[PGT] Flames Shutout Predators 3-0

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

How much does the first three games of this season remind other posters of last year?

2017:
· Game 1 debacle in Edmonton in which not one player other than Smith showed up.
· Game 2 home-opener shaky defensive start against Winnipeg, but culminates in a big win with lots of scoring.
· Game 3 shutout in Anaheim in which Smith was stellar.

2018:
· Game 1 disappointing loss to probably the worst team in the NHL.
· Game 2 home-opener shaky defensive start that culminates in a dominant win.
· Game 3 shutout against a top-five team; Smith was great, but they won also on the strength of a terrific forecheck and balanced attack.

It's a bit eerie, but there are some encouraging differences:
· Most notably, the Flames are playing ALOT faster. and I would add to this that their forecheck has been dynamite most nights.
· I think that while Games 1 and 2 featured a handful of colossal zone-breakdowns, the Flames as a whole have looked generally better and much more poised defensively.
· Perhaps the most encouraging thing to me is the way this team is pushing back: In game 1 after trailing any a couple goals, the Flames mounted a pretty notable pushback. But last night is where I saw this most obviously: in the Game #3 win in Anaheim the Flames crumbled in the third period, and it honestly felt like a bit of a miracle that they escaped the final 10 mins of that game without surrendering a goal. Last night was a completely different story. Nashville made a big push in the second period on the strength of a full 2 min. 5-on-3, but in the third period the Flames came out and carried the play in the first 5–7 mins. I know the numbers show that the Predators had a distinct zone-advantage in the third, but it never felt last night that the Flames were white-knuckling their way to victory with a narrow lead. I think they played pretty smart that whole game.

Man I thought GG had the team's pulse with that Jobu business.

I think for me the difference is that results notwithstanding, you have Dube, Valimaki, Andersson and Hanifin making solid contributions at their respective ages. You can lose Hamonic, have a healthy scratch Jankowski and not miss a beat. This team is well built now. If one of the young goalies can push through, it's a long term success waiting to happen.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Great game all around.

But even as a founding member of the fire Gulutzan fan club, I have some vague recollection of a few games where the team played well in spite....I mean under him.

But hopefully this kind of performance becomes the norm under Peters, and not a continuation of the one step forward, two steps back pattern under GG.

I don't remember a game under GG that was played as complete as last night's.

It's a long season ahead, but the trend is moving in a very positive direction over the first 3 games

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by saXon

I don't remember a game under GG that was played as complete as last night's.

The Tampa game, maybe? A couple others in that pre-break streak?

They also looked great against the Coyotes, but it was the Coyotes.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The Tampa game, maybe?...

This is the one that I was thinking about. It was a textbook road game after which I thought the Flames were pretty much a lock for the playoffs. For me, the big difference between last season and the start of this one continues to be the Flames's speed and forecheck in the early going. It has been relentless, which is not something I think ever really occurred last year—even in the TB game.

Also, the powerplay. Having a functional powerplay makes a world of difference—not just in its productivity, but I think we will see it in how other teams play the Flames.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Bill Peters shoots down Francis' report that Rittich will start in St. Louis.

Says no decision has been made. Maybe later today.

I would never sit a goalie after a shutout. I played back there all my life - when you come off a shutout you feel like you might never get scored on again. Never mess with that feeling. I go back to Smitty in St. Louis and Rittich in Colorado.

[Toonage]

Ordinarily I would agree that a goalie coming off a hot start gets the next one, for sure. But Smith is a guy you want to keep healthy and not fall into the trap of overplaying him. That may have killed the Flames last year (truthfully we have no idea if/when Smith was going to break even on a light workload).

Still, manage those starts. Have a look at Rittich, then go back to Smith on Saturday. Flames need to know that their backup can give Smith breaks on a regular basis.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Racki

I would never sit a goalie after a shutout. I played back there all my life - when you come off a shutout you feel like you might never get scored on again. Never mess with that feeling. I go back to Smitty in St. Louis and Rittich in Colorado.

I'd go Smith until he loses again.

[bax]

I think you go back to Smith after that performance and then start Rittich against the Avalanche only because I remember Rittich playing really well in Denver last year. A start every 5 games is not bad for the beginning of the season.

