[PGT] Flames lose third straight. Canucks 2, Flames 1 (SO) - Page 19 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Sylvanfan · 10-16-2016, 04:05 PM

Right now the Flames top players are not their best players. It's tough to win when that happens. I thought they played better defensively and Johnson was solid. Hopefully a couple days of practice can straighten the team out

djsFlames · 10-16-2016, 04:10 PM

Was talking to my dad, and he predicted they'd lose the first 5 even before they started playing the regular season. New coaching staff, top guys coming in rusty and missing camp, last minute acquisition, "clunky" training camp all around. I think he may be right. Could take this week still to work out the early bugs. Definitely won't mean that the season won't be salvageable, though.

It made me feel a ton better as a fan to see Johnson only allow one last night. Really needed a goalie performance to get rid of those nightmares of last season.

Machiavelli · 10-16-2016, 04:22 PM

So who starts Tuesday?

Resolute 14 · 10-16-2016, 04:25 PM

If the Flames lose the first five games, despite having far and away the easiest first five games of any NHL team on the schedule, then Gulutzan does not deserve a sixth at the helm of this team. No, new coach is not an excuse for this play. Not by a long shot. He had a month of practices and seven pre-season games, and despite that, it is clear this team doesn't really know what the hell they are supposed to do. I'm not sure Dallas Eakins could have had this team less prepared than Gulutzan has thus far.

Finger Cookin · 10-16-2016, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

So who starts Tuesday?

If it were up to me I would start Johnson to give him a chance to show up his former team. Elliott can start three of the next 4, with Johnson getting the Chicago start in the back to back. Which allows Elliott the chance to show up his former team.

Enoch Root · 10-16-2016, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

So who starts Tuesday?

Has to be Johnson against Buffalo. Then back to Elliott against Carolina.

dammage79 · 10-16-2016, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

So who starts Tuesday?

I'd say Elliott. They have to get him going. He is the #1 goalie here.

Cali Panthers Fan · 10-16-2016, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Right now the Flames top players are not their best players. It's tough to win when that happens. I thought they played better defensively and Johnson was solid. Hopefully a couple days of practice can straighten the team out

To use my favorite Hartley quote: "Our best players are simply not our best players at the moment. It's as simple as this."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

So who starts Tuesday?

I'm honestly fine with either. I could make a case for Elliott and I could make a case for Johnson. I'm just asking the coach to pick whoever gives us the best chance to win the game.

Oh BTW, I know this is off-topic for me to say this, but the amount of horrible threads started in the last couple of days that were so bad it forced the mods to lock them makes me really, really sad. I always thought CP was above this kind of drivel. You can make a thread that is critical of the team that is simultaneously cogent and worth reading. It's pretty rough seeing such minimal effort being put into an OP. Let's try a little harder, shall we?

Ashasx · 10-16-2016, 04:46 PM

You have to go with Elliot on Tuesday. The team's success this season largely rides on him, and you have to get him going. The team isn't going anywhere under Johnson.

oldschoolcalgary · 10-16-2016, 04:49 PM

I'd go with Johnson.

Played better than Elliott so far and playing vs buffalo might give him additional lift as well as knowing their shooters (this does cut both ways however)

Enoch Root · 10-16-2016, 04:50 PM

1) its Buffalo

2) Buffalo is Johnsons former team

Give him that game and then come back with Elliott after he has had a chance to have a couple practices and catch his breath

Enoch Root · 10-16-2016, 04:51 PM

also, there are a couple games coming up against STL. Elliott is going to be plenty busy this month as it is.

Cali Panthers Fan · 10-16-2016, 04:56 PM

The question of a goalie facing his former team is this: Does the goalie have the edge because he knows the shooters, or do the shooters have an edge because they know the goalie?

I've never had a good answer to this question.

dino7c · 10-16-2016, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

If the Flames lose the first five games, despite having far and away the easiest first five games of any NHL team on the schedule, then Gulutzan does not deserve a sixth at the helm of this team. No, new coach is not an excuse for this play. Not by a long shot. He had a month of practices and seven pre-season games, and despite that, it is clear this team doesn't really know what the hell they are supposed to do. I'm not sure Dallas Eakins could have had this team less prepared than Gulutzan has thus far.

we don't know how good these teams are yet...one can assume but we really don't know.

Calgary was an "easy out" a couple years back and they ended up with 97 points. And like it or not the Oilers have maybe the best forward in the league who can win games himself

btimbit · 10-16-2016, 05:09 PM

If it wasn't Johnsons former team id say start Elliot for sure. But since it's Buffalo I'd be fine either way

Enoch Root · 10-16-2016, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

The question of a goalie facing his former team is this: Does the goalie have the edge because he knows the shooters, or do the shooters have an edge because they know the goalie?

I've never had a good answer to this question.

It's not about edge. Its about motivation.

GranteedEV · 10-16-2016, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

If the Flames lose the first five games, despite having far and away the easiest first five games of any NHL team on the schedule,

Not sure where you're drawing that from.

The Canucks have one of the best top lines in the NHL, as well as one of the most defensively dominant top pairings in Edler-Tanev. Miller is also a proven strong goaltender who can still channel Vezina form. Whatever they might lack in depth, they have at the top. Tanev is one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL, period, and that top pair completely stifled Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler in the playoffs a couple years ago, our top line is not better than it was in 2015.

The Oilers have one of the more potent forward groups in the NHL, as well as their own high-end goaltender in Talbot and their own top defensive defenseman in Larsson. Their center depth with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Hopkins are all good players. Lucic, and Russell are both strong leaders and Klefbom is a good top pair defenseman.

Neither team, healthy, "should" have been a walk through the park. I would have liked to win two of the three regardless, but the NHL has way too much parity to ever expect to win against teams that have goaltending. At best you hope you get the coin flip on a given night.

flames_fan13 · 10-16-2016, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

If the Flames lose the first five games, despite having far and away the easiest first five games of any NHL team on the schedule, then Gulutzan does not deserve a sixth at the helm of this team. No, new coach is not an excuse for this play. Not by a long shot. He had a month of practices and seven pre-season games, and despite that, it is clear this team doesn't really know what the hell they are supposed to do. I'm not sure Dallas Eakins could have had this team less prepared than Gulutzan has thus far.

He may have had a month with most of the team but during that time he was missing the most important parts of the team. Monahan got only a single preseason game in and Gaudreau was signed two days before the season started.

However, I agree that if we are winless in the first 5 games is unacceptable but in my opinion that will fall on the responsibility of the players. In my opinion it's been mistakes and lack of offensive production from the top 2 lines that have cost us the first three games not really coaching.

MisterJoji · 10-16-2016, 05:23 PM

Just thought I'd throw this out there:

Pittsburgh's record last year on December 19th was 15-14-3, good for 6th in their division, 6 points out of a playoff spot.

Anaheim's record on December 22nd was was 12-15-6, good for last in the division (below Edmonton), 12 points out of a playoff spot.

Still lots of time to turn it around, just need our top players to start firing on all cylinders.

GranteedEV · 10-16-2016, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flames_fan13

lack of offensive production from the top 2 lines that have cost us the first three games not really coaching.

On the bright side, at least the Tkachuk-Bennett-Brouwer line has had good advanced stats over the first three games at 5-on-5 (and Bennett also created our only power play goal)). With them it's probably just a matter of finishing, and over a full season finish will come.

The Monahan line has not been strong in any sense though. All they've been good for is one-and-done offense and getting hemmed in defensively.