[GDT] 2020 WC Play-In Round: Calgary Flames (8) vs. Winnipeg Jets (9) Flames 2-1

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by wired

I have a feeling they are going to play Valimaki (sp) and let Gio swing in the wind.
No evidence, just a hunch.

In a vacuum, he is a better option than Kylington. Assuming his play hasn't declined

[blender]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Every team experiences these things regularly. And every fan base thinks it's their own team's unique identity.

I get that, and I knew someone would have this response, so fair play to you. Nevertheless, you can't tell me that this hasn't been a consistent problem with the Flames since the GG years. Able to control play, lots of shots generated, but no finish when it is really needed.

I feel like it really comes down to top end skill at scoring which the Flames have had a paucity of since Iginla went to Pittsburgh.

On the plus side, we did see Johnny set up Lindholm for a beauty chance, help set up the Lindholm goal, nearly complete the wrap around, plenty of good rushes. If he keeps it up, great. Lindholm played well. Mangiapane and Bennet each had a couple good looks. Chances were there, but its maddening to come up short time after time.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by blender

I get that, and I knew someone would have this response, so fair play to you. Nevertheless, you can't tell me that this hasn't been a consistent problem with the Flames since the GG years. Able to control play, lots of shots generated, but no finish when it is really needed.

I feel like it really comes down to top end skill at scoring which the Flames have had a paucity of since Iginla went to Pittsburgh.

On the plus side, we did see Johnny set up Lindholm for a beauty chance, help set up the Lindholm goal, nearly complete the wrap around, plenty of good rushes. If he keeps it up, great. Lindholm played well. Mangiapane and Bennet each had a couple good looks. Chances were there, but its maddening to come up short time after time.

It's a bit of a trend for sure. Flames are a team that underperform vs. their xGF%

Over the last three seasons the Flames sit high in the generation of chances:

Corsi For: 52.4% (3rd)
High Danger Corsi For: 53.1% (6th)
xGF%: 52.2% (6th)
xGF/60: 2.88 (5th)
xGA/60: 2.64 (13th)

But low in the actual outcomes:

GF%: 51.0% (12th)
GF/60: 3.0 (13th)
GA:60: 2.87 (14th)
Shooting Percentage: 9.29% (17th)
Save Percentage: .905 (18th)

So a team that's able to generate chances and decent quality for the most part, but they have average goaltending and finishing talent, which leads to more games like last night where they can generate more quality chances but end up losing.

The team could use another goal scorer / pure finisher for sure. Sadly Neal was brought into be that guy, and instead he was a whiny, useless, black hole at 5v5.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by blender

I get that, and I knew someone would have this response, so fair play to you. Nevertheless, you can't tell me that this hasn't been a consistent problem with the Flames since the GG years. Able to control play, lots of shots generated, but no finish when it is really needed.



I feel like it really comes down to top end skill at scoring which the Flames have had a paucity of since Iginla went to Pittsburgh.

I don't think that is true at all.

Last year the Flames were a top-three-scoring team in the NHL.They were middling offensively this year while the team as whole struggled, but since the new year have been once again a top-scoring team.

The Flames are not short of talent. It is other elements within their game that has held them back.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[Gaskal]

Transition game sorely needs work.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by blender

I get that, and I knew someone would have this response, so fair play to you. Nevertheless, you can't tell me that this hasn't been a consistent problem with the Flames since the GG years. Able to control play, lots of shots generated, but no finish when it is really needed.

I feel like it really comes down to top end skill at scoring which the Flames have had a paucity of since Iginla went to Pittsburgh.

On the plus side, we did see Johnny set up Lindholm for a beauty chance, help set up the Lindholm goal, nearly complete the wrap around, plenty of good rushes. If he keeps it up, great. Lindholm played well. Mangiapane and Bennet each had a couple good looks. Chances were there, but its maddening to come up short time after time.

Gaudreau scored more points last season than Iggy's career high. Team also scored more than the Flames ever did with Iggy.

Team had one good run with Iginla in his entire career...let's not pretend it was the glory days other than 04. (Which was a bounce away from a first round loss)

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Gaudreau scored more points last season than Iggy's career high. Team also scored more than the Flames ever did with Iggy.

Team had one good run with Iginla in his entire career...let's not pretend it was the glory days other than 04. (Which was a bounce away from a first round loss)

Give Iginla linemates like Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm then we can chat. Iginla was a one man wrecking crew in the early 2000's to mid 2000's.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Give Iginla linemates like Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm then we can chat. Iginla was a one man wrecking crew in the early 2000's to mid 2000's.

Context please...the poster said our offence has struggled since Iggy was traded and that is false.

