[PGT] Flames win 4-3 in Chicago!

[Kasi]

The first goal on Kane was alright, although we did roast Smith for giving up the same to Crosby. I didnt like the second goal on Saad. It didn’t seem like he ever even saw the shot which was worrying.

[Shazam]

Monahan with 10(!) shots on goal. Gio with six.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

Man what's the deal with Oilers fans complaining about the goalies we face?

Oiler fans are all related some way or some how. They can't comprehend common sense. The most out of touch and naive fan base in the league. Where would they be without McDavid?

[Red]

Maybe Ritter just had one of those games? No book, just head in the clouds a bit?

[-TC-]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

E=NG


(courtesy Zamler)

that's my favourite part too..

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Split98

Gaudreau. Wow.

We haven't had a PPG player like him in a while... and have we ever had 3 following closely behind?

Rittich was great in the 2nd, but the book is out to shoot corners. Will be interesting to see how he learns from tonight, as outside of those he was solid. Those are goals we'd roast Smith for though (and did), so this is a huge test for him as a starter.

Having Chicago's number is a very good feeling.

Is there a goalie for whom this isn't the book?

The way to play goal in the NHL is to be square to the play as much as possible, and play the percentages. A large portion of saves are simply positional (not reactive). Part of that is covering the lower part of the net. There is very little time and space in the NHL, so if the goalie stays square (to cover as much net as possible) and covers the ice from post to post, they maximize their likelihood of success.

That's step 1, as it were. Next is quickness, and being able to move post to post quickly and efficiently (without losing positioning). Rittich is elite in his ability to move and remain square and in control.

That is the best way to play goal these days it seems. And the way to score on a good positional goalie is to pick the corners.

I don't know if that is a book, so much as it is simply the only available choice: good goalie requires a well placed shot to score.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Is there a goalie for whom this isn't the book?

The way to play goal in the NHL is to be square to the play as much as possible, and play the percentages. A large portion of saves are simply positional (not reactive). Part of that is covering the lower part of the net. There is very little time and space in the NHL, so if the goalie stays square (to cover as much net as possible) and covers the ice from post to post, they maximize their likelihood of success.

That's step 1, as it were. Next is quickness, and being able to move post to post quickly and efficiently (without losing positioning). Rittich is elite in his ability to move and remain square and in control.

That is the best way to play goal these days it seems. And the way to score on a good positional goalie is to pick the corners.

I don't know if that is a book, so much as it is simply the only available choice: good goalie requires a well placed shot to score.

This is all true. I used to note this about Hiller when there were complaints about top corner goals ("seal off the post" they would say). Hiller was an odds goalie - he played percentages and blocked the puck. Ramo, of course was different - all reaction. So he looked like he was trying much harder and people liked him more, though his numbers were usually not as good.

Rittich is a good combo. Hiller didn't have the battle that Rittich does, and Ramo didn't have the positioning.

Smith IMO should be a position goalie given his size. But he is a reaction goalie, which served him OK as a younger man. That's why he is giving up 5 hole goals - he used to be able to react and close the hole in time. Now he can't.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

This is all true. I used to note this about Hiller when there were complaints about top corner goals ("seal off the post" they would say). Hiller was an odds goalie - he played percentages and blocked the puck. Ramo, of course was different - all reaction. So he looked like he was trying much harder and people liked him more, though his numbers were usually not as good.

Rittich is a good combo. Hiller didn't have the battle that Rittich does, and Ramo didn't have the positioning.

Smith IMO should be a position goalie given his size. But he is a reaction goalie, which served him OK as a younger man. That's why he is giving up 5 hole goals - he used to be able to react and close the hole in time. Now he can't.

Exactly. With his size, Smith should be a good positional goalie. But he is a pure reactive goalie. And he is no longer quick enough to get away with it (not to mention, his confidence is shot - and confidence is everything for a reactive goalie).

[Matata]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

E=NG



(courtesy Zamler)

Enjoy it while it lasts, the oiler salt is almost gone and most of it ended up in the ATL. The pain of hating the best in the west while Gaudreau goes toe to toe with their golden boy has become to much for them.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Is there a goalie for whom this isn't the book?



The way to play goal in the NHL is to be square to the play as much as possible, and play the percentages. A large portion of saves are simply positional (not reactive). Part of that is covering the lower part of the net. There is very little time and space in the NHL, so if the goalie stays square (to cover as much net as possible) and covers the ice from post to post, they maximize their likelihood of success.



That's step 1, as it were. Next is quickness, and being able to move post to post quickly and efficiently (without losing positioning). Rittich is elite in his ability to move and remain square and in control.



That is the best way to play goal these days it seems. And the way to score on a good positional goalie is to pick the corners.



I don't know if that is a book, so much as it is simply the only available choice: good goalie requires a well placed shot to score.

