[PGT] Rocky Mountain High -- Flames win!

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I don’t think it’s necessarily that Gaudreau has completely altered his defensive game, he’s always had the ability to backcheck and strip players from the puck. I think it has more to do with how connected the top line is now and how they’ve changed their strategy on the backcheck. It’s the biggest structural change I’ve noticed from Peters/Ward to Darryl and it has altered everything.

The way that line always has the F3 positioned is a thing of beauty. It’s usually Lindholm since he’s so smart and has such great defensive acumen, but occasionally Gaudreau and Tkachuk are thrusted into that role and they do just fine.

Yes, their structure is great.

But we are also seeing a completely different level of effort from Gaudreau on the backcheck. All kinds of examples of Gaudreau just putting his head down and skating hard to get back.

And then when he does, he has the hands to steal pucks from people.

His 200 ft compete level has been stellar - a thing of beauty to watch.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Just a little side not: Cale Makar is incredibly good. Wow. Watching him fly up the ice is breathtaking. I am going to tune into more Avs games simply because he is a lot of fun to watch.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yes, their structure is great.

But we are also seeing a completely different level of effort from Gaudreau on the backcheck. All kinds of examples of Gaudreau just putting his head down and skating hard to get back.

And then when he does, he has the hands to steal pucks from people.

His 200 ft compete level has been stellar - a thing of beauty to watch.

And to add even more on that - once he has stolen back the puck, he makes much more calm and wise decisions with it. It's one thing to disrupt plays on the backcheck, which he actually did quite often the last few years. Now it's the transition and knowing how to control the puck in that scenario. It's been a game changer

[McG]

Sportsnet: Oilers gain moral victory with precision coach’s challenges while Flames and Avs share 3 points.

[Mattman]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

https://twitter.com/user/status/1500525819243814922

So funny to watch his goal. He gets the puck and then you can see the Avs players move away from him like he's can't shoot the puck. Bet you feel pretty silly now hey Avs.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

And to add even more on that - once he has stolen back the puck, he makes much more calm and wise decisions with it. It's one thing to disrupt plays on the backcheck, which he actually did quite often the last few years. Now it's the transition and knowing how to control the puck in that scenario. It's been a game changer

There was one play last night where once he got the puck, instead of taking the it into the offensive zone he circled around to give the team time to change lines. He knew that line was tired.and struggling a bit. Took it on himself and then went off for the change.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Maybe not friendly, but definitely no animosity either, Mackinnon is a big fan of Gaudreau. The 2 played on a line together on Team North America and they were outstanding together, actually thought they were the best duo on the team.

MacKinnon even said on HNIC After Hours that he wanted to steal Gaudreau so he could play with him some more or something to that affect. I’ve tried to find that post game show but haven’t been able to. Regardless, MacKinnon definitely respects Gaudreau and it was probably just some friendly banter between 2 ultra competitive guys who happen to have a lot of admiration for one another.

MacKinnon has only 18 goals and the Avs are 31st in faceoff win %. We could probably get him for Sean Monahan.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Johnny gave his stick to a young Flames fan after the game.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1500573033542553601

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Captain Otto

I echo all the sentiments here.

One thing I'd like to give kudos to was the reffing. They knew this was a big game and one that they just let the big boys smash it out.

Good job stripes!

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That's Exactly how you officiate a game of that magnitude.

I wish every game was given a similar treatment.

(Oilers wouldn't stand a chance)

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Howie_16

Flames murdering the Oilers in a playoffs series > Oilers missing the playoffs.

Nope. Oilers never making playoffs, ever, is better. For me.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The ATL is always great for insights into teams. We assume when we face a team like Colorado, first in the NHL, that they have no holes. But hear the fans, and they know where the holes are. Sounds like Avs fans are not big on their D core, for instance. No team is perfect.

Another way of looking at this is that it is evidence that most of us fans don't know what the hell we are talking about. Yes, Colorado—like every NHL team—has holes, but I think these are very often overblown by fans.

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[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Another way of looking at this is that it is evidence that most of us fans don't know what the hell we are talking about. Yes, Colorado—like every NHL team—has holes, but I think these are very often overblown by fans.

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I don't think we have to dismiss fans as clueless.

The fact is, there are 32 teams, and unless you are doing it full time, you can't follow them all anywhere near enough to be on top of their issues.

Also, it's a moving target. Just looking at the Flames, if you were comparing them to last year, Gaudreau, Lindholm, Tkachuk, Mangiapane, Kylington, Andersson, Zadorov and Gudbranson are all totally different players.

If you were just tuning in this week, you would think Kylington was replacement level, and Gudbranson their best defenseman.

It's not that fans are clueless, it's more that it's an impossible task. Look at media types who ARE doing it full time. They don't know either. Is it because they're all stupid? That seems unlikely.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I don't think we have to dismiss fans as clueless.

The fact is, there are 32 teams, and unless you are doing it full time, you can't follow them all anywhere near enough to be on top of their issues.

