[PGT] Flames lose 10th consecutive season-opener (5-3 Avs win) - Page 14 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Jore · 10-04-2019, 01:04 PM

Well, I only caught the first period, and it was definitely a direct continuation of last spring. Glad to hear that they seem to have gotten as the game went on, and that there were lots of positives. There is a lot of potential in this squad to be better than last year.

Psytic · 10-04-2019, 01:15 PM

Flames were decent. If we run into the Avs in the PO again I still dont see us winning. Peters still needs to come up with an answer on how to contain a team if you cant out skate them. Flames kept it close although the Avs clearly dominated possession again same as they did in the PO so penalties or not I think Peters still needs to get more creative. Reffing made this game almost unwatchable.

Textcritic · 10-04-2019, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psytic

Flames were decent. If we run into the Avs in the PO again I still dont see us winning.

I don't know how anyone can possibly make playoff-outcome predictions after Game #1.

Quote:

Peters still needs to come up with an answer on how to contain a team if you cant out skate them. Flames kept it close although the Avs clearly dominated possession again same as they did in the PO so penalties or not I think Peters still needs to get more creative...

Um. No. They didn't ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingo

Game Takes:

"The five on five shot attempts fell towards the Flames at 54% despite getting absolutely owned in the first period to the tune of 24%. Calgary topped 60% in the second and third however with splits of 61% and 67% as they endeavored to climb back into the game. Five on five high danger splits fell towards the Flames as well at 53% with period splits of 50%/63% and 43%.

"In all situations Calgary had 49% of the shot attempts and 50% of the high danger chances (12/12)."

Robo · 10-04-2019, 01:35 PM

Just watched that lucic punch again man that was gold zadorov wouldn't even look at him just kept looking at the ref like help me

Psytic · 10-04-2019, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don't know how anyone can possibly make playoff-outcome predictions after Game #1

Opinions will change regularly as the season goes on no one makes absolutes after 1 game but i'm sure you know that. After this game no I don't think we would win a 7 game series but ask me again later in the season. The teams ability wont be static the whole year and neither will my analysis.

Stanley · 10-04-2019, 01:49 PM

Can we just trade Frolik already so we don't have to keep playing Bennett with plugs?

Psytic · 10-04-2019, 01:52 PM

Quote:
Peters still needs to come up with an answer on how to contain a team if you cant out skate them. Flames kept it close although the Avs clearly dominated possession again same as they did in the PO so penalties or not I think Peters still needs to get more creative...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Um. No. They didn't ...

Yes they did for most of the game and this is only 5v5

Manhattanboy · 10-04-2019, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Yes, of course. Ignore that fact that Backlund’s production is consistent regardless of who he is playing with. Ignore the fact that Backlund was a considerably better-than-average second line ES scoring centre last year, out scoring all three of Kadri, Schenn and Bennett.

Backlund is NOT the problem.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Backlund is a great two way player. Great players get traded. If the return is there I would make a deal. Chucky needs a change and 3M has not been working for some time.

Textcritic · 10-04-2019, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Backlund is a great two way player. Great players get traded. If the return is there I would make a deal. Chucky needs a change and 3M has not been working for some time.

Right. If I believed there was an upgrade on Backlund available in a trade, I would be all for it. There almost certainly isn't. As for your second sentence, please explain "not been working for some time."

Buff · 10-04-2019, 02:01 PM

I think we had to expect the Flames to lose.

In 40 years of being in Calgary they have won only 10 season openers. Of those 10 wins, 8 were at home. So that means only 2 road wins for season openers.

However, when we play the 2nd game of the year at home, after starting on the road. The Flames record is 6-4-1. So, we have hope for game 2?

I liked Lucic. He didn't look like a player who was hurting his team, and he went after Zadorov after the ugly hit. We need big guys who hurt people but don't hurt the team to do exactly what Lucic did last night.

I thought Monahan looked faster this year.

Bennett seems more confident.

I didn't notice Neal. Same old, same old.

Enoch Root · 10-04-2019, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I would really like to see this next game:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm --> Dominant line that continues to dominate Don't change it.

Tkachuk - Ryan - Bennett --> We need a new 2nd line. I think these three would mesh well together.

Lucic - Backlund - Frolik --> Backlund and Frolik can remain together, and they can also take Lucic with them. Would be a really good 3rd line if they can work well together.

Mangiapane - Jankowski - Czarnik --> Almost like the Mangiapane - Jankowski - Hathaway line in the AHL, but Czarnik has more offensive spark than Hathaway.

