I haven't heard any whispers of "Backlund for the Selke" yet. He is in a 3-way tie for 2nd in +/- at +30 (Giordano is in first at +31, and Lindholm is tied with Backlund). He is also producing at a higher rate lately.
I am actually surprised the Selke talk hasn't included Backlund at all this year.
I haven't heard any whispers of "Backlund for the Selke" yet. He is in a 3-way tie for 2nd in +/- at +30 (Giordano is in first at +31, and Lindholm is tied with Backlund). He is also producing at a higher rate lately.
I am actually surprised the Selke talk hasn't included Backlund at all this year.
Only one power play point.
As inane as it sounds the "best defensive forward" award is usually awarded to guys who score a lot of PPP.
Last time Backlund had 15 PPP and was 4th in Selke voting.
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Will he be better than Czarnik, who with an assist today now has 5 points in 6 games since replacing Neal?
Will he be better than Frolik, who is strong defensively and tenacious on the forecheck?
Will he be better than Mangiapane, who looks like he is breaking out offensively and has excellent underlying numbers?
Will he be better than Hathaway, who also kills penalties for us?
If not then Neal shouldn't play. Because he is not better than Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Lindholm, or Bennett.
The potential of those guys' games to fall off the map is pretty high. That's not a knock that's the way bottom line players are. Enjoy how strong Mangiapane and Ryan are playing offensively but I wouldn't expect that to last. Czarnik was invisible for most of the season while dressed then had a month off, that in the line up adrenaline could fizzle at any moment. Frolik has been streaky since singing here.
Right now it looks unlikely but things can change pretty darn quickly. Perhaps time away from the rink, a forced vacation is exactly what a player who played in back2back cup finals needs.
Last edited by LWcrowfoot; 02-26-2019 at 11:49 PM.
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Seriously needs to shoot like this more often. Takes the pass on one leg and never gets that second leg down, just on and off the stick. Unreal release right there
On Backlunds post game interview on the Fan, there was an awkward exchange between he and Wills about him maybe trying to shoot more. At the end of his answer, he made an interesting comment about how “for different reasons he couldn’t shoot as much earlier in the year.”
Sounded to me like he was battling an injury that affected his shot, but which has now feeling better.
So hopefully it is a good sign, that his recent improved production will continue.
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On Backlunds post game interview on the Fan, there was an awkward exchange between he and Wills about him maybe trying to shoot more. At the end of his answer, he made an interesting comment about how “for different reasons he couldn’t shoot as much earlier in the year.”
Sounded to me like he was battling an injury that affected his shot, but which has now feeling better.
So hopefully it is a good sign, that his recent improved production will continue.
There was something else in his post game interview on sportsnet
Talking about Smith’s late save, he mentioned about him challenging Smith in practice sometimes, hinted (maybe jokingly) that Smith didn’t like it, but that he ended up making a save like that.
i will always admire him for not just his work ethic, but for his community spirit as well.
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Damnit. I miss hammer. Hope you're treating him well.
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All around great guy. Will always be one of my favorite islanders.
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I would love to see the reception Travis gets juxtaposed next to the reception Tavares gets. Lest anyone around the league thinks that Islander fans are just a bunch of heartless a-holes who hate all former players. Hamonic will likely get a prolonged standing ovation. Fans hold absolutely no grudge at all against him for wanting to what was best for him and his family. A true stand up guy who will always be beloved by Islander fans.
Can't remember if he played in NY last year with the Flames. If not, I hope there's a video tribute this year.
Poker Faces
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Calgary stood pat as well correct?
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Lack of adding new talent
This team needed to add at least one sniper and one pp expert.
The excuse to stand pat is not exceptable to this long suffering isle fan.
All good teams know they need to upgrade and this teams top 6 is not strong to put it mildly.The fans deserved more from management
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We can only hope now that the trade deadline is done that this team goes out and plays a great game and gets a much needed silencing win. LGI.
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This game is not a "must win" game by any stretch (other than they all are important at this time of the season) but a win and a strong showing would do well to but things at ease for the team after a quiet TDL and leading up to the Toronto game. Another bleh showing will only heighten the angst over not doing anything to improve the team. Hopefully the boys are intent on showing that they are good enough without any additions to make some noise this season going forward.
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I agree. We lose tonight, after an ehhh road trip and failure at the deadline, fans will go crazy.
Power Kill
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welp, we got a power play...oh god.
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If this is how our "entries" and puck control inside the offensive zone on the PP are going to continue to be, get JHS up here yesterday.
It’s especially glaring against a team like Calgary, who contest everyone carrying the puck.
