[PGT] *Ting* Flames get blanked by the oil

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

The ting sound remains unexplained...

Koskinan hits his posts every time the opposing team enters the zone.

[jayswin]

Tkachuk looks the same, he's not playing lazy or misfiring, he just doesn't have any chemistry with these guys, which is everything in hockey.

Bennett has low hockey IQ at the NHL level, he just can't assess a developing play with his head up like a true top six guy can and that kills offense on a second line.

[TheIronMaiden]

A rested and motivated Giordano will be a revelation on Wednesday.

[gt4flames]

Sucks to lose to the coilers but they took advantage of a tired Flames team. Sticks in passing lanes all night, clogged up the neutral zone, and enjoyed lots of passes from flames players right on their tape that would end up being an Oilers rush the other way. 82/0 would be ideal but I'm more then happy with a 3 point lead on the division rival ducks, and still being first in the west.

[jayswin]

I've learned not to question Peters at this point but one move I'd really like to see is to put Neal with Tkachuk. You've got a $5.75mil acquisition that clearly isn't working in the bottom six and you've got a superstar young talent who's playing with two scrubs who can't play at his level.

Put them together and see what happens for a game or two. Nothing to lose and something to gain.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The guy doesn't or at least hasn't produced, I won't argue that. The longer it goes on the more it seems likely it's what he is regardless of chances.

Not prepared to blame other players not playing well on him though. Tkachuk has been off for a couple of weeks, and is certainly missing Backlund more than Bennett is neutering him.

Right....when Bennett joined that line.

Backlund has only missed 2 games, but those two have been together for 2 weeks before that.

Maybe just a coincidence, and yes MT hasn't been the same but I suspect the two are related to some degree.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I've learned not to question Peters at this point but one move I'd really like to see is to put Neal with Tkachuk. You've got a $5.75mil acquisition that clearly isn't working in the bottom six and you've got a superstar young talent who's playing with two scrubs who can't play at his level.

Put them together and see what happens for a game or two. Nothing to lose and something to gain.

Yup...exactly what i would like to see as well. I would also like to see Jankowski between them (until Backlund can return) and let Ryan drop down a bit as his offensive abilities are extremely limited.

[djsFlames]

If everyone's back on wednesday, Tkachuk - Backlund - Neal, please.

Even if Neal doesn't warrant a promotion, the bottom six assignment simply isn't working.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

If everyone's back on wednesday, Tkachuk - Backlund - Neal, please.

Even if Neal doesn't warrant a promotion, the bottom six assignment simply isn't working.

Why will gifting him a harder role where a mistake is more costly help anything?

I think take him out of the lineup if everyone is healthy. If he doesn’t drastically improve his play and quickly things aren’t going to work out with him in Calgary. He isn’t just snakebitten, he is lazy and slow.

Not sure what the word is on compliance buyouts but he is most likely ours.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

If everyone's back on wednesday, Tkachuk - Backlund - Neal, please.

Even if Neal doesn't warrant a promotion, the bottom six assignment simply isn't working.

The silence on Backlund leads me to believe we'll be lucky to see him early in 2019

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Split98

The silence on Backlund leads me to believe we'll be lucky to see him early in 2019

Yeah it doesn't sound too promising he will be back soon.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yup...exactly what i would like to see as well. I would also like to see Jankowski between them (until Backlund can return) and let Ryan drop down a bit as his offensive abilities are extremely limited.

Numbers just don't support that.

As I said I haven't liked the last few games (Two before Backlund went down and two since), but as a trio they've been good before that. Bennett has the second most five on five minutes with Tkachuk this season after Backlund, this isn't a two week thing.

Tkachuk has seen a 4.7% increase in scoring chance splits with Bennett compared to without.

Tkachuk has seen a 12% spike in high danger chance splits with Bennett compared to without.

Numbers suggest Tkachuk has played better with Bennett than any other forward not named Monahan, Gaudreau or Lindholm.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yeah it doesn't sound too promising he will be back soon.

The thing with concussions though is you just don't know.

He could wake up today headache free and that would change everything.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The thing with concussions though is you just don't know.

He could wake up today headache free and that would change everything.

Yeah, I get the feeling that as soon as he starts progressing we'll hear news - but there's a good amount of time he has to be out with concussion protocol isn't there?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Split98

Yeah, I get the feeling that as soon as he starts progressing we'll hear news - but there's a good amount of time he has to be out with concussion protocol isn't there?

The put him on the IR so they need him out for a week minimum. He won't play against Philly and then we may hear more than is my guess.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The put him on the IR so they need him out for a week minimum. He won't play against Philly and then we may hear more than is my guess.

If he doesn't go on the road trip, pretty bad news.

[Toonage]

The schedule is such that they don't need him back right away. Entirely possible he's back right after Xmas and 100%

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think the problem with PP 2 is that they try the same system and style as PP1 but they don't have the right personnel. And they have an incompatible mix. They have a net crasher (Bennett), a close in shooter (Neal), a point guy who doesn't shoot (Brodie) and Ryan and Backlund who aren't really that good at making plays. They aren't really capable of the pretty plays PP1 does, but they also don't put enough at the net for Bennett to be effective.

I wonder if they should put Lindholm on PP2 and let Neal play PP1.

Why isn't Andersson on the second PP unit? He can get pucks on net and walk the line, plus he's a right shot.

[Kasi]

Good thing our schedule is easy the next couple weeks. We have six games before the 27th and most of them aren’t against good teams. Tampa at home next week is the big test. The 27th is when we play Winnipeg. I do hope he’s back for then.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Numbers just don't support that.

As I said I haven't liked the last few games (Two before Backlund went down and two since), but as a trio they've been good before that. Bennett has the second most five on five minutes with Tkachuk this season after Backlund, this isn't a two week thing.

Tkachuk has seen a 4.7% increase in scoring chance splits with Bennett compared to without.

Tkachuk has seen a 12% spike in high danger chance splits with Bennett compared to without.

Numbers suggest Tkachuk has played better with Bennett than any other forward not named Monahan, Gaudreau or Lindholm.

Numbers are great and all that.

Watching them play together is a whole different conclusion.

No matter what the numbers suggest, it is unequivocally true that Sam has been abysmal offensively for a 2nd line guy. He gets put on that 2nd line and Tkachuk noticeably starts to tail off. Again, it might just be coincidence but that's doubtful at best.

Try someone else (Neal) with MT and see what happens. Send Sam to the 4th line and let him produce those numbers with others that maybe helps them.