[PGT] Flames lose third straight. Canucks 2, Flames 1 (SO)

[Machiavelli]

^ Agree with everything except Brodie. I think he's looked off. He seems confused, isn't skating as well as he usually does, and last night had quite a few turnovers...it's all very strange. I'm sure he'll be okay, though

[Strange Brew]

Two key guys that need to show continued improvement are Benett and Hamilton. I truly believe they are they key to Flames success this year. Hamilton needs to be an elite 3rd defenseman and Bennett needs to show sings of becoming a star.

Despite the horrific start, the other parts of the team you have to believe will come around.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by flamesrule_kipper34

0-2-1, big difference.

Well it took the help of their opponent scoring their own goal but you are correct in that it's not technically 0-3. Nobody should really be surprised given the poor preseason, top two forwards having no preseason and e defensive group that seems to play like crap until December every year.

That said the way they have played is as bad as could have been feared. It's panic time for this team as a 2-7-1 start will seal this team's season fate and that's what they are staring at if they can't pull things together very quickly.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

A few things to say about last night and the season in general:

-Massive improvement defensively from the first two games. The focus was there most of the time, although there are still some lapses in play. I credit the coaching for turning it around so drastically, as well as a few players getting into regular season mode. They were solid as a team with good support in all areas of the ice.

-Penalty killing has been much, much better this year. I am confident this will no longer be a glaring weakness for the team this year, even though Edmonton capitalized on a couple lapses in the penalty kill.

-Both goaltenders will give us a chance to win every single night. I don't know how many games they will "steal", but they're at least going to give us league average goaltending. As long as the defense plays a decent game and limits the odd-man rushes and breakaways, the goalies will hold their own.

-There is no doubt that our top end players are struggling right now. That being said, the support personnel has largely been good to great, so all we need is for those big guns to start producing some offense and we'll be in good shape. I'm confident it will happen sooner rather than later.

-I actually really like Gulutzan's system and what he's trying to do. Much better possession numbers and clean breakouts/zone entries. What I am seeing so far is a lack of execution from the players, and not much more than that. Old habits are coming up again and again, seeing the players rely on Hartley's style of game when things start to fall apart. Anyone longing for Hartley has to remember how bad the gameplan was last year, and how stubborn he was to make changes to personnel/systems. I'm glad we've moved on to a coach who has a system that will make us competitive in the long term. I think a week of practices in an attempt to perfect the execution of the system will go a long way for this team.

-That being said, OF COURSE this should have been done in the last week of pre-season, so that's on coaching and management equally IMO. It's up to the coaching staff to get this team up to speed ASAP. I've seen improvement game by game, but it hasn't all come together just yet.

-And one more thing, 3 home openers in 4 nights, with travel to and from each venue, will wear down anyone and throw off timing. You could see the Flames were pretty solid in the first 2 periods last night considering they were playing a team on a full week's rest, but by the 3rd they were completely gassed, and that's the only reason the Canucks got back into the game. I'm really not mad about that shift where they were hemmed in and eventually scored on, they were just extremely exhausted.

Anyone deciding that this season is already lost after 3 games is being pretty stupid. Yes, we lost to bad teams in bad ways, but I still see this team as one that can compete for a playoff spot. Probably a bubble team, but right there in that mix at any rate. Give them some time before freaking out. A bad start is less than ideal, but it's nothing we can't recover from.

Don't forget: 3 games add up to 3.7% of the season. There's a LOT more hockey to play.

[Calgaryguy73]

Third game in four nights to start the season, new coach, new system, top line had no chance to gel in the pre season, and to play in three straight home openers. Chill the heck out everyone! The Chicago Blackhawks have one more point in the same number of games. Save the panic button for at least another 4 weeks. If it stays the same then we can worry

[itsmagic]

Originally Posted by The Professor

Watched the first period. Went to a puppet show. Glad I did.

Professor, you just became my second favourite poster...

...right after whomever will be the first to post another Emma Stone gif.

There is just something about redheads...

BTW, odds are I have seen the same puppet show. It was hilarious, as was the warm-up act.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

A few things to say about last night and the season in general:

-Massive improvement defensively from the first two games. The focus was there most of the time, although there are still some lapses in play. I credit the coaching for turning it around so drastically, as well as a few players getting into regular season mode. They were solid as a team with good support in all areas of the ice.

