[News] Things may not be as bleak as they would seem.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by Itse

Wasn't it about a month ago that we last had this thread? "Flames are about to break out" or something like that.

Yet we're 4-6 in the last ten, and 5-9 in December. But I'm sure once the Flames have an almost inevitable "hot streak" (pure randomness says they'll likely have one if they keep winning at the current pace), well get a whole bunch of "see I told you"s.

Hey they can "I told you so" all they want so long as inevitable hot streak gets us into the playoffs.
I'm much more worried about the absence of the "inevitable"

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I think a trade could work. Not a huge shake up, but one that could help us on the forward side of things. Last year we traded for Stone, and we went on that huge winning streak. Perhaps a trade triggers this team to play well once again.

Advanced stats are great and all but there are many teams that look good on paper and never put it together where it counts - on the ice. This team is starting to look that way for me.

The team can't keep mortgaging the future to try and make something happen now. Another move involving prospects/picks to attempt to get something going would border on lunacy from Treliving's part. If this staff cannot make it work they really have no business retaining their jobs past this season.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by sempuki

In order to be insulting it has to be built on at least a grain of truth. Might as well mock me for being an oilers fan. As it stands the only thing you've insulted is your inability to form a vocabulary of your own.

I was not trying to "insult" you, it was a statement of fact. I am impressed by your ability to use a thesaurus though.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Take it to PM guys.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's rare that teams over an 80 game season have all three of offense, defense, and goaltending all playing at their peaks for prolonged periods. There's simply too many fluid variables to be able to predict future success based on past play. Chances are if the 1st line catches fire again that the defense or goaltending may drop off and cancel out any offensive gains. Really it's all about how efficient a coaching staff is at running effective practices, player management, on ice effort level night to night, and scratching and clawing your way to wins on nights when maybe your guys aren't at their best. This team hasn't done that which is why after a month of people speculating advanced stats point to good things coming nothing has come. Advanced stats are a nice way for fans to buy hope but the reality is that they aren't a magic crystal ball of predicting the future or success for that matter when you consider the current back to back Stanley Cup champions have totally gone against the grain of advanced stats.

I agree that very rarely will you see all aspects fire together. Problem is when the first line dips so dramatically it will hurt a team. Especially when they are given the bulk of the ice time.

[belsarius]

Another big takeaway with the advanced stats is that they are all 5v5 situations. You see Calgary, Edmonton, Chicago, Montreal high on the 5v5 Pace chart and they all have mediocre to bad special teams this year. The Kings have the best PK in the league and are getting the results.

The flames may be a top 10 team in 5v5 GA, but they are a bottom 5 team in GA 4v5. But there is so much parity that the difference in 5v5 play may seem big on charts, but on the ice the teams are very close and the difference is who can take advantage of those PPs.

What this all demonstrates to me is the old adage that the game is won or lost on special teams, and right now the Flames need a desperate fix there if they expect to see the playoffs.

[mrdonkey]

Things will never seem as bleak as they are if you trust that things will magically get better on their own and believe in the heart of the cards!

[Stanley]

5on5 play is great but it's a special teams league.
Figure it out Flames.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I think at the time when most were saying they will breakout it was because the team was starting to get decent secondary (even tertiary) scoring along with the first line being productive.

No no, there was quite specifically a thread predicting success is right around the corner because fancy stats.

https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=165885

Maybe it was the next corner.