QOTD: Why the disparity between periods 1/2 and 3?

[Enoch Root]

Some of you seem to think that other teams are out of shape and the Flames are skating circles around them.

The Flames as a team are in great shape, but it's not like other teams are out of shape and barely making it through the third period.

Being well conditioned is great - and definitely helpful - but it is not the reason they're dominant in the third. They are simply playing better hockey.

[GreenLantern2814]

Many of our best players are in their first or second year in the league. As a group, they are learning how to consistently win in this league.

Like all talented young people, it takes time to learn that what you can get away with and how you should actually behave are different things. Imagine a kid away at university who writes all his essays the night before they're due, and still gets an 85 - that's this team. Eventually, you learn better ways to go about your business.

I don't expect this to change this year. But Hartley has them on the right track.

[lazypucker]

The dealer can't make the delivery until the 2nd intermission maybe??

Really, I think the Flames take more offensive gambles in the 3rd compared to "playing it safe" for the first 2 periods. That's why there are more goals and comebacks in the 3rd period.

[GranteedEV]

^ that does not explain why they allow the fewest 3rd period goals, though.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

^ that does not explain why they allow the fewest 3rd period goals, though.

They are dominating zone time. When the puck spends the majority of the time in the opposition's zone you aren't going to give up as many goals.

[T@T]

Voted Other

Mostly it's out of desperation.

Conditioning helps though

[SofaProfessor]

It's a combination of things that varies from game to game. Sometimes you feel like they don't get their legs under them until the third period. Sometimes it feels like they just outlast the other team. Other times it just seems to be luck - like Saturday for example. Scrivens robbed a couple guys in the first two periods. It could have easily been tied after 2. The Flames stayed on the pedal and the chances started to go in in the 3rd.

tl;dr - you can't pinpoint it to one thing, in my opinion.

[devo22]

Darren Haynes ‏@DarrenWHaynes
This breakdown of the #Flames 146 goals sums it up: 1st and 2nd period - 73 3rd period and OT - 73

... wow, that is insane. I knew they were a lot better in the 3rd than in the first two periods, but that's just crazy.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Without seeing nearly as many games due to where I live and the TV rights issues here's my general thoughts:

The team is well conditioned, which means they can last the full 3 periods without much effort. Early in the season when down they started taking more risks to try and tie things up. It worked, which built confidence, to the point that "no lead is safe" and it starts to get into other teams heads as well. "2 goals up on the Flames with a minute and a half to play, this isn't in the bag, oh crud, if they score on this shot then they're only down by one, and it's in the net, dagnabbit." Now being in the other team's head leads to come luck as well (see the ungodly come from behind win against LA).

So it's a combination of everything that leads to playing well late.

Reminds me of Conroy's interview after they eliminated the Canucks in 2004 "I asked Gelinas if he ever scored a series winner, and he said I scored the goal against Toronto to end Toronto, and I think I had one in Vancouver, and one in Edmonton, so I said who knows maybe tonight, and he said 'lets not go to overtime' but when we did he came through huge".

That's not quite verbatim; if it was verbatim it would read more like this:
IaskedGelinasifheeverscoredaserieswinnerandhesaidI scoredthegoalagainstTorontotoenTorontoandIthinkIha doneinVancouverandoneinEdmontonsoIsaidwhoknowsmayb etonightandhesaidletsnotgotoovertimebutwhenwedidhe camethroughhuge!

I think the team would prefer to not have to come back in the 3rd, but when they do, they deliver.

[Huntingwhale]

The power of Christ compels them.

[GioforPM]

"I asked Gelinas if he ever scored a series winner, and he said I scored the goal against Toronto to end Toronto, and I think I had one in Vancouver, and one in Edmonton, so I said who knows maybe tonight, and he said 'lets not go to overtime' but when we did he came through huge".

#boringcraigconroy

[Flash Walken]

You have to be good to be lucky, and lucky to be good.

It's luck.

[Flash Walken]

double post

[Enoch Root]

outscoring the opposite 66 to 33 is luck? That is some wildass luck right there!

[Regulator75]

fyp

Originally Posted by codynw

"How Many Years Should the Flames Extend Bouma?"

A: 1-2
B: 3-4
C: 5+
D: Don't re-sign
F: Oilers suck

I like it!

Oilers always deserve an F.