-Penalty killing has been much, much better this year. I am confident this will no longer be a glaring weakness for the team this year, even though Edmonton capitalized on a couple lapses in the penalty kill.

-Both goaltenders will give us a chance to win every single night. I don't know how many games they will "steal", but they're at least going to give us league average goaltending. As long as the defense plays a decent game and limits the odd-man rushes and breakaways, the goalies will hold their own.

-There is no doubt that our top end players are struggling right now. That being said, the support personnel has largely been good to great, so all we need is for those big guns to start producing some offense and we'll be in good shape. I'm confident it will happen sooner rather than later.

-I actually really like Gulutzan's system and what he's trying to do. Much better possession numbers and clean breakouts/zone entries. What I am seeing so far is a lack of execution from the players, and not much more than that. Old habits are coming up again and again, seeing the players rely on Hartley's style of game when things start to fall apart. Anyone longing for Hartley has to remember how bad the gameplan was last year, and how stubborn he was to make changes to personnel/systems. I'm glad we've moved on to a coach who has a system that will make us competitive in the long term. I think a week of practices in an attempt to perfect the execution of the system will go a long way for this team.

-That being said, OF COURSE this should have been done in the last week of pre-season, so that's on coaching and management equally IMO. It's up to the coaching staff to get this team up to speed ASAP. I've seen improvement game by game, but it hasn't all come together just yet.

-And one more thing, 3 home openers in 4 nights, with travel to and from each venue, will wear down anyone and throw off timing. You could see the Flames were pretty solid in the first 2 periods last night considering they were playing a team on a full week's rest, but by the 3rd they were completely gassed, and that's the only reason the Canucks got back into the game. I'm really not mad about that shift where they were hemmed in and eventually scored on, they were just extremely exhausted.

Anyone deciding that this season is already lost after 3 games is being pretty stupid. Yes, we lost to bad teams in bad ways, but I still see this team as one that can compete for a playoff spot. Probably a bubble team, but right there in that mix at any rate. Give them some time before freaking out. A bad start is less than ideal, but it's nothing we can't recover from.

Don't forget: 3 games add up to 3.7% of the season. There's a LOT more hockey to play.

Quoted for best post .

Also i am starting to think that some posters have no clue what 3 games in 4 nights to start the season is like for a pro athlete. These guys are not even close to 100% conditioned for that yet. This is not your X-box where you can play for 10 straight hours and the players never get tired. Throw in a Vancouver team that has rested for a week and flames were lucky to get a point. In my eyes that is horrible scheduling by the NHL.

[Super-Rye]

Really like the play of Backlund, Frolik and Brouwer. The support players are really bringing it right now.

Defense is starting to turn it around. Really like how they look with Jokipakka and Kulak in the lineup. Grossman and Wideman are just way too slow for today's NHL.

Gaudreau, Monahan, and Bennett are all fighting it a bit right now, but are showing signs of breaking out.

All in all an 0-2-1 start is very disappointing but the team looks much better 3 games into this season then they looked 3 games into last season.

[FBI]

I sure saw a lot of shooting right into the goalie logo. Shots were very disappointing. So was the lack of goals considering we scored 7 the last 2 games. Baby steps I guess, defense was better and we got a point. Still had a lot of fun but that was a sloppy hockey game to watch
Hope next one in Van is much better!

[Wood]

I love everything Backlund has been doing. Couldn't ask for a better shutdown centre and penalty killer

The top line will figure it out, and once they do everything should come together

Defense was much better, goaltending was solid, and the depth players all looked great. Miller is going to carry Vancouver to most of their wins

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

A few things to say about last night and the season in general:

-Massive improvement defensively from the first two games. The focus was there most of the time, although there are still some lapses in play. I credit the coaching for turning it around so drastically, as well as a few players getting into regular season mode. They were solid as a team with good support in all areas of the ice.

-Penalty killing has been much, much better this year. I am confident this will no longer be a glaring weakness for the team this year, even though Edmonton capitalized on a couple lapses in the penalty kill.

