[GDT] Flames vs Ducks 7:30 - A nice relaxing game for fans

[868904]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Why would they sit anyone? Am I missing something.

If they want to rest some guys, i think it's better to rest them now instead of the games prior to the playoffs.

I find whenever guys get rested, they get a bit rusty. If you rest guys say for games 79 and 80, and play playoff lineup for games 81 and 82, hopefully you can avoid any rust.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by tsquared1967

Winning the division is pretty well impossible because the Flames are 5 points back with 4 games to play. Edmonton finishes the season with two games against Vancouver who have mailed it in.

Rest players, no injuries and get ready for the playoffs is all that matters now.

Nope, and I guarantee you coaches and management don't see it that way either. Sit guys if they were legitimately playing through injuries that should have kept them out, but no getting ready for the playoffs is not all that matters now.

Also, if their only goal was to make the playoffs, then they had pretty much sealed their goal when LA was 11 points back, so they could have rested/nursed injuries back then.

They're not fighting for 1st place, but they're fighting for playoff position, as is every other team in the West.

[EVERLAST]

I'd like to see Lazar and Freddie in to rest up some bodies . ...wish we could sit 2 defenceman for a rest as well.

Gio and Brodie look gassed sometimes although I'm sure they have switched into beast mode already .

Are back end guys deserve allot of credit that no one talks about.

When Elliott shines the team has played well in front of him.

Want to see a win as I hate the ducks and they were average in Edmonton last night....I respect them but don't think they are as good as we have seen in the past.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

I'd like to see Lazar and Freddie in to rest up some bodies . ...wish we could sit 2 defenceman for a rest as well.

Gio and Brodie look gassed sometimes although I'm sure they have switched into beast mode already.

Gulutzan has been managing their ice time as best as he can so that the top 4 pairings aren't so overworked; the Bartkowski-Engelland pairing has been seeing much more ice time lately. As someone pointed out, you take it a little easier now on your top 4 so that you can ride them all hard for 20+ min each in the playoffs.

[tsquared1967]

Originally Posted by jg13

Do people really think we're going to start resting players tonight while home ice advantage is still a possibility?

Not disagreeing with anyone more so just curious.. it's a situation where we haven't clinched this early in a decade.

Last night the Oil and Ducks iced their best players and I expect them to continue that until their spots in the standings are solidified

I don't think they will rest players the next two games against Anaheim. If they don't win both games I expect resting key players in LA and San Jose.

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames lines this morning:

Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Versteeg-Bennett-Chiasson
Bouma-Stajan-Brouwer

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames pairings:

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Stone
Bartkowski-Engelland

[Yoho]

Most expensive 4th line in show biz!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Table 5

For me the priorities for the rest of the season are (in order).

1. Don't get injured.
2. Stay ahead of Nashville/St.Louis.
3. Rest your top players as much as possible.
4. A win in Anaheim would be nice.

Thats sort of the only thing I disagree with.

Time to play, so roll 'em.

If you rest players they tend to need some time to get back into the groove. Rest them by making skates optional or practices less frequent or something.

Besides, if the Oilers have taught us nothing else its that now is the time to pad your stats!

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames lines this morning:

Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Versteeg-Bennett-Chiasson
Bouma-Stajan-Brouwer

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames pairings:

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Stone
Bartkowski-Engelland

So unless something changes game time, no one rests tonight. Interesting. The positive thing is they are clearly quite healthy. Let's hope it stays that way.

I agree with the theory that you should keep the lineup you're going to go with in the playoffs to keep in the groove, unless there really is an injury that needs time to heal.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Locke

Time to play, so roll 'em.

If you rest players they tend to need some time to get back into the groove. Rest them by making skates optional or practices less frequent or something.

It's all within reason of course, but I think with the non-stop games every 2 nights over the last month, these guys haven't really had a real break for quite a while. I'm sure a day off would be welcome without throwing off their rhythm. I'd give each of the top players a game off...especially guys like Gio who you know will be playing a ton of minutes.

That last game might also be a good time to reward a couple of the AHL kids with some play time.

[Flames_Gimp]

Sitting our top players now would be idiotic and no way we avoid Chicago if we do. Feels like people are just happy with clinching

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

Sitting our top players now would be idiotic and no way we avoid Chicago if we do. Feels like people are just happy with clinching

We're in! Now practice the damned powerplay!

[Ducay]

If anything we need to push as hard as we can to catch Edmonton or (more realistically) SJ.

Avoiding Chicago is goal #1 sure, but our luck with Ducks is just as bad. I'd rather try my hand with the Mullets.

edit: This is under the assumption Ducks return to form and Edmonton stays in pacific #2 spot; as both a win or loss just increases our odds of facing Ducks.

[tsquared1967]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

Sitting our top players now would be idiotic and no way we avoid Chicago if we do. Feels like people are just happy with clinching

If Gulutzan was so worried about finishing in 8th place which means facing Chicago, he would have not played Johnson against Nashville. The loss to Nashville put the Flames only a single point ahead instead of 5 points up. Elliott was rested that night but he could have rested against Colorado. The only people worried about the Flames playing Chicago are FANS.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It's all within reason of course, but I think with the non-stop games every 2 nights over the last month, these guys haven't really had a real break for quite a while. I'm sure a day off would be welcome without throwing off their rhythm. I'd give each of the top players a game off...especially guys like Gio who you know will be playing a ton of minutes.

That last game might also be a good time to reward a couple of the AHL kids with some play time.

The only problem with this approach is you're changing forward and defense line chemistry every single night heading into the playoffs, even if it's only one guy.

Plus, we play our last game on Saturday night, while the NHL finishes the regular season Sunday. Playoffs start Wednesday, and we could be playing on Thursday. So there's a guaranteed three days off before playoffs, with the possibility of four days.

If it ends up being four days and we're resting guys on the last game, those guys would go seven days between their last regular season game and first playoff game.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by tsquared1967

The only people worried about the Flames playing Chicago are FANS.

Not true at all, and you'll see that.

[Table 5]

Personally I think we actually stack up better against Chicago than we do Anaheim. They are a better version of us of course, but not unbeatable. It would be a hell of an entertaining series.

[skcli]

Time to try out a different power play unit. Fine tune it before we hit April 12 !

Bennett will have a 4 points night. Go Flames Go !

[Monahan For Mayor]

If we end up playing Anaheim I sure hope we get home ice advantage.

[tsquared1967]

[QUOTE ]If Gulutzan was so worried about finishing in 8th place which means facing Chicago, he would have not played Johnson against Nashville. The loss to Nashville put the Flames only a single point ahead instead of 5 points up. Elliott was rested that night but he could have rested against Colorado. The only people worried about the Flames playing Chicago are FANS.[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Not true at all, and you'll see that.

Really? You speak for Flames players and management that they are afraid of playing Chicago in the first round. I haven't heard anyone in the organization come out that they are afraid of playing Chicago. I guess they have now officially on this board through Jayswin.