I think Lucic would get exposed playing on the shut-down line. I think Dube's speed would be more useful. And he is a smart player. I also think that Czarnik offers little on the 4th line. I would adjust your bottom 6 in this way:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Ryan - Bennett
Dube - Backlund - Frolik
Mangiapane - Jankowski - Lucic

868904 · 10-04-2019, 02:03 PM

I like Hanifin a lot last night. He looks quicker and more assertive. If he plays like that all year, he might be an all star.

Textcritic · 10-04-2019, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 868904

I like Hanifin a lot last night. He looks quicker and more assertive. If he plays like that all year, he might be an all star.

That would almost certainly require him to get consideration ahead of other Flames players Gaudreau, Giordano, Monahan and Tkachuk. Hanifin could have a sensational season, and would still be a long-shot to go to the ASG.

Manhattanboy · 10-04-2019, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Right. If I believed there was an upgrade on Backlund available in a trade, I would be all for it. There almost certainly isn't. As for your second sentence, please explain "not been working for some time."

How about not living up to expectations? True and that's the problem. So we may be stuck with just better than your average second line. Hopefully they find some magic...

Textcritic · 10-04-2019, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

How about not living up to expectations? True and that's the problem. So we may be stuck with just better than your average second line. Hopefully they find some magic...

Maybe it's your expectations that are off? Not all "second lines" are of the same quality or construction. Most are pure scoring lines, while the Backlund line is a hybrid scoring line that doubles as an elite shut-down line. One of the things that makes them as effective as they are is that they play a lot and have the puck a lot. Moving Backlund off this line essentially reduces his minutes and thus, also his effectiveness.

Yeah, the second line could be even better with the addition of another top-six forward, and that is accomplished by swapping out Frolik—not by trading away the Flames's second-best centre.

MissTeeks · 10-04-2019, 02:44 PM

SuperMatt18 · 10-04-2019, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psytic

Quote:
Peters still needs to come up with an answer on how to contain a team if you cant out skate them. Flames kept it close although the Avs clearly dominated possession again same as they did in the PO so penalties or not I think Peters still needs to get more creative...

Yes they did for most of the game and this is only 5v5

The period split as Bingo had it was the better view - running total will look bad because the start was so horrendous at 24% in the first.

They were destroyed in the first - and then they were 60%+ in the 2nd and 3rd.

So they settled down after what was a horrible start.

GranteedEV · 10-04-2019, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

How about not living up to expectations? True and that's the problem. So we may be stuck with just better than your average second line. Hopefully they find some magic...

Look, I'm all for trying new lines with the pieces we have, but pretending Backlund is "inadequate" or that his line doesn't "live up to expectations" is a classic case of projecting special teams performances onto even strength play. A lot of these "2nd line players" that people fawn over have reputations built on their ability to fit on their teams' top powerplay units. You saw it with Kadri, he was on Colorado's top PP last night. Two and three years ago respectively he was on Toronto's top PP. You wanna know which year was the blip in his scoring? Hint, when he lost his PP spot to Tavares.

On a team where guys like Schenn and Kadri would never be on PP1 ahead of the trio of left shot forwards (Tkachuk, Gaudreau, and Monahan) it wouldn't take long before people turned on such acquisitions. Likewise, if we acquired a RHS center like Tyler Johnson to usurb Lindholm's role on PP1, it wouldn't be long before people turned on Lindholm.

Guys like Backlund and Bennett are probably the biggest victims of our team makeup, because no matter what they do, they are not in situations conducive to gaudy point totals. Even though that may have zero impact on the wins and losses column.

Even a guy like last year's Conn Smythe winner might not look so hot without a top PP spot to work with.

DazzlinDino · 10-04-2019, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psytic

Flames were decent. If we run into the Avs in the PO again I still dont see us winning. Peters still needs to come up with an answer on how to contain a team if you cant out skate them. Flames kept it close although the Avs clearly dominated possession again same as they did in the PO so penalties or not I think Peters still needs to get more creative. Reffing made this game almost unwatchable.

I thought the Flames power play was too predictable. but when I watch the AVS they were really effective how they run the power play. I thought that was the difference in the game

Psytic · 10-04-2019, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The period split as Bingo had it was the better view - running total will look bad because the start was so horrendous at 24% in the first.

They were destroyed in the first - and then they were 60%+ in the 2nd and 3rd.

So they settled down after what was a horrible start.

When it takes until half way through the third to break even at 5v5 events for me that's being out possessed but we are all free to our opinions. Classic Flames either way, anyway i'm sure they will be prepared for next game.