-Both goaltenders will give us a chance to win every single night. I don't know how many games they will "steal", but they're at least going to give us league average goaltending. As long as the defense plays a decent game and limits the odd-man rushes and breakaways, the goalies will hold their own.

-There is no doubt that our top end players are struggling right now. That being said, the support personnel has largely been good to great, so all we need is for those big guns to start producing some offense and we'll be in good shape. I'm confident it will happen sooner rather than later.

-I actually really like Gulutzan's system and what he's trying to do. Much better possession numbers and clean breakouts/zone entries. What I am seeing so far is a lack of execution from the players, and not much more than that. Old habits are coming up again and again, seeing the players rely on Hartley's style of game when things start to fall apart. Anyone longing for Hartley has to remember how bad the gameplan was last year, and how stubborn he was to make changes to personnel/systems. I'm glad we've moved on to a coach who has a system that will make us competitive in the long term. I think a week of practices in an attempt to perfect the execution of the system will go a long way for this team.

-That being said, OF COURSE this should have been done in the last week of pre-season, so that's on coaching and management equally IMO. It's up to the coaching staff to get this team up to speed ASAP. I've seen improvement game by game, but it hasn't all come together just yet.

-And one more thing, 3 home openers in 4 nights, with travel to and from each venue, will wear down anyone and throw off timing. You could see the Flames were pretty solid in the first 2 periods last night considering they were playing a team on a full week's rest, but by the 3rd they were completely gassed, and that's the only reason the Canucks got back into the game. I'm really not mad about that shift where they were hemmed in and eventually scored on, they were just extremely exhausted.

Anyone deciding that this season is already lost after 3 games is being pretty stupid. Yes, we lost to bad teams in bad ways, but I still see this team as one that can compete for a playoff spot. Probably a bubble team, but right there in that mix at any rate. Give them some time before freaking out. A bad start is less than ideal, but it's nothing we can't recover from.

Don't forget: 3 games add up to 3.7% of the season. There's a LOT more hockey to play.

The Flames get to play the Nolan Patrick lottery teams Vancouver Edmonton and Carolina and Columbus a total of 13 times.... 26 points... to make the playoffs the Flames need to take 20 of these points. Right now if they sweep the other 10 games they will get 21 out of 26 pts.

[Resolute 14]

One point in three games against two of the worst teams in the NHL. Ugh.

[sa226]

You just don't adjust to a new coach overnight (Well in preseason). I think a seeming lack of urgency can be explained by players over thinking where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing.

I do think that the structure change is going to be a good thing long term. It had to be done.

If they are still floundering by game 20, then that's a problem. What they have needed the past 3 games is for the goaltending and special teams to steal games for them, while they adjust to the new system. Last night was close, but the first two were abysmal.

I'm not concerned at all about the quality of the team. This is and will be a good, not great, but good team. What I am very concerned about is falling too far behind and then playing a futile game of catch up for the rest of the season.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Look on the bright side. Sure, the Flames can't score to save their lives, but at least Joe Colborne didn't get a hat trick last night in the Avs home opener.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The Flames get to play the Nolan Patrick lottery teams Vancouver Edmonton and Carolina and Columbus a total of 13 times.... 26 points... to make the playoffs the Flames need to take 20 of these points. Right now if they sweep the other 10 games they will get 21 out of 26 pts.

Are you saying with the rest of the schedule that the flames won't steal 1 win from a team that is better than them?

[Har-Calgary]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

A few things to say about last night and the season in general:

-Massive improvement defensively from the first two games. The focus was there most of the time, although there are still some lapses in play. I credit the coaching for turning it around so drastically, as well as a few players getting into regular season mode. They were solid as a team with good support in all areas of the ice.

-Penalty killing has been much, much better this year. I am confident this will no longer be a glaring weakness for the team this year, even though Edmonton capitalized on a couple lapses in the penalty kill.

-Both goaltenders will give us a chance to win every single night. I don't know how many games they will "steal", but they're at least going to give us league average goaltending. As long as the defense plays a decent game and limits the odd-man rushes and breakaways, the goalies will hold their own.

-There is no doubt that our top end players are struggling right now. That being said, the support personnel has largely been good to great, so all we need is for those big guns to start producing some offense and we'll be in good shape. I'm confident it will happen sooner rather than later.

