[Game Takes] Flames 3 Canucks 2 (OT)

[FlamesAddiction]

I thought the score flattered the Canucks. Flames were by far the better team, but Miller had a great game.

[Roof-Daddy]

As much as I love watching the Gaudreau line light it up, it sure would be nice if they could get a 2nd line consistently going offensively.

[Vulcan]

Backlund isn't doing much. Must be still nursing some injury.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Backlund isn't doing much. Must be still nursing some injury.

If you call being handcuffed an injury. When the 3 players you've spent the most ice time with (in order) are Bouma, Bollig and Engelland, you aren't going to be wildly successful offensively

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

If you call being handcuffed an injury. When the 3 players you've spent the most ice time with (in order) are Bouma, Bollig and Engelland, you aren't going to be wildly successful offensively

Bouma did well with Backlund last season. In the first game I thought Frolik was on his RW but because Backlund didn't do much, Frolik was moved to Bennett's line. There may be a reason Backlund has gotten poor playing partners.

[scotty2hotty]

Can Backlund play LW? I'd like to see him line up with Bennett and Frolik ...with Bennett as the C.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Bouma did well with Backlund last season. In the first game I thought Frolik was on his RW but because Backlund didn't do much, Frolik was moved to Bennett's line. There may be a reason Backlund has gotten poor playing partners.

I know this opinion is unpopular around here, but Bouma did well only because of Backlund and outside of "he trained more on scoring" (as if everyone didn't do that?), there's no reason to believe it wasn't an anomaly.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I know this opinion is unpopular around here, but Bouma did well only because of Backlund and outside of "he trained more on scoring" (as if everyone didn't do that?), there's no reason to believe it wasn't an anomaly.

I find myself disagreeing with you more and more these days, not sure what's up.

If you look at the goals Bouma scored last season it wasn't because of Backlund. He is good at deflections and shooting off the rush. I don't see how Backlund was the reason for all of those goals. He very clearly has a good shot.

its sad that posters are going to start making Bouma the goat just because he was rewarded for last season with a good contract. Guy is a gamer and gives it his all.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Can Backlund play LW? I'd like to see him line up with Bennett and Frolik ...with Bennett as the C.

Yeah, he's played LW in Sweden and done well. If he's healthy and on his game, he's more valuable to us as a centre.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I find myself disagreeing with you more and more these days, not sure what's up.

If you look at the goals Bouma scored last season it wasn't because of Backlund. He is good at deflections and shooting off the rush. I don't see how Backlund was the reason for all of those goals. He very clearly has a good shot.

its sad that posters are going to start making Bouma the goat just because he was rewarded for last season with a good contract. Guy is a gamer and gives it his all.

I don't think the goals themselves were flukey at all. Goals are more than just the shot or deflection. It's about doing the things you need to get the puck, hold onto the puck and get to a place to score. Good offensive guys find open areas, make passes, hold the puck in the offensive zone. It's why Monahan can score 30 and Bouma can't. The difference between a goal scorer's goals and a grinders goals is more about quantity than quality. Oliwa scored two gorgeous breakaway goals one season. That's not flukey, but he's not going to get many opportunities like that. Bollig's goals have been absolute beauties, but he never seems to score many. Flukey is a terrible descriptor, because the action of putting the puck in the net is rarely "flukey". It's the creation of the opportunity that's more difficult and where goal scorers and players who scored a few goals are really separated.

Bouma is a fearless shot blocker, selfless teammate and the kind of guy you need to have to win. I'll have him on a PK with little time left protecting a lead any day that ends in y. I'll take him in the last minute when the Flames are under siege. He's not the guy who finds open lanes for one timers, two on ones, etc though. Last year with Backlund he scored some nice one timer and two on one goals, but I have a hard time believing he has the skills to create those opportunities on a regular basis.

I avoided commenting much after he signed because the sides were so militant about their cause, but it's how I see it.

[Itse]

I kind of agree with Street Pharmacist, except I don't think it's fair to say he's handcuffing anyone. I think Bouma also has genuinely improved. It's just that he's more of a complimentary piece.

Then again IMO Backlund isn't that great offensively either. Not terrible, just not good enough to create that much on his own. But we'll see how it goes. The season is very early.

The way our team is built and plays, getting stuck with the third pairing instead of top 4 makes a huge difference, that part I think can't really be argued with.

[Enoch Root]

suggesting Bouma is handcuffing Backlund is ridiculous.

He isn't Johnny Gaudreau, but he isn't Tim Jackman either.

[ricardodw]

Backlund only had 10 minutes of ice time... spread evenly over 3 periods. The 4th line centre - Stajan had 16 minutes.

This will happen when you have 4 centres that can play at the NHL level.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Agreed.

Monahan seemed like the defensive conscious and the "shooter" with two skilled guys that were making everything happen.

This season so far (early) he seems to be stirring the drink himself now too.

Can't wait for Bennett to pop his first of the season and get going. Flames will be tough to contain.

I think Monahan is extremely capable at executing his intentions on the ice. His whole career thus far, he has done exactly what his bosses wanted him to do. In his rookie year, he scored like 8 or 9 in his 11 game tryout, so he stayed with the big club (Obviously). Then the coaches asked him to play a better defensively. What does he do? Starts emerging as an extremely smart 2-way guy who got noticed around the league. Then I remember at the beginning of his 2nd year, he was extremely responsible in his own end and not exactly an offensive dynamo. Then it came out in the media that Bob asked him to be a little more offensively minded. What does he proceed to do? 62 points including 8 GWGs.

Monahan is a coach's (and fan's) dream player. The ability and talent to execute, and the right attitude to listen to his coach and play to the system. Johnny is the sexy player right now for fans to love, but I'm absolutely enamored by Mony. A true #1C who plays hockey the proper way (not taking anything away from Johnny of course). The new Bergeron, or I daresay, Toews.

I hope so bad that little baby Christmas Jesus gets BT to sign Hudler. So important that player is IMO. No amount of picks right now can justify trading him (unless of course Hudler is asking for an unreasonable contract. But then again, he'd be wise to see what happened to other UFAs this year and consider a team friendly deal).

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Can Backlund play LW? I'd like to see him line up with Bennett and Frolik ...with Bennett as the C.

Very interesting idea. With a glut of centers in the Flames system, I would not be against that experiment. I think any center can play wing, but it's much tougher for a wing to switch to center.

[Benched]

Backlund on the wing could be interesting with Bennett.

I just hate to give up his responsible 3C role. Maybe stajan steps up into that and a guy like Arnold comes in to be 4C