More a turn of phrase than anything

I think it's watching tape on last night and a different focus in practice. It seemed that they wanted to shoot high on Rittich

More or less, it looked like they knew that's we're the percentages favoured them, and a big test of a starter is knowing what's in the book

[Scroopy Noopers]

How many times have we seen Gaudreau shoot short side high?

It’s open on every goalie, and hard to hit.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

Man what's the deal with Oilers fans complaining about the goalies we face?

The Oilers fans last few years complained that the Flames were getting backups all the time as being the weaker team while teams were saving their best goalie for the Stanley Cup favourite Oilers and McDavid.

This year they are complaining that the Flames are getting backups because the league changed their philosophy and use backups against stronger teams, while the Oilers constantly get the starter to give the team their best chance for a win, never giving them a break.

No joke.

What is DeBoer doing? He starts Jones against a struggling, ****ty Oilers squad and plays the backup against the team they are tied with for 1st in the division when they've had a day off between games.

Of course Dell gets lit up. Calgary blowing San Jose out of the water. What an idiot.

has been a pattern this year. Teams playing the starter against the worse team to “guarantee” a win.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by btimbit

That thread is gold

"The real tragedy is that this sweater badly needed to be washed and now it can never touch water again"

I sympathize with him. Several years ago I got to watch a Flames game in a suite with non other than Lanny and he signed my retro Conroy jersey. The jersey has only gotten funkier since then but I still dare not wash it

[GioforPM]

Yes corners are the target area on all goalies. I will say, on a lot of replays (not just of goals, but also saves and high posts), it looks to me like Rittich gives up a lot of the upper net. Maybe it's just camera angles.

On replay, I think the Kane goal was almost fluky - a "let's see what happens" attempt by Kane that was almost saved. So it's not an example of the above at all.

If it's a flaw, it's a small one, and more than covered off by good square positioning, quick legs and a good glove.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Matata

Enjoy it while it lasts, the oiler salt is almost gone and most of it ended up in the ATL. The pain of hating the best in the west while Gaudreau goes toe to toe with their golden boy has become to much for them.

lol, no.

The moment they win two games in a row, their fans will all be back, as loud, obnoxious, and delusional as ever. We have seen this over and over and over, during a 13 year period where they have been the worst franchise in sports - almost indescribably incompetent. And yet, every time anything positive happens - anything at all - they are all back with a vengeance.

And the same thing will happen soon.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

Man what's the deal with Oilers fans complaining about the goalies we face?

Especially since Corey Crawford's career might be over, so the Blackhawks don't really have a #1 goalie.

[sureLoss]

Mike Kelly @MikeKellyNHL
The #Flames have four players with 50 or more points.
No other team has four players with 40 or more points.
20 teams don't have four players with 30 or more points.
2 teams don't have four players with 20 or more points.
Calgary is on ����.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Split98

Gaudreau. Wow.

We haven't had a PPG player like him in a while... and have we ever had 3 following closely behind?

Rittich was great in the 2nd, but the book is out to shoot corners. Will be interesting to see how he learns from tonight, as outside of those he was solid. Those are goals we'd roast Smith for though (and did), so this is a huge test for him as a starter.

Having Chicago's number is a very good feeling.

Isn't the book on every goaltender to go top corner? Those are the hardest shots to make, and the hardest shots to stop. Rittich almost always has great positioning, so if a player sneaks in a puck above his shoulders it's almost always a great shot that would go in on most goalies. I'm not worried about those as much as I am about him stopping the more routine 5-hole and low blocker/glove shots that go in all the time against Smith

[sketchyt]

The save selection Rittich used on the Saad and Kane is called the Reverse VH. You can read more about it here: https://ingoalmag.com/technique/reve...per-execution/

It's very effective but difficult to incorporate into your game. Looks mostly like this and depends on how far the shooter is:



Here's where Rittich made his mistake (moreso on the Saad goal... Kane's was kind of flukey and I feel on that play he would have found an opportunity one way or another):



Here's where Rittich used the reverse VH at Saad's point of release. He's using it too early.



Good news is this is a very easy fix and just part of the adjustment to the NHL game. He's shown a great capacity to adapt.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by sketchyt

The save selection Rittich used on the Saad and Kane is called the Reverse VH. You can read more about it here: https://ingoalmag.com/technique/reve...per-execution/

It's very effective but difficult to incorporate into your game. Looks mostly like this and depends on how far the shooter is:



Here's where Rittich made his mistake (moreso on the Saad goal... Kane's was kind of flukey and I feel on that play he would have found an opportunity one way or another):



Here's where Rittich used the reverse VH at Saad's point of release. He's using it too early.



Good news is this is a very easy fix and just part of the adjustment to the NHL game. He's shown a great capacity to adapt.

Nice breakdown. Yeah looks like he jumped the gun a bit. Maybe playing too cautious in the final minute.