[PGT] Flames fall 3-2 in shootout to Chicago.

[pepper24]

5 out of 6 games at home with only one win to show. The Avs loss was worse.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Iginla has either an injury or a confidence problem, his shot isn't that good and when he had the breakaway his attempt looked weak live.

Could his injury be that he's 36?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Could his injury be that he's 36?

I don't believe that.

We know he's not as fast as he used to be, but his shot shouldn't have degraded that much in less then a year.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Could his injury be that he's 36?

Maybe it's age but historically Iginla is a slow starter. He's had a lot of seasons where he's only had a few goals after 10-15 games to end up with 30+ goals. History just seems to be repeating itself.

The tough part is that in a 48 game schedule 10-15 games is a lot of the sesaon.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't believe that.

We know he's not as fast as he used to be, but his shot shouldn't have degraded that much in less then a year.

Tell that to Lanny.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Tell that to Lanny.

Athletes, or at least NHL athletes did not train or take care of themselves the way they do now. 36 back then was much older than 36 now doe these guys. Heck just look at pictures of Lanny back in 89. He looks old enough in those shots to have a 36 year old son at that time.

[CaramonLS]

6 games is still 12.5% of the season and we've only got 4 points.

Based on some of the reaction in this thread - did you guys watch the Flames last year? Last couple years? Any games at all?

There were nights that these guys look like world beaters - I remember when they went into Detroit and looked amazing (with similar comments about the best game of the season, etc), then proceed to take dumps on the ice against teams like NYI and CBJ. This team has been playing this way for the last couple years.

Do we forget Thursday night already?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by moon

It seems to be the standard response for fans of bad teams.

It was the main point of Oiler fans for the past 3-5 years while their team was garbage that they were "much happier" watching the Oilers play "exciting" and lose than watch a boring team like Nashville or Phoenix even though they made play-offs.

A lot of Flames fans are transitioning to the same mentality that Oiler fans had during their crap years (outside of the cheering for last place) so not too surprising that the "excitement" factor is now being overblown.

The Flames have been a losing team for years now, and I will admit to being far more entertained by the losses this year than the past few years. Has nothing to do with a mentality, just a fact.

But that doesn't change the fact that I'm still going to come in here and analyze the performance and what I think about the team. I'm seeing a lot of different takes in this thread. Yes I was very entertained at the game last night, yes I applaud the Flames effort last night, you won't find me in here calling them a bunch of lazy bums. But none of that changes the fact that I feel the Flames find ways to lose and simply don't have the right make up to get the points they need.

What I don't understand is why people feel you can't think all those things above. You have the eternal optimists on here who keep trumping entertainment and effort, and feel everyone should just shut up and enjoy it and think positively. And you have the negatives who feel if it ain't 2 points it was all a waste. Why does it have to one or the other?

I was entertained by the effort, and style last night, totally enjoyed it. But I also got re-affirmation last night that this team struggles to find ways to win, and often finds ways to lose, despite effort and best intentions. So despite being entertained and respecting the effort, my feeling on,this team is that it needs to change to get wins, why is that looked at as a bad thing from some posters. It's just an honest take on what I see out there (honest doesn't mean I'm right).

And Moon, I responded to your post because its what sparked me to think or write this, but its not a comment towards you or you post at all, it was just your post that got me thinking.

[SofaProfessor]

Unfortunately the Flames are now in a situation, with the short season, where they need to get on a 4 or 5 game winning streak pretty soon here and they also need some teams to start losing. It's not good when you're hoping other teams hit a rut just to see your team move upward. They played great against Chicago and if they keep playing that way then the wins will come. But time is quickly running out.

[noreply]

You fools ....Iggy is just sucking the life out of that franchise not to mention a Kings ransom. How long are the fans going to put up with his no show commitment ? Highest paid none factor in the NHL just laughing all the way to the bank! Yet, Calgary worships the ground he walks on. So upset about the loss tonight, the fans deserve much more out of there over paid Captain. In other news Bourque scores 2 for Montreal. Great trade hey?

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

The Flames have been a losing team for years now, and I will admit to being far more entertained by the losses this year than the past few years. Has nothing to do with a mentality, just a fact.

I don´t get this at all, how can anyone be entertained by losses is beyond me. That just sounds like a losing attitude.

A loss is a loss, not matter if you play under a Sutter defensive minded, boring concept or a more offensively entertaining system like Hartley´s.

[dissentowner]

Flames totally dominated that game. You know why we lost? Because there is some obnoxious Canucks fan somewhere doing this.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Could his injury be that he's 36?

I know it is not a huge difference but Iggy isn't 36 until July

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Saqe

I don´t get this at all, how can anyone be entertained by losses is beyond me. That just sounds like a losing attitude.

A loss is a loss, not matter if you play under a Sutter defensive minded, boring concept or a more offensively entertaining system like Hartley´s.

