[PGT] Flames 1 Losers 0

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by dammage79

No way Lazar gets scratched. He's a part of the bottom six solution. Crazy talk.

Ya I didn't know who too take out. Lazar has been playing great hockey lately, I kept Stewart on cause he probably plays well against heavy teams.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by direwolf

That wasn't the case at all. Flames had jump and were acutally pretty aggressive right out of the gate.

Sorry they clearly had jump to start, but the powerplay had the Oilers pushing the play for the remainder of the first.

When the buzzer sounded I was happy they weren't down given the final 12 minutes of the first.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

Streamable courtesy of U/Galaxy91122

https://streamable.com/99t8m

Goes without saying, but what a play by Gio. Solid positioning and anticipation.

And the trust by him in Smith to basically play the pass and give McDavid of all players, the chance on net because he knows his goalie will be there.

Stajan with the exact way to play another teams star. Clip doesn’t show it, the only one that does is another angle shown a minute or two later, but he pretend to drop the gloves after RNH comes over to hit him, and then him and Gio take team to take down RNH. That’s why you see McD yelling back at ref.

As mentioned,Kassain is on the ice but wants no part of Stewart so he yaps a few words to Gio but that’s it.

Perfect aggression by the two Flames vets. That’s why Gio is the captain and Stajan has been around on two teams for 1000 games.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Smith makes 3 10 bell saves or its 3-1 oilers. Refs were bad, but I’m sure you won’t hear that here.

I’d be concerned it takes a complete defensive breakdown to score a goal against a team that played like horse #### tonight.

Wait, I thought you were a grease fan. I don't get this.

Man did you guys ever get spoiled last year.

[genetic_phreek]

Originally Posted by browna

Goes without saying, but what a play by Gio. Solid positioning and anticipation.

And the trust by him in Smith to basically play the pass and give McDavid of all players, the chance on net because he knows his goalie will be there.

Stajan with the exact way to play another teams star. Clip doesn’t show it, the only one that does is another angle shown a minute or two later, but he pretend to drop the gloves after RNH comes over to hit him, and then him and Gio take team to take down RNH. That’s why you see McD yelling back at ref.

As mentioned,Kassain is on the ice but wants no part of Stewart so he yaps a few words to Gio but that’s it.

Perfect aggression by the two Flames vets. That’s why Gio is the captain and Stajan has been around on two teams for 1000 games.

I totally noticed that too. When Stajan wanted to drop the gloves with RNH, RNH wanted nothing to do with it. That was totally funny.

McDavid fell down like he just got shot haha. Full Oileresque.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Ya I didn't know who too take out. Lazar has been playing great hockey lately, I kept Stewart on cause he probably plays well against heavy teams.

I don't think the Sharks are an especially "heavy" team. There really are only a handful of them left.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Wow this is massive revisionist history. The 4th line has been a dumpster fire for about 80% of the season. Where I may agree with you if we are being generous here on improved play is Brouwer exclusively and that’s because he plays 30 minutes a night and in all special teams situations.

I’m not sure why being the good guy that Stajan is has entitles him to 1,000 games and Stajan DEFINITELY has not played like he did tonight for half the season. That assertion is frankly nuts and I wonder if you’ve watched at all this year.

Stajan is one example of several players that are exactly what’s wrong with this team. No depth in scoring. I’m amazed this is even considered for debate.

Seriously?

Matt Stajan has lost a step, he really wasn't and certainly isn't an offensive player at this level, but he's one of the smartest most sound hockey players the Flames have save for the 3M line up front.

He's 12 on the team with a CF% of 52%
He leads the entire team when it comes to scoring chance splits on the season at 61.4% with actuals of 105-66.

This is a solid fourth line hockey player making about 1.5M too much.

[Mass_nerder]

I don't understand how dirty oilers fans think the flames are. It's crazy.
We're not the ducks

[Calgary4LIfe]

Stewart will probably be in and out of the lineup for the remainder of the season. I think he plays the next game against the Oilers for sure, probably against the Kings, Ducks and Jets, maybe against Columbus and perhaps even against the Coyotes (well, because they suck, and perhaps there are a couple of guys still injured).

Last game of the season is against the VGK, so depending on where the Flames sit in their playoff lives, he may play there as well to give some guys a break to heal-up.

Stewart is what he is - a guy that can pound most of the other tough guys currently in the NHL, and that generally won't lose a game for you. I think he becomes more important in a game like last night's against Edmonton. When he heats up, he can win games for you since he does have a decent shot. I just can't see him playing in most of the games for the rest of the season unless the Flames have some further injuries. He will just play against those big heavy teams (and Coyotes, who suck).

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Seriously?

Matt Stajan has lost a step, he really wasn't and certainly isn't an offensive player at this level, but he's one of the smartest most sound hockey players the Flames have save for the 3M line up front.

He's 12 on the team with a CF% of 52%
He leads the entire team when it comes to scoring chance splits on the season at 61.4% with actuals of 105-66.

This is a solid fourth line hockey player making about 1.5M too much.

It would be interesting to see his first half season vs the back half season splits in his metrics. I thought Stajan (and the entire 4th line) was fairly ineffective for the first half, but they seemingly have been so good now for such a long stretch. I imagine Stajan, Lazar and Brouwer have all seen jumps in their metrics.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Seriously?

