[PGT] Flames beat Winnipeg, 3-2!

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Where's that guy who was all Backlund sucks this year? What's he screaming about now - that he loves him?!?

Hes quieted down because his boy Bennett is now on the top line. Cant act like Backlund is dragging him down anymore.

It's the same thing with some posters ragging on Backlund his entire career. The big thing with Backs is he does SO many other things other than put up points. Keeping a goal out of your net is just as important as scoring a goal. Some actually dont see it or refuse to acknowledge it for whatever reason.

All I know is Backlund is one of the most complete hockey players on the Flames and one of their most important. He makes any player on his line better. See scrubs such as Joe Colborne, Lance Bouma, Tom Kostopoulos, Tim Jackman, Sam Bennett, Milan Lucic, Blake Comeau, Lee Stempniak, Roman Cervenka, Mason Raymond. He plays with these guys without complaint and makes them look like legit NHLers.

Kills penalties, plays on the powerplay, plays against the top players in the game. Drives offense, makes zone entries, plays a full 200 foot game. High hockey IQ. Relied heavily with defensive zone starts. Always top 10 in the NHL in takeaways. In fact ranks 3rd in the NHL since the 2012-2013 season (9 seasons) with 496 takeaways. Only Ryan O'Reilly and Mark Stone have more. For a defensive specialist he also ranks 49th in points among all NHL centers over those 9 seasons.

Fact is this team leans heavily on Mikael Backlund. We are lucky to have him.

[TheIronMaiden]

Monahan deserves some credit for his diving play to keep the puck onside at the beginning of the goal scoring sequence. Although he was held off the score sheet I thought he made some excellent plays in transition on both sides of the ice. Some timely defensive plays and some nice puck movement in the neutral zone. Mony looks like a complete player this year.

On a slightly related note, I would love to see a compilation of Monahan taking a beating in front of the net and coming back for more shift after shift. That guy lives in one of the hardest spots on the ice.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

...The big thing with Backs is he does SO many other things other than put up points. Keeping a goal out of your net is just as important as scoring a goal. Some actually dont see it or refuse to acknowledge it for whatever reason...

Backlund's offensive instincts and skills have often been badly under-regarded on this board. His end-to-end rush in the first period last night was simply dazzling.

[Knut]

How is the countdown on Backlund going to the KHL ?? It must be getting close.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Where's that guy who was all Backlund sucks this year? What's he screaming about now - that he loves him?!?

I was pretty harsh on him in GTs. He did suck to start the season!

[AC]

Originally Posted by BloodFetish

Lol, is that video adapted from the classical flute player listening to Ian Anderson's various grunts and growls?

Close. She's an opera singer and vocal coach, but she's reacting to Devin Townsend:
https://youtu.be/y6p9mwA3OCg?t=46

[TheIronMaiden]

I never thought that I would say this... Tanev > Brodie

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I never thought that I would say this... Tanev > Brodie

I’d say they’re pretty equal in value, but bring something different to the table. Tanev is what we had hoped for in Hamonic. I’m really glad we have him, he’s been nothing but great for us and should be protected.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I never thought that I would say this... Tanev > Brodie

Full marks to Tanev for sure. The cherry one top is that it has allowed Hanifin to take that next step. You don't see his name tossed in many trade proposals lately.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Monahan deserves some credit for his diving play to keep the puck onside at the beginning of the goal scoring sequence. Although he was held off the score sheet I thought he made some excellent plays in transition on both sides of the ice. Some timely defensive plays and some nice puck movement in the neutral zone. Mony looks like a complete player this year.

On a slightly related note, I would love to see a compilation of Monahan taking a beating in front of the net and coming back for more shift after shift. That guy lives in one of the hardest spots on the ice.

Monahan will never deliver crushing hits. But he's separating defencemen from pucks fairly often, transitioning pretty well, and his defensive positioning and awareness is really quite good. You don't often see him lose his man. I think he may have put on some muscle. He's as good as ever in faceoffs, too.

I'd say he's fed Gaudreau more nice passes than the reverse this year. And one long one to Tkachuk for which I'm still mad he didn't get an assist.