[Textcritic]

I am a bit conflicted. A good case isa to be made for starting Smith tomorrow night and then having Rittich play in Denver where he has had success. (I disagree that Smith should continue to start until he loses.) However, he does not have a good history in StL, and last year was the first time he has won a game v. the Blues since 2013(!).

So, all that to say I don't know that it matters much who starts tomorrow since whoever does not will play in Colorado.

[sureLoss]

Calgary Flames PR @CgyFlamesPR
#DidYouKnow Johnny Gaudreau has now moved into eighth all-time in points as a winger in Calgary Flames history (294). Gaudreau’s assist in the first period on Tuesday gave him the lead over Sergei Makarov (293). Johnny now chases Joe Mullen (388) for seventh all-time.

[Gaskal]

You have to ride the shutout at least for the next game. We're 3 games into the season, not 30. You can worry ahout mileage later, but you need the hot start now.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

You have to ride the shutout at least for the next game. We're 3 games into the season, not 30. You can worry ahout mileage later, but you need the hot start now.

Yes and no. I think one of the failures of last season was squarely on how often the Flames returned to the "Mike Smith well" in the first half of the year. With a little more pacing between games I believe this will make a world of difference when it does matter most in February, March, and April.

In any event I think that Rittich starts one of the next two, and that is a good thing.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

(I disagree that Smith should continue to start until he loses.)

Well we don't usually agree anyway My reasoning is that you ride the hot goalie while you can. Inevitably Smith will falter again and it's not a back to back.

Edit - I see you've explained above.

I still go with the goalie coming off a shutout, it's ridiculous to take out Smith after that game imo.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Calgary Flames PR @CgyFlamesPR
#DidYouKnow Johnny Gaudreau has now moved into eighth all-time in points as a winger in Calgary Flames history (294). Gaudreau’s assist in the first period on Tuesday gave him the lead over Sergei Makarov (293). Johnny now chases Joe Mullen (388) for seventh all-time.

I love these sorts of things. Didn't we used to have a poster who tracked these types of stats before games.

Here are a few in lieu of them.

Mark Giordano is 33 games from passing Theoren Fleury in games played making him 4th all time games played as a Flame. If he plays 69 more games this season he moved to number 2.

Mark Giordano is 9 assists from passing Tom Lysiak in flames assists and taking the 9 spot.

Mikael Backlund is 40 games from becoming number 10 in Flames games played.

Mikael Backlund is 1 short handed goal away from tying Matthew Lombardi and Joe Nieuwendyk in SHG.

Sean Monahan is only 4 game winners from becoming 4th in Flames GWG.


Mike Smith is 25 wins from entering the top 10 all times wins for a Flames goalie.

Matthew Tkachuk is still 659 PIM from entering the top ten...

I think that is all that can be reached this season.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/tea...rs_career.html

https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CGY/skaters.html

[Itse]

Originally Posted by saXon

I don't remember a game under GG that was played as complete as last night's.

You're forgetting the streak that got them into the 2017 playoffs. They played some awesome hockey during that stretch.

Positive signs are obviously better than negative signs, but 3 games is a very small sample size.

(That said: Peters has a notably better roster than Gulutzan had, so he only has to match Gulutzan as a coach to get better results. And I'm pretty sure Peters is better. It's mostly a question of how much better.

There's a lot of room between Gulutzan and Really Good coaching )

[GirlySports]

Play Rittich tomorrow to get him going too. You don't want him sitting for two weeks.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Well we don't usually agree anyway My reasoning is that you ride the hot goalie while you can. Inevitably Smith will falter again and it's not a back to back.

Edit - I see you've explained above.

I still go with the goalie coming off a shutout, it's ridiculous to take out Smith after that game imo.

I think Smith will start tomorrow, and agree that is the right decision, although I would not choose to characterize the decision to put Rittich in as "ridiculous."

Take a look at these numbers:

14 GP 2W 12L 0.881SP

Those are Smith's numbers against the Blues since the lockout. He won his last game in Calgary on 20 Dec 2017, and I agree with the decision to start him tomorrow. But right there is ample reason to think hard about this.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by jessnuts

I believe this is Bort, and he just found out there are no more novelty license plates for him

Thanked for obscure Simpsons' reference.

[Barnet Flame]

That was one of the most enjoyable ATLs.

There is a lot to like about Nashville.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Matthew Tkachuk is still 659 PIM from entering the top ten...

I think that is all that can be reached this season.

I like that you think Tkachuk could have 659 PIM this year.