Matt Stajan has lost a step, he really wasn't and certainly isn't an offensive player at this level, but he's one of the smartest most sound hockey players the Flames have save for the 3M line up front.

He's 12 on the team with a CF% of 52%
He leads the entire team when it comes to scoring chance splits on the season at 61.4% with actuals of 105-66.

This is a solid fourth line hockey player making about 1.5M too much.

This, plus his over-payment has never caused the Flames to be unable to make a necessary contract happen.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

I don't understand how dirty oilers fans think the flames are. It's crazy.
We're not the ducks

Because they’re the most entitled and delusional fan base on the planet and it’s not even close.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

It would be interesting to see his first half season vs the back half season splits in his metrics. I thought Stajan (and the entire 4th line) was fairly ineffective for the first half, but they seemingly have been so good now for such a long stretch. I imagine Stajan, Lazar and Brouwer have all seen jumps in their metrics.

I can't remember who posted it, but someone had a thread that broke down the lines into scoring chances and finishing and chances against etc. 4th line was individuals since they kept rotating on the line but I remember Stajan standing out as the best guy in the bottom 6 for limiting chances against.

I thought he had a very rough start but I remember thinking that this underlying stat was telling and probably a reason he kept being used in pressure situations. Since the new year the eye test on him has really matched the stats. Not as gritty as Yeller but I think he has just as much heart and like Bingo said, a great 4th liner who is paid too much for it. That said, I think I bring him back only as a 13th forward for a lot less money as the game speed is starting to seriously pass him by.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

It would be interesting to see his first half season vs the back half season splits in his metrics. I thought Stajan (and the entire 4th line) was fairly ineffective for the first half, but they seemingly have been so good now for such a long stretch. I imagine Stajan, Lazar and Brouwer have all seen jumps in their metrics.

You're spot on ...

Shot attempts
First 30 Games - 50.4%
Last 31 Games - 53.2%

Scoring Chances
First 30 Games - 47.0%
Last 31 Games - 57.1%

High Danger Scoring Chances
First 30 Games - 54.7%
Last 31 Games - 66.7%

And he was never that bad. The rest of his line was.

[Galakanokis]

Nice to get the win for sure, a little nail biting but a nice win nonetheless. Smith was huge in that game a made two or three fantastic saves. One thing that didn't happen is the oilers getting that lucky goal early in the game, it seems to happen every time we play them lately.

Not sure overall that we were the better team but we certainly were not outplayed. It was nice to see the Flames not afraid of McDavid, thought they played him very well and loved that they pushed him around. He doesn't deserve any respect at this point in his career. I don't watch him often but my god he whines a lot. Like a lot. He whined on top of his whining. If it wasn't for his speed would mcDavid be anywhere near a "generational" conversation?

Lots of good tonight. 4th line was very good again. They have been playing good hockey for awhile now and seem to be doing the right things out there. Lazar has really found a role there with Stajan turning back the clock. Nice to see.

If/when it finally clicks for Bennett he will be one heck of a player. He has a lot of skill and determination I just hope the game slows down for him here shortly and I think he starts putting up points when it does. Way to early to walk away from him.

Love me some Hamonic. we paid a high price but you have a pretty damn good defenceman there for under $4mil, I think it was worth it. He keeps getting better as the season goes along. His board work is phenomenal as well. I still think him and Giordano would be a better shutdown pair than Hamilton and Gio but the balance of the other pairings does not work. Great defenceman.

Onto the Sharks.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

So was GG smart about putting Stewart and Shore in? I think they did their jobs pretty well (moreso Shore in actual play, but if Stewart lets the Flames have their way with McDavid, maybe he's even more valuable).

If Smith is back with a vengeance, if Tkachuk comes back soon, and if the bottom 6 starts playing well, things are going to be interesting.

I liked the play of the entire team including the bottom 6 last night. The whole team was physical, gritty and intense. But the Flames still only scored one goal and needed Smith to have an outstanding game to get the win.

I don't think that formula works for the rest of the season but I think competition to get into the lineup for the bottom two lines could be leveraged to cause an improvement in play. Jankowski is the most talented guy, best playmaker and natural goal scorer out of all the guys in the bottom six and scratches (excluding maybe Bennett). I think it's fine to demand more from him but it would be foolish to leave him out too long.

[taxbuster]

Make no mistake about it: the Oilers, bad as they can be, came to play and win last night. They wanted it badly - it's their only Stanley Cup this year. One only has to look at McPuck's TOI (24.41) last night and see that he was on longer than Kris Russel (24:26) to know how much they wanted that game.

I'm quite happy with the outcome - Stewart and Shore were both inoffensively solid and didn't try to do too much, Hath was fierce on the forecheck and everyone else pulled their weight and then some.

Got a little tense, and the Flames got back on their heels a bit in the 3rd, but held the fort.

Nothing but glee here!!

[Infinit47]

Does anyone have a gif of the Draisatl cross check on Hamilton? Curious if it looks as bad today as it did when I was amped up last night.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

From a fan of the team that cornered the market on moral victories over the past decade, enjoy yours!

Mike Smith played great. Had to be concerning when he was talking to the trainer.

Except our two points matter.

Like yours did, but not since November.

[Shazam]

Go to hell Oilers.