[Brick]

The Flames lack speed and scoring punch.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Give Iginla linemates like Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm then we can chat. Iginla was a one man wrecking crew in the early 2000's to mid 2000's.

Both Langkow and Conroy were far better 2-way players than Monahan. In 5 years as a Flame Langkow was +48 worse year was +1 had a +23 and a +16

Conroy 8 years a Flame +62 worse year -6 his last full year at age 38 and a -4 and best were +24 and +20


Monahan 7 years a Flame -25 worse years -20 as a rookie and -16 this year and best +8 and +7.


Much easier playing with a good skating responsible Centre,



On the Lindholm wing There was Tanguay, Hueslis and Cammelleri not chopped liver by any stretch.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Context please...the poster said our offence has struggled since Iggy was traded and that is false.

Oh your post just came off bashing Iginla that is all. In my opinion cannot compare the two players.

[SportsJunky]

Again with the plus/minus?

[blender]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don't think that is true at all.

Last year the Flames were a top-three-scoring team in the NHL.They were middling offensively this year while the team as whole struggled, but since the new year have been once again a top-scoring team.

The Flames are not short of talent. It is other elements within their game that has held them back.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

I agree with you on overall talent level, and I have not forgotten last year. I think the results from the back portion of 19/20 are also encouraging albeit a small sample.

Someone else mentioned Johnny with 99 points last year, and that was great and he looked every dangerous last night which is also great, but we are talking mostly assists (also great).
What I am talking about is pure, clutch goal scoring. Monahan has the ability, but as we know he is basically a 30-goal man (great to have) and he has scored some clutch goals (also great).
When was the last time the Flames had a fifty goal scorer?
I know these guys don't grow on trees, but they are out there and the Flames do not have one.

Just for the record, I'm not down on the team per se. I'm a fan and I'm always optimistic. I was originally commenting on my experience watching them last night and the similarities to seasons past. As SuperMatt showed there is a trend there. I know it is pretty easy to just say "I wish we had an all-world sniper". Every fan would say that, but that doesn't mean that having one wouldn't help.

Say what you want about the Oilers, but watching McDavid and Draisaitl last night makes it crystal clear that we don't have a finisher in their tier. I feel like the Flames would be a legit contender with either of those guys on the roster in exchange for any player. Or, to bring it back to my original comment, Iggy in anyone's place.

Just my thoughts. Go Flames Go.

[djsFlames]

Gaudreau and Monahan together have been that for the past five years. But for whatever reason just aren't reliable this season. I don't know why they're able to fly and dazzle in scrimmages then disappear in the exhibition and much of the regular season. Off year for both.

[blender]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Context please...the poster said our offence has struggled since Iggy was traded and that is false.

I did not say that. I said that we have lacked top-end scoring skill since Iginla left, and that is a fact. I'm not talking about team scoring, I'm talking about having an elite scorer on the team. Big difference.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by blender

I did not say that. I said that we have lacked top-end scoring skill since Iginla left, and that is a fact. I'm not talking about team scoring, I'm talking about having an elite scorer on the team. Big difference.

It would be nice, but it's not the only way to win in this League. St Louis won the Cup last year without an elite sniper on the roster, and I would say that the LA Kings championship teams were arguably similar. Different teams are built different ways.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It would be nice, but it's not the only way to win in this League. St Louis won the Cup last year without an elite sniper on the roster, and I would say that the LA Kings championship teams were arguably similar. Different teams are built different ways.

Correct, and part of the reason I'm not a no-hoper. Team is above average and as I said, I'm an optimist.

I was reading an article on the Athletic recently about EPL relegation. It was sobering. If the NHL was that type of league we'd have members here go off the edge for real!

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by blender

I did not say that. I said that we have lacked top-end scoring skill since Iginla left, and that is a fact. I'm not talking about team scoring, I'm talking about having an elite scorer on the team. Big difference.

Are you just talking about goals? It just seemed like a weird comment considering the Flames were a low scoring team for most of Iggy's career

[AC]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1288625353687101442

[Iceman57]

I really thought we dominated that second period against the Oilers and truly believe if it wasn't for that bad bounce on the Oilers 3rd goal, we would have come back. It might not be a popular opinion to post lines here but I really wanted to see it for myself.

I feel a complete shake up to combined both skill & grit is needed to give all the lines a better chance at success in playoff type games plus we'll actually be able to roll four lines. I mean what do we really have to lose and if it pays of then great!

Bennett ~ Monahan ~ Lindholm
Gaudreau ~ Backlund ~ Tkachuk
Lucic ~ Ryan ~ Mangiapane
Rinaldo ~ Rieder ~ Dube
Jankowski