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Get Leddy off the PP thanks
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S A U C E R P A S S
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I can't even say it anymore, this team only shoots when absolutely no other choice
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This PP smells like a gas station mens room
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Flames line up along blue line and Isles don't go down low....yikes, these are supposed to be our skill guys
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At what point does Barry do something drastic on the PP, we'd all be going ape**** if this was anyone but him
Super Pests
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I hope someone uppercuts the #### out of Hathaway tonight. I’m sick of hearing his name already.
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Hathaway needs to be slapped
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Martin needs to #### Giordano up...
Tkachuk between the legs
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Ok that was filthy
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Damn that’s filthy by Tkachuck
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Props to that ####ing guy what a shot holy ####
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God, that’s a pretty goal.
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Why was he so open right in front of Lehner?
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god we play like such #### against the Flames
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Right in front and does a through the legs move without being touched. That's what hurts more than them scoring
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That was a nice goal.
Sucks that it wasn’t us scoring it.
Admirers from Near And Afar
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Calgary is fast
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They get to every puck before us.
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Man their passes are tape to tape, no fumblings, and know where their teammates are gonna be...
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If we only had more speed and talent available to this team...
I swear I saw the fast version of this team this season, and then something changed.
That said, the Flames are really, really, good.
We shouldn’t be going with the slow veteran approach with them. Dump and chase hasn’t worked against them. Be nice if we tailored the talent to the opponent.
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Not gonna lie I love this Calgary roster
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Same, they are skilled and rugged..easy to see why they are where they are
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They score they kick our ass and beat out sh-t in ... nice
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We’re playing ok but the Flames are really good
They contest every zone entry, clog up the neutral zone, get sticks on almost every pass and are really good at quickly retrieving the puck and getting out of their defensive zone. They are relentless. I think they are as good as any team I have seen this season. Very impressive to watch them live.
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This Calgary team is pretty good.
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they just really are a class above us in all facets expect goaltending.
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Imagine where’d they’d be with some decent goaltending? They’re great now with a sub .900 goalie.
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Absolutely. Scary team to play in the playoffs.
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they would beat us in 5 in a series. maybe sweep
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the isles could play the flames a 100x i think theyd be lucky to beat them once
flames are too fast for the isles
Backlund rifles top cheese
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Well Calgary has our number for sure.... Good thing we seem to play OK vs all the other playoff teams.
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FOR. ####. SAKE.
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Leddy go home youre our worst player by far tn
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Backlunds quietly been the one guy that the isles cant seem to stop from scoring this year.
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Welp...that sucks...Calgary is ****ing deadly in the 3rd, not liking this scenario
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welp, this game has gotten very ####ing frustrating, and no it's not because we didn't trade at the deadline, but because we're also playing an amazing team. Also, for anyone complaining about Lou Lamoriello not trading at the deadline, you're an idiot. He has a plan, unlike Milbury and Snow.
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Terrible defense there.
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It’d be nice if one of our players could shoot the puck like that
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And now they play like ****.
Ok, I’m done.
Say goodbye to that division BTW.
Phat Ras cranks one
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Come onnnn...
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Well that’s game.
More 3rd period goals for the flames. Sheesh.
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Thats all she wrote boys
but we don't need help at the deadline.... **** this
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The amount of times I was told yesterday "We have the best defense, we can rely on our goal tending" I feel won't be talking tonight.
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Calgary just capitalizes and passes the puck so damn well. On top of that, they shoot the puck well too. Welp, this feels over.
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This was a tough game to watch, the last 10 minutes were anemic and they have never felt that way this year. I can't rush to judgment but I do feel that the Flames and Predators are the 2 teams we match up the worst with. I have to give that Flames coach a lot of credit, I would vote him as coach of the year over Trotz. I think players like playing for him too, I really wanted Derek Ryan in the offseason but he was going to Peeters regardless, he was a problem all night.
Mark Giordano at 35 or 36, man.. he is easily the Norris trophy winner this year.
For the Isles, I will just chalk it up to the West Coast trip rebound and matching up badly with a Western Conference team that we would not face in the playoffs.
Ladd was good, Hickey didn't hurt us.. Leddy hurt us...
Post Deadline Bitterness
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LOL
Our team is so great guys, we so didn’t need to add ANYBODY, we have Komarov, and Flip, oh and can’t forget about our amazing deadline addition that will help Barzal. Andrew Ladd.
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With hubris and cheapness
Begins the fall
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Not home yet so I'm not watching but the faceoff stats look terrible once again. Hopefully we can get someone who knows how to win a draw in the off season.
