Are the Flames starting to forget the D in Defense?

[TheDebaser]

Our save percentage has been awful. If you're going to argue that a great save percentage will fall back to earth then you have to accept the inverse of that: A terrible save percentage will rise back to normalcy.

I would like to see our goal situation go back to alternating goaltenders. I think that the constant competition got the best performances out of both Hiller and Ramo, and since then Hiller's game has sputtered a bit.

[sa226]

It goes against what the talk has been in this young season, but to me our D is a definite weak spot. I like our forward group, the only thing we are really missing is a pure sniper, but we are rebuilding so who cares.

I think we rely on Russel and Wideman too much, I like them, but they should be more 18-20 min guys instead of what they are playing now.

That bottom pairing gets in trouble too much. Their strengths don't fit with with the up tempo puck moving system we have.

Just to see how it goes, I would like to see Wideman play with Smid and Engelland with Russel, so there is a puck mover on each pairing. I think the benefit of having Wideman and Russel together is negated by having to give minutes to the bottom two. Then, late in the game when the bench is shortened go back to the original top 4.

[buyakasha]

Was it Sven's defense that got him to only play 6 minutes of the Devil's game on Saturday?

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

You really want Backlund and Stajan back so we can sit Jooris and Granlund? They are not long term solutions for this team, they are part of old team that we blew up.

Here's what I came to say before realizing who i quoted:

How short is our memory? Backlund has been an increasingly clutch member of this team, snowballing support (deservedly) over the past 18 months. Suddenly he's not a long term solution?


Instead.. Uh.. How bout them Raptors

[Cali Panthers Fan]

On the 3rd pairing: I like both players in a vacuum. They're big and tough, play hard in front of their own net, and don't make a lot of dumb mistakes. Unfortunately, they're both the exact same player and a step too slow for the opposition's top lines. I don't think either deserve to sit, but if you were to bring in a kid like Wotherspoon to add some foot speed and agility as well as strong defensive acumen and passing ability and put him in place of one of them (preferably Engelland), then I think that 3rd pairing becomes much more effective.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

On the 3rd pairing: I like both players in a vacuum. They're big and tough, play hard in front of their own net, and don't make a lot of dumb mistakes. Unfortunately, they're both the exact same player and a step too slow for the opposition's top lines. I don't think either deserve to sit, but if you were to bring in a kid like Wotherspoon to add some foot speed and agility as well as strong defensive acumen and passing ability and put him in place of one of them (preferably Engelland), then I think that 3rd pairing becomes much more effective.

Agreed. The speed issue is also why I don't think splitting Wideman and Russell would help, since Wideman is probably slowest of our defendemen. His positioning and Russells speed make up for some of that, but it's still a clear weakness.

I'd like to see Wotherspoon (or someone else) be given a chance to steal a spot well before end of the regular season though. If we do make it to the playoffs, we could use some more speed.

I'm not overly concerned about our 3rd pairing though. Engelland had a rough start, but has since been better I think. Surprisingly good passer, although his inability to skate free from forecheckers makes it hard for him to find good passing lanes.

[Caged Great]

Another thing that I have noticed that has crept into their game is the forwards are too far from the defense the last 8-10 games. It's not just 1 forward, it's 2 or 3. The Flames D-man will have the puck behind the net and there's literally nobody on his side of the red line except his partner.

That's fine if you're on a powerplay as you the opposing forechecker will back off so he doesn't get caught up ice, but it's happening a lot more 5 on 5. That's where some of the turn over problems have been occurring.

Overall, the defensive positioning has been off as well and they have been scrambley in front of their net.

A lot of the PK goals against recently have been point shots that have either been screens (like Clendening's goal) or tips in front. Clearing the front of the net has been a problem. There also has been some really bad luck goals like the Kane GWG one or the shot from the red line in the corner from Vitale I think that evaded Hiller and even the Zajac goal where it deflected off the crossbar right on his stick for a tap in.

[PeteMoss]

^^^ That is clearly a planned breakout. The forwards aren't all going to parade half way up the ice and not hear about it if it wasn't part of a breakout system.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

^^^ That is clearly a planned breakout. The forwards aren't all going to parade half way up the ice and not hear about it if it wasn't part of a breakout system.

It very well could be a planned breakout, it's just that it will lead to some turnovers/goals against. Whether or not it's a net positive is tbd.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

It very well could be a planned breakout, it's just that it will lead to some turnovers/goals against. Whether or not it's a net positive is tbd.

So far it's working, at +10 the Flames sit 8th in the NHL.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by buyakasha

Was it Sven's defense that got him to only play 6 minutes of the Devil's game on Saturday?

Well, his line as a whole got about the same ice time. One of them was the one gamer Corbin Knight. And Sven and the Guch are behind every other fwd on the team who was dressed that night as far as defensive play is concerned (offensive play this season as well).

So yeah, I imagine that was part of it.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

It very well could be a planned breakout, it's just that it will lead to some turnovers/goals against. Whether or not it's a net positive is tbd.

I think it is a reaction to teams clogging up the neutral zone against the Flames. The Flames try to enter the zone with speed, so that they can put the defenders on their heels. Other teams have adjusted by pressuring the puck carrier, so that he will either lose the speed or the puck. The Flames on the other hand often counter it by strech passes, to both create more space and keep the other team guessing while playing the game with speed.


On another note, with all the comebacks has anyone noticed our record going into the third period? We are actually 5-11-6(leading,trailing,tied) going into the third, meanwhile 3-8-11 getting out of the first. I didn't even know it was that bad; however, as Hartley said we don't make it easy, but we make it interesting. Lets hope that trend doesn't continue, just as long as we get the W!

[442scotty]

Originally Posted by Azure

Giordano and Brodie had their worst games of the season.

It was bound to happen. Nobody is perfect all the time.

And we still won.

It looks like they are tired and Im sure they are. At this pace they will be burnt out by xmas