Rotate and see what looks best.

I like Engelland and he has been good this year, but for a defensive dman he needs to be better at getting the puck out of his end and playing D. I don´t expect him to be Brodie and skate it out but defence is his speciality and he can´t let guys roam like that. I get the feeling the past few weeks that´s often been the case.

Having said that, I´d say sit Bartkowski because Engelland still provides more despite what I said above. Not everything is so cut and dry in this world, it can be a bit of both.

[sketchyt]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Lots of chatter about Bartkowski on that winning goal. IMO it was entirely Elliott, and his reaction said the same thing. It was a rebound he just hasn't given up the last few months.

100% agree. That was a nothing play. Elliott wasn't ready for a shot from there.