Also, it's a moving target. Just looking at the Flames, if you were comparing them to last year, Gaudreau, Lindholm, Tkachuk, Mangiapane, Kylington, Andersson, Zadorov and Gudbranson are all totally different players.

If you were just tuning in this week, you would think Kylington was replacement level, and Gudbranson their best defenseman.

It's not that fans are clueless, it's more that it's an impossible task. Look at media types who ARE doing it full time. They don't know either. Is it because they're all stupid? That seems unlikely.

Well, he didn’t call them clueless or stupid.

He said fans don’t know what they are talking about. Which you’ve agreed with.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Well, he didn’t call them clueless or stupid.

He said fans don’t know what they are talking about. Which you’ve agreed with.

He said they don't know what the hell they're talking about. I did not ay the same thing

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

...Although this is likely a problem that can be saved for a different thread. But I digress, I think this line is ready for the playoffs now that Gaudreau finally has a center playing like a true #1 pivot..

I get why you think this, but this notion doesn't really make a lot of sense, given that Gaudreau's previous centre has consistently been the Flames top playoff producer over the last several years, and he has out-produced Gaudreau by a not insignificant margin since their first appearance. Monahan is clearly not the player he once was, but he was also not holding Gaudreau back in his previous playoff appearances. Gaudreau did that on his own. I, too, feel more confident that Gaudreau will have a better showing this year in tbe post season, but this will be because of the work he has put in to changing and adapting his game. If Gaudreau is going to succeed in the playoffs, that is on him—not anyone else.


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[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yes, their structure is great.

But we are also seeing a completely different level of effort from Gaudreau on the backcheck. All kinds of examples of Gaudreau just putting his head down and skating hard to get back.

And then when he does, he has the hands to steal pucks from people.

His 200 ft compete level has been stellar - a thing of beauty to watch.

Yep, he’s definitely empowered Gaudreau. I still remember hearing Gaudreau’s reaction when the media asked how he felt about Darryl calling him an elite 2 way player. It was probably one of Gaudreau’s best compliments he’s ever received from a coach and I think Johnny really appreciated that deep down. I’m sure he told his dad and Guy was probably grinning from ear to ear.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I get why you think this, but this notion doesn't really make a lot of sense, given that Gaudreau's previous centre has consistently been the Flames top playoff producer over the last several years, and he has out-produced Gaudreau by a not insignificant margin since their first appearance. Monahan is clearly not the player he once was, but he was also not holding Gaudreau back in his previous playoff appearances. Gaudreau did that on his own. I, too, feel more confident that Gaudreau will have a better showing this year in tbe post season, but this will be because of the work he has put in to changing and adapting his game. If Gaudreau is going to succeed in the playoffs, that is on him—not anyone else.


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Monahan’s stats show that he has 4 points in 30 playoff games at 5 on 5. So, he has certainly produced well on the powerplay and with the empty net, but overall, that duo has been equally dreadful playing at even strength in the post season.

The biggest problem IMO was that Monahan doesn’t pull his own weight, he was very content just passing the puck to Gaudreau and letting him do all the heavy lifting even though Monahan is the center. So defenders could just focus solely on Gaudreau, forcing him to turn pucks over and ultimately shutting that line down.

But with Lindholm and Tkachuk now, the dynamic has changed completely. I’ve always said that Gaudreau would be so much better playing off the puck more and Tkachuk/Lindholm do their fair share of heavy lifting in that department, which gives Gaudreau more time and space. Monahan didn’t help Gaudreau at all in that department which lead to that duo being very predictable.

Im my opinion, Monahan has always been like this. He’s very similar to James Neal and I predicted in the summer that Monahan would be having the season that he’s having right now. Gaudreau made Monahan’s job much easier and now that he doesn’t have an elite playmaker at his side him, Monahan’s weaknesses and lack of weapons are being exposed.

[AC]

[Sylvanfan]

In looking at the ice time numbers you do see that the Flames don't have the top guys who play the bigger minutes like Colorado does. Only Gaudreau and Linholm as forwards went over 20 minutes and the D had the top 4 all between 20:40 and 21:03 with the third pairing logging 18:32 and 17:08.

Whereas Colorado really only went with 11 forwards, played 3 guys over 21 minutes, 3 others just under 20. On D, the two main guys both over 25, with Girard at 21:34 and 3 guys just over 15.

This might be why the Avalanche tend to run out of steam come round 2. They have some really nice top end talent, but they do ride it pretty hard, and at least last night, they didn't get much from the lower part of their roster. When the games are as hard and as long as they can get in the playoffs, you really will need those lower end guys to play more, and contribute.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Another way of looking at this is that it is evidence that most of us fans don't know what the hell we are talking about. Yes, Colorado—like every NHL team—has holes, but I think these are very often overblown by fans.

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Really?
Fans here have by in large been proven right on most of the common things repeatedly posted in recent years.
-This team needed a true head coach
-Monahan needed to be demoted from #1C
-Team needed to get bigger
-Kylington needed an opportunity

To name a few that the team acted on proved fans correct.

We dont get them all right, but engaged fans know a lot.
I'm sure that's true of other fan bases as well.