[PGT] Flames Punk Themselves. 2-0 DAL

[djsFlames]

Getting away is going to help the guys mentally.

It's a lot of pressure being heavy favourites in front of the C of red just to start the playoffs. Sticks have been gripped a bit tight for 5 periods.

But they showed exactly what they're capable of in that first 20.

Just need to exterminate the jitters. That's easier to do on the road.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by transplant99

It didn't hurt anything...that much I know.

well when it started it was 1-0 and when the game ended it was 2-0

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Not sure how this problem can be solved. Maybe give season ticket holders first rights to buy tickets to not only their seats for playoff games, but a certain number of other seats as well. Plus, special discounts on those ticket purchases. Maybe that's how you get more diehards and less casuals into the building. Maybe it's not the best idea, I don't know. But something should be done, IMO.

Make tickets affordable for most fans to attend playoff games. Prices for the playoffs are insane and will get worse should the Flames advance to the next round. Frankly i'm not surprised there were empty seats tonight.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Not sure how this problem can be solved. Maybe give season ticket holders first rights to buy tickets to not only their seats for playoff games, but a certain number of other seats as well. Plus, special discounts on those ticket purchases. Maybe that's how you get more diehards and less casuals into the building. Maybe it's not the best idea, I don't know. But something should be done, IMO.

I think the Flames corporation is happy to sell tickets at maximum prices.

[OutOfTheCube]

Classic Flames first round through the first two games at least.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

I always wonder if the replacement ice plant following the floods was a budget option, with the assumption that a new arena was on the horizon.

The ice plant has been redone 5 or 6 times in last 30 years.

KK (RIP) said back in 2011 preflood that the ice plant in place was at its limit, nothing better could be installed, that the mechanicals and layout and everything involved with making and maintaining ice was at itsimit. Not just the machines it self but the cement base and cooling machines and arena conditions, didn't allow anything more powerful to work.

The plant they replaced after the flood was the same, again, nothing more powerful could or would work given all the variables. So Flames are stick with ice like this every spring. The reason they had to flood twice in the 2nd intermission last game

[dino7c]

1989 first round was 1-1
2004 first round was 1-1

2-0 would have been nice but who actually called a sweep. Need a win to get home ice back

[browna]

Originally Posted by Dion

Make tickets affordable for most fans to attend playoff games. Prices for the playoffs are insane and will get worse should the Flames advance to the next round. Frankly i'm not surprised there were empty seats tonight.

“Affordable” tickets will get scooped up go on the resale market for close to what the Flames are selling for now.

The Flames and the league have a lot of data on price sensitivity and what the markup is/ the price people are willing to pay for resale…so instead of that revenue on resale leaking to Stubhub or other 3rd part companies by way of fees, the league through Ticketmaster have their own resale site, and, can also set the original price near that markup price, and then the league and it’s teams can keep that money themselves.

As an STH the face value markup over what we pay is significant…perks of being an STH.

[browna]

Originally Posted by dino7c

1989 first round was 1-1
2004 first round was 1-1

2-0 would have been nice but who actually called a sweep. Need a win to get home ice back

And if the Flames were vastly outplayed or out worked or out chanced, there may be a slight cause for concern. They haven’t. They do need to solve the Dallas trap, they need a bit more crispness (better ice will help) and generate some more transitional speed, and a dirty goal or two, but they are the superior team.
Dallas didn’t show anything more in game 1 then two, and one game they had a lead to protect and the other they had to find a goal…so not much to be worried about there… they got a fortunate tip and “parked the bus” in the neutral zone…same happened in the reg season game, but there the Flames came back and once Dallas is out of their very specific lanes, they will break down quick.

JGs called back goal would’ve given this game a whole different look.

[ikaris]

I guess at the end of the day if Gadreau and Tkachuk want to get paid they need to deliver in the playoffs.

That didn’t happen tonight.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by dino7c

1989 first round was 1-1
2004 first round was 1-1

2-0 would have been nice but who actually called a sweep. Need a win to get home ice back

This team is 25-12-2 on the road.

I don't think home ice is or should be a very big factor when all is said and done.

[ben voyonsdonc]

The bad news:
- We played like junk
- We made Oettinger look good
- We wouldn’t beat a single team in the playoffs if we played that way

The good news:
- We only lost 2-0 with an EN
- We outshot them
- We allowed only 23 shots
- If we played 10% better, we’d have won
- Sutter will not allow another effort like this
- We seem to find ourselves when we go on the road

We need to use this game as a “teachable moment” for the rest of the playoff run. If we don’t, that run will be very short.

[Classic_Sniper]

Honestly, through 2 games. This is a very disappointing showing from the team. Call it high standards, maybe unreasonable expectations. But it's concerning that the Flames cannot beat a team that barely made the playoffs.