[AC]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Monahan will never deliver crushing hits. But he's separating defencemen from pucks fairly often, transitioning pretty well, and his defensive positioning and awareness is really quite good. You don't often see him lose his man. I think he may have put on some muscle. He's as good as ever in faceoffs, too.

I'd say he's fed Gaudreau more nice passes than the reverse this year. And one long one to Tkachuk for which I'm still mad he didn't get an assist.

The breakaway that Johnny hit the crossbar on before Tkachuk scored? Monahan was given the 2nd assist.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by AC

The breakaway that Johnny hit the crossbar on before Tkachuk scored? Monahan was given the 2nd assist.

That's the one. I'm glad they rectified it - I hadn't heard that. Anger subsiding.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Where's that guy who was all Backlund sucks this year? What's he screaming about now - that he loves him?!?

Pretty sure WhereareyouChrisOsullivan quit the site.

[Brad Marsh]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Hes quieted down because his boy Bennett is now on the top line. Cant act like Backlund is dragging him down anymore.

It's the same thing with some posters ragging on Backlund his entire career. The big thing with Backs is he does SO many other things other than put up points. Keeping a goal out of your net is just as important as scoring a goal. Some actually dont see it or refuse to acknowledge it for whatever reason.

All I know is Backlund is one of the most complete hockey players on the Flames and one of their most important. He makes any player on his line better. See scrubs such as Joe Colborne, Lance Bouma, Tom Kostopoulos, Tim Jackman, Sam Bennett, Milan Lucic, Blake Comeau, Lee Stempniak, Roman Cervenka, Mason Raymond. He plays with these guys without complaint and makes them look like legit NHLers.

Kills penalties, plays on the powerplay, plays against the top players in the game. Drives offense, makes zone entries, plays a full 200 foot game. High hockey IQ. Relied heavily with defensive zone starts. Always top 10 in the NHL in takeaways. In fact ranks 3rd in the NHL since the 2012-2013 season (9 seasons) with 496 takeaways. Only Ryan O'Reilly and Mark Stone have more. For a defensive specialist he also ranks 49th in points among all NHL centers over those 9 seasons.

Fact is this team leans heavily on Mikael Backlund. We are lucky to have him.

All of this is true and I agree with all of it. And all of this is also why Backlund's slow start this year was hurting the team and limiting its success.

I think Backlund has been the best player on the team these last two games, and that it's no coincidence that both of those games were wins.

But he wasn't doing these kinds of things over the first 8 games, and I can't fault any poster who was disappointing with his start to the year or frustrated by the impact of that on the team overall.

But he has been fantastic lately, and hopefully he and others who've been finding their game again can keep it going. It's nice to see the team playing well and having a bit of success.

GFG!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Backlund's offensive instincts and skills have often been badly under-regarded on this board. His end-to-end rush in the first period last night was simply dazzling.

TBF the toe drag near his own blue line to start it gave me a small anxiety attack. It was close to being a terrible event (and turned into a great one).

[dammage79]

Backlund starts slow but gets there eventually. Its actually a fair bit faster this year than usual.

This could be wishful thinking but if the Flames can peak as a group at the right time, they'll be an extremely tough out.

Games 20-40 are really where I expect to see them in full stride. The question will be as always, are they consistent enough to keep it rolling.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

That's the one. I'm glad they rectified it - I hadn't heard that. Anger subsiding.

I'm still angry that Gagner was given a point for turning the puck over 10 years or so ago

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I was pretty harsh on him in GTs. He did suck to start the season!

I was unhappy with his start too to be clear but that dude was over the top.

[flame^thrower]

Originally Posted by AC

Close. She's an opera singer and vocal coach, but she's reacting to Devin Townsend:
https://youtu.be/y6p9mwA3OCg?t=46

OT but I played in a band and we shared a jam room with him and Strapping Young Lad back in the day. Gene Hoglan = pure beast-mode! All of them, really..

[FlamesAddiction]

It's a little troubling that the Flames played their best complete game of the season, yet the game overall was fairly even and wasn't an easy win. Winnipeg is a good team and one to watch out for once Dubois gets going. They really don't have any glaring weaknesses.