-I actually really like Gulutzan's system and what he's trying to do. Much better possession numbers and clean breakouts/zone entries. What I am seeing so far is a lack of execution from the players, and not much more than that. Old habits are coming up again and again, seeing the players rely on Hartley's style of game when things start to fall apart. Anyone longing for Hartley has to remember how bad the gameplan was last year, and how stubborn he was to make changes to personnel/systems. I'm glad we've moved on to a coach who has a system that will make us competitive in the long term. I think a week of practices in an attempt to perfect the execution of the system will go a long way for this team.

-That being said, OF COURSE this should have been done in the last week of pre-season, so that's on coaching and management equally IMO. It's up to the coaching staff to get this team up to speed ASAP. I've seen improvement game by game, but it hasn't all come together just yet.

-And one more thing, 3 home openers in 4 nights, with travel to and from each venue, will wear down anyone and throw off timing. You could see the Flames were pretty solid in the first 2 periods last night considering they were playing a team on a full week's rest, but by the 3rd they were completely gassed, and that's the only reason the Canucks got back into the game. I'm really not mad about that shift where they were hemmed in and eventually scored on, they were just extremely exhausted.

Anyone deciding that this season is already lost after 3 games is being pretty stupid. Yes, we lost to bad teams in bad ways, but I still see this team as one that can compete for a playoff spot. Probably a bubble team, but right there in that mix at any rate. Give them some time before freaking out. A bad start is less than ideal, but it's nothing we can't recover from.

Don't forget: 3 games add up to 3.7% of the season. There's a LOT more hockey to play.

This is all very true, just tough to watch when our strong players are playing poorly. Although I disagree with the hemmed in shift, that was embarrasing. Johnny and Versteeg did nohing to pressure the point players, Mony looked lost, Gio and Brodie were in good position but surprisingly couldn't get the sedins off the puck, I mean the sedins are still the sedins but being hemmed in that long reminded me of our woes last season. We all blamed goaltending, of course that was a big part of the problem, but being constantly hemmed in like that was another major issue and I really hope we solve that. Losing Russell helps but our forwards need to be better defensively. Chaisson or Brouwer on the top line might be a better fit simply for the defensive responsibilities.

Gio was fantastic last night, the hemmed in shift was rough but his play on the 4 on 3 was as good as anyone in the L, and he played the entire shift. He'll never be the most talented like PK or EK but the captain is the epitome of hard working and he showed it last night. His offense is still coming but he looked like Gio last night. Brodie is fighting it right now but his skating looks fine, just mental errors, he'll be fine.

Johnny had his moments and he's still Johnny, the rush where he burned Hutton should calm everyone down cuz that is vintage Johnny, he'll find the net soon enough. Mony looks slow, but we all know he's not the worlds best skater. More concerning is his wrist shot, which is his bread and butter, looked weak. Didn't seem to have much on it. I don't think it's a shoulder thing either cuz he's had moments where he's looked strong on the boards.

We got a couple of days to actually get real practice in, but if they lose at home to a Sabers team that is missing their best player....

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The Flames get to play the Nolan Patrick lottery teams Vancouver Edmonton and Carolina and Columbus a total of 13 times.... 26 points... to make the playoffs the Flames need to take 20 of these points. Right now if they sweep the other 10 games they will get 21 out of 26 pts.

You don't know this, stop pretending you know something we all don't know.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

One point in three games against two of the worst teams in the NHL. Ugh.

Yeah I simply don't think there's a positive spin or excuse you can say that's valid as their opponents in all three games did not play very well and were fortunate that the Flames were simply worse. I don't know if there was a team out of 29 the Flames could beat playing the way they did in these three games and that's concerning.

[Meers]

Well, at least we can thank Louie Eriksson for the point.

This team is young and a work in progress. It will take some time for them to gel. No one was expecting a President's Trophy.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Ownership isn't about to pay 2 guys not to coach this team. GG will get at least this year to install his system. Quit beating the dead horse.

Doesn't matter anyway, who are they going to get to replace him? They had their chance with Boudreau but apparently he wasn't even good enough for an interview. I kind of figured GG was a diamond in the rough superstar to afford such arrogance. Not really looking that way so far.