I'd argue the Stars don't even deserve to be at the dance because they needed 15 overtime/shootout wins to help pad their point totals, not to mention they're the only team in the playoffs with a negative goal differential.

It really shouldn't be close. Yet it is somehow because this Flames team just doesn't make it easy on themselves. Management traded a considerable number of draft picks to make the team deeper and yet, where's the depth scoring?


- Jarnkrok is 19 games into his Flames' tenure, still hasn't scored a goal for the team.

- Toffoli after a brilliant start, has 3 even strength points in his last 19 games.


These 2 are prominent pieces on their respective lines. So, if they're not helping their lines out, I'd almost be tempted to go back to the previous lines before they were acquired because the team was having success well before their arrival.

All I know is, this team is missing a legitimate second line. Without an effective second line, all of a sudden, this team becomes the same one line team we talked about earlier on in the season.

[home_sweet_dome]

People focus on the top line but the reality is the middle 6 isn't producing and really hasn't for a while outside of Dube.

I've said it so many times that it's beating a dead horse but Backlund simply isn't a 2nd line C and has no chemistry with 88/73. It's at the point of switching it up or dying on that sword.

Try Dube or Ruzicka up there with 88/73 and have Backs/Coleman/Jarnkrok as an elite shutdown 3rd line. Sad there wasn't more experimenting with that the last month when it's been obvious 88/11/73 doesn't work and our spot was essentially locked in.

Also Jarnkrok plays well, puts himself in the right situation a lot of times, generates chances....but has absolutely no finish.

[Philly06Cup]

I want Johnny to be more selfish. He can dangle, but he needs to create for himself instead of passing after. He has it in him and he needs to show it more.

[AFireInside]

My first ever playoff game. Absolutely terrible all around, I was expecting a lot more from the crowd too..

I don't know how it came across on TV but they looked disinterested live. So many stupid cute little plays that aren't going to fly in the playoffs.

Team really likes to hold onto the puck way too long then try and shoot.

Kylington - I've disliked most of the season, the playoffs are no different. He bobbles the puck so much and seems to have awful balance.

Guadreau - Looked scared for a good part of the game. Please for love of god stop trying to bank it in every second play.

Toffoli - Whatever curve he's using, it's too much... Seems to shoot high a lot.

Good team on the road so here's hoping they get it going.

Flames did a great job shooting it at the crest on the goalie's jersey.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by ikaris

I guess at the end of the day if Gadreau and Tkachuk want to get paid they need to deliver in the playoffs.

That didn’t happen tonight.

Would be nice if the "depth" we've heard about finally arrived.

The top 2 lines have essentially cancelled each other out. Each has 1 goal. The Flames' depth and goaltending was suppose to be the trump card. So far, Oettinger has matched Markstrom and the Flames' depth has been a no show.

The Stars didn't burn all their picks to load up for this run, the Flames did. So the new shiny toys have to start making an impact because as I pointed out in the post above, they've been very lacklustre for the past month+

[Duffalufagus]

Top line is invisible. Doing nothing. Difference so far imo.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by home_sweet_dome

People focus on the top line but the reality is the middle 6 isn't producing and really hasn't for a while outside of Dube.

I've said it so many times that it's beating a dead horse but Backlund simply isn't a 2nd line C and has no chemistry with 88/73. It's at the point of switching it up or dying on that sword.

Try Dube or Ruzicka up there with 88/73 and have Backs/Coleman/Jarnkrok as an elite shutdown 3rd line. Sad there wasn't more experimenting with that the last month when it's been obvious 88/11/73 doesn't work and our spot was essentially locked in.

Agree with most of what you said.

But I think Backlund and Mangiapane actually have a lot of chemistry. They both can cycle down low and can spend entire shifts in the opponents end.

If you ask me, I think it's Toffoli that has zero chemistry with the second line. His game doesn't seem to compliment them at all. Even tonight, Darryl sticks Toffoli with Backlund on a few 4 on 4 shifts, looked awful together. Then Toffoli ends up in the box on a coincidental, so Mangiapane ends up with Backlund and together, they have a great shift.

Toffoli needs to removed from that line, he doesn't fit. The eye test and the numbers say so. After a great start, Toffoli has 3 points even strength points in his last 19 games, most of those games have been with 11 and 88.

[Hemi-Cuda]

This is Dallas' series to lose now IMO. They've completely shutdown the best line in the NHL 5-on-5 in their own building and their goaltender is just as good as Markstrom. Flames will be squeezing those sticks extra hard in game 3 while Dallas will be playing loose as they're already beating expectations. Time to see if Sutter can actually make the difference this year I guess, he's got his hands full with probably the most mentally fragile team in the playoffs