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We absolutely look putrid. No this team didnt need any upgrades or offensive help at the deadline. We dont look like we are even in he same league as Calgary. Just as I mentioned previously, I can just sense it that this is the beginning of the end. So sad and disappointing after what this team had accomplished for 3/4 of the season to have management let them down when they needed some help. If I was betting, I would say tonight will be our last night technically in first place for the season. Hope I am wrong.
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this is exactly how the team reacted last year when Garth did squat
Lou blew it bigtime. They know they don’t have the guns to compete. Yes, Lou, sometimes you do make a move simply because a move is needed. Stupid.
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Its OK we will load up some reinforcements at the deadline. Oh wait.
Ehhh lets get em in 2023
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look i wish we added
but we can’t really say "this is cause we didn’t add" calgary is one of the better teams in hockey. i hope we kick some butt thursday.
If Wishes Were Fishes
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I'd love Bennett on our team. He'd be our 4th best forward easily.
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Before winning a Cup last year, lets also remember Trotz was known as a career loser before that. Now he's Mr. Genius with a magic formula, just kinda funny how narratives can shift like that.
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Lets look at the top 10 teams in NHL standings right now
1. Tampa
2. Calgary
3. San Jose
4. Boston
5. Toronto
6. NY Islanders
7. Nashville
8. Winnipeg
9. Washington
10. Columbus
I would without getting hung up on specific order there, that that list is more or less corresponds to the 10 most talented teams in the league.
The only outlier there I would say is clearly the NY Islanders who are having a Cinderella season, Pittsburgh should be where they are but Pittsburgh is going through their "meh we're the aging team that ices our knees, we're going to go 70% speed in the regular season call us when its April and real hockey starts" phase.
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I actually wish they sat McDavid for "precautionary" reasons lol
F*** the NHL
Ungraceful Losers
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I gotta say I'm seriously sick of the **** Chara gets away with and it really shows this league's bull****. The onus is on the hitter to hit cleanly, being a big ****er doesn't excuse headshots any more than being a short ****er excuses low bridges or trips. If you can't hit clean you need to get ****ing shown the gate and by my count playing the bruins only twice a ****ing year he should be in raffi torres territory for headshots against the sharks alone.
If i were in his division and he were handing out my players head trauma on the regular, I'd seriously consider giving him orthopedic problems.
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So, let me see if I've got this straight. Kane rammed his face into Chara's elbow then cheap shotted him and got his ass absolutely beat to a pulp.
Interesting times we live in.
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I absolutely love how he hits him not once, but twice
####ing ####### bro, the first hit aint dirty, but the second one...
The dude was clearly going after Kane, I’m glad Kane at least stood up for himself, I love Kane man
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I love how, according to r/hockey, Chara is simultaneously so big that he can't avoid hitting people in the head (lol) but also in mortal peril getting "jumped" by a dude 7 inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter than him.
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I remember in years past this team lived and died by the first line. I think it’s a huge reason they missed last year when Monahan and Ferland got hurt.
It’s so refreshing to have a team that can step up when the top guys aren’t going. That’s the sign of a good hockey team.
I have no complaints tonight, and those of you whining about Neal in a PGT after a win in a game he didn’t even play in are ridiculous. Just enjoy the win. Life must suck when you constantly need to find something to be upset about. There’s only one hockey team in the world better than ours right now! When’s the last time you can say that? Just enjoy the ride because before you know it we’ll suck again and it might be a long time before we get to see a Flames team like this again!
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That was a really enjoyable, complete game to watch.
Props from me for the 4th line. Whatever we may think of those players individually, that line has figured it out for themselves. They've been consistently grinding in the offensive zone for at least 5 games now. When your 4th line is spending the majority of their shift in the offensive zone, that's a big knock-on effect for the other lines.
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That was a really enjoyable, complete game to watch.
Props from me for the 4th line. Whatever we may think of those players individually, that line has figured it out for themselves. They've been consistently grinding in the offensive zone for at least 5 games now. When your 4th line is spending the majority of their shift in the offensive zone, that's a big knock-on effect for the other lines.
Derek Ryan may end up being one of Treliving's best-ever signings. Reminder -- he's actually on pace for his worst ever offensive season and his shooting percentage is way worse than it was last season, and yet he's been so good anyway.
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I just love how we can just go on a quiet 6 game win streak this season, just playing a solid brand of hockey and winning game after game without making a big fuzz about it. Like it's nobody's business and this is just the way it is supposed to be. Also we finally have two goalies who are both playing well and winning games at the same time.
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