What is going right so far?

[ForeverFlameFan]

They haven’t had a mixed period, if that makes sense. Have had either very good ones or very bad ones. Just needed to consistently have more good periods than bad ones. Seems like when everyone’s clicking everyone is clicking, but when everyone isn’t then it’s painful to watch. We don’t necessarily have that game breaker that can change the momentum in a game. Perhaps we will later on (Coronato) or even by big saves keeping us in the game, consistently (Wolf in the future).

I do like the progress of Coronato. I also like how Ruzicka has done on the second line. Hopefully he can continue that. One positive I would LIKE to happen is Sharangovich to get going. I think he will. It’s clear Huska wants him to get going too and trusts him with his shot if he put him in the shootout.

[Manhattanboy]

As Girly noted in the other thread, so far no first shot gaffes. That’s a good sign.

[slcrocket]

Markstrom, Markstrom, Markstrom. It's amazing what having a competent looking goalie does for the rest of the team.

There are other things, sure, but Markstrom has been our best player in each of the first three games. If he continues to play like this we are a playoff team as there is too much talent here otherwise.

[topfiverecords]

Coronato looks great. He's such a smart player with great hockey sense.

[Ashes]

Coronato looks like a stud, his shot is elite.
Markstrom looks to be having a bounce back season.
PK is solid, already scored a shorty.
4th line with Greer and Dueher is gritty and fast, with a bit of skill.
It doesn't feel like the players are miserable like last season.

[Bingo]

Systemically it looks like the Flames under Huska may be heading towards quelling my biggest preseason worry.

Not being able to create more offence with this roster than we saw last year under Sutter without opening the flood gates in their own zone.

I didn't want a Hartley team.

But the last two games had the defensive coverage and transition creating more zone time, and with it more high danger chances than we saw last year (relatively).

That's huge in my mind ... there may be hope that this team can out system and out depth the opposition to win more games than it loses and have a decent season. Won't be sexy but maybe effective.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by Domoic

Flames have scored first in every game.

Last year it felt like we started every game 1-0 and teams just suffocated us to the outside. I hope this trend continues, makes for a much more enjoyable game.

[Phil Russell]

Huberdeau. He does not yet look, and may never again be, a player worth 10.5 million. But he seems a little lighter on his skates, maybe a little more confident, and he has three points in three games . . . low bar, I know, but hope remains that he plays better than last year.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Like the speed. Much faster than last year. Like that there are no lines that are complete liabilities like last season. Like Huberdeau's performance so far. Stepping up in more ways than being a one trick offensive pony.

While it is mostly way better than last year, there are still some minor areas where improvement can happen. Markstrom is still a work in progress. That soft goal is still proving to be a killer. Coronato is going to be a good one. Think he needs some time in the AHL to work on his defense because he's a bit of a blackhole there. Kadri continues to be horrible, like working for a trade bad. But if those are your big concerns, the team is headed in the right direction.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Systemically it looks like the Flames under Huska may be heading towards quelling my biggest preseason worry.

Not being able to create more offence with this roster than we saw last year under Sutter without opening the flood gates in their own zone.

I didn't want a Hartley team.

But the last two games had the defensive coverage and transition creating more zone time, and with it more high danger chances than we saw last year (relatively).

That's huge in my mind ... there may be hope that this team can out system and out depth the opposition to win more games than it loses and have a decent season. Won't be sexy but maybe effective.

Dug into the data.

With it being this early you can be guilty of over thinking things for sure.

But so far ...

HDCF/CF
19% Sutter / 17% Huska

HDCA/CA
22% Sutter / 21% Huska

HDCF/60
9.9 Sutter / 8.7 Huska

HDCA/60
8.6 Sutter / 9.0 Huska

Now the stretch ...

The Winnipeg game was really sketchy defensively (and offensively honestly). If they play the next 79 games like the last three on average it actually looks like a step back.

If the Winnipeg game was rare (they'll have bad games), and they're truly more representative of what we've seen in Washington and Pittsburgh than it's very positive.

And then of course ... are Washington and Pittsburgh representative of the average team over the next 79 games?

[Hack&Lube]

The players are smiling and they look like they are having more fun instead of looking miserable.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

- 4th line looks good to me and I look forward to them having ice time
- the younger players are looking generally more effective than the older ones
- markstrom is much better so far
- I can see a path to improvement in their play, whereas last year I struggled to see that
- still a few young players to come (Pelletier, Zary, Solovyov) that can make it more fun and interesting to watch

[Strange Brew]

Of the 9 periods they've played, Flames have carried the play in at least 4 of them. I haven't watched every minute but that seems to be the gist of it. So there is lots of reason for hope IMO.

[Spuds_Buckley]

We have one more point than the Oilers in the same number of games played.

[stemit14]

I’ll add that I think Lindholm has been working really hard and has looked good IMO. He’s not sulking and he seems motivated. I’m not sure if he’ll ever produce as much offence as he did in the Gaudreau-Tkachuk years, but he definitely looks like a top two-way center in his first few games.

Whether or not this leads to him signing or being traded for a higher return, it’s good for the team in either circumstance.


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[Zamboniman]

New brand of sock tape has better adhesive.

[dammage79]

So far so good. Flames still have some bad luck. They could have easily won the caps game in the shootout instead the Iron denied them.

Markstrom has settled down and if those 1st three games despite the 2 losses don't give you hope for a bounce back season from him, then you're not looking for good things about the team any way.

Only thing I've noticed so far is the Flames need an upgrade at forward in a couple of spots. Thats it but that's been on the docket for a while now.

As is always tradition, reserving a good thorough look at the teams performance at American Thanksgiving. That's always the benchmark.

[Vinny01]

I like the talk of a better atmosphere and the fact they have opened up some opportunities for young players.

I think it is too soon to say I like how the team plays. Thry are making changes to the system and it will take time for them to settle in. Watching the team this year I have more negative thoughts than positive but I need to be patient which is why I am not overly bitching about this player or that player. Outside of Coronato there hasn’t been a flame I have loved to watch this year.

[D as in David]

We have no information as to when the players are taking dumps during games.

[FBI]

The lines look to be developing some chemistry. Coronato and Coleman, Dube and Ruzicka