What is hard to understand? I went the game last night, saw a loss, enjoyed my time there much more than when I went to the dome last year and saw some losses. Not hard, I'm just a fan, not a player or coach. Fan perspective.

Now I agree from a pure hockey team perspective, a loss is a loss. And the players and coaches and management better not be standing around talking about how they lost, but it it was an improvement because it was more entertaining. Entertaining or not, their job is to get wins however they need to. And that's what there focus should be.

But I don't work for the Flames, so I'm allowed to find one type of loss more entertaining than another, people who work for the team (on ice) should only be focused on results.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Could his injury be that he's 36?

For the record, Iginla is 35. No point in aging him quicker than he already is. (oops, just noticed vinny already corrected that)

[clancy]

Originally Posted by noreply

You fools ....Iggy is just sucking the life out of that franchise not to mention a Kings ransom. How long are the fans going to put up with his no show commitment ? Highest paid none factor in the NHL just laughing all the way to the bank! Yet, Calgary worships the ground he walks on. So upset about the loss tonight, the fans deserve much more out of there over paid Captain. In other news Bourque scores 2 for Montreal. Great trade hey?

Ya. Bourque would have made all the difference. It was a great trade just to get rid of him. Dumbest hockey player I have ever seen.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Saqe

I don´t get this at all, how can anyone be entertained by losses is beyond me. That just sounds like a losing attitude.

A loss is a loss, not matter if you play under a Sutter defensive minded, boring concept or a more offensively entertaining system like Hartley´s.

well, i can understand it actually, for those who venture down to the dome night after night... I can usually score 5-8 games a year from consultants, so I can only imagine the amount of hassle it is for those who take in - and pay for - the full season.

While a loss is still a loss, its never a bad thing to be actually entertained, especially considering all the effort and money spent by the season ticket holders...

That said, I think everyone in is agreement that they would rather choose a boring win than an exciting loss

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by moon

It seems to be the standard response for fans of bad teams.

It was the main point of Oiler fans for the past 3-5 years while their team was garbage that they were "much happier" watching the Oilers play "exciting" and lose than watch a boring team like Nashville or Phoenix even though they made play-offs.

A lot of Flames fans are transitioning to the same mentality that Oiler fans had during their crap years (outside of the cheering for last place) so not too surprising that the "excitement" factor is now being overblown.

I have to agree with this post. The Flames may be the only fanbase in the league to be at the bottom of the standings but happy with the play of the team. IMO it's a sign of the times that expectations are so low now fans have shifted from caring about the bottom line which is wins/losses to being happy with solid effort.

That boring team of Brent's should have probably made the playoffs at least two of three years had it not been for key players collapsing down the stretch as they did under Playfair, Keenan. Hartley isn't going to have to worry about late season collapses because the Flames aren't going to be in the playoff conversation. The hockey may be seem more exciting now but that's because fans are simply looking for any shred of positives from losing and I expect July will start to become the most exciting time of the year for Flames fans as they start picking in the top 5 for the next few seasons. It's taken a few years of talent erosion and aging but it appears that top 5 pick is finally coming to this franchise.

How the Flames fare with their 1st round picks will dictate how long they stay in the basement as they likely aren't going to be Oilers bad and pick first overall 3 straight years as they will be more Islanders bad.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

What is hard to understand? I went the game last night, saw a loss, enjoyed my time there much more than when I went to the dome last year and saw some losses. Not hard, I'm just a fan, not a player or coach. Fan perspective.

Now I agree from a pure hockey team perspective, a loss is a loss. And the players and coaches and management better not be standing around talking about how they lost, but it it was an improvement because it was more entertaining. Entertaining or not, their job is to get wins however they need to. And that's what there focus should be.

But I don't work for the Flames, so I'm allowed to find one type of loss more entertaining than another, people who work for the team (on ice) should only be focused on results.

Of course you are allowed to enjoy whatever you like.

I just don´t really see the "being fan of a team" part of it if you care about being entertained more than if your team wins or loses.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I have to agree with this post. The Flames may be the only fanbase in the league to be at the bottom of the standings but happy with the play of the team. IMO it's a sign of the times that expectations are so low now fans have shifted from caring about the bottom line which is wins/losses to being happy with solid effort.

That boring team of Brent's should have probably made the playoffs at least two of three years had it not been for key players collapsing down the stretch as they did under Playfair, Keenan. Hartley isn't going to have to worry about late season collapses because the Flames aren't going to be in the conversation. The hockey may be more exciting now I expect July will start to become the most exciting time of the year for Flames fans as they start picking in the top 5 for the next few seasons. It's taken a few years of talent erosion and aging but it appears that top 5 pick is finally coming to this franchise.

How the Flames fare with their 1st round picks will dictate how long they stay in the basement as they likely aren't going to be Oilers bad and pick first overall 3 straight years as they will be more Islanders bad.

Like republicans on election night.

"OHIO IS STILL IN PLAY!"