[PGT] Avs 3 Flames 2 on the brink

[CalgaryFan1988]

Last night he (Gaudreau) was looking back and whining constantly. I understand on occasion (when he was in alone and hooked), but it can't be a constant thing.

Gaudreau was not good last night, but being on the brink of elimination (vs the Avalanche of all teams) there's a lot more problems than just one player. The list is long. They are imploding at the worst possible time.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I'd say there is a group of 8 players led by the Bread Eater and Gio that seem to have a playoff compete level going; the rest? Send 'em to Mongolia

- Johnny "whine & coast" Gaudreau
- TJ "Bad Hockey Sense" Brodie
- Sean "Asleep at the wheel" Monahan
- James "are the Avs paying you off?" Neal

Agree with Bread Eater, Gio has been a disappointment IMO. I think he’s been average at best, but very far from a Norris caliber D man in this series, he’s no close to a difference maker, which is what he needs to be.

[Otto-matic]

Did the Flames become complacent after the start they had? It seems like they lost that killer instinct after January and just went into brain dead cruise control hockey.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Did the Flames become complacent after the start they had? It seems like they lost that killer instinct after January and just went into brain dead cruise control hockey.

Its likely coincidental that for the past 2 seasons they have taken a turn for the worse after the ASB/CBA break but truthfully I think its just the league adjusting to how they play the 2nd half of the year and the Flames players not making that same adjustment. They could sit at home for the duration of those breaks and experience the same issues.

Whats not coincidental is that this refusal to alter their play style crept into the playoffs.

[Matata]

I don't see the flames as a team that could or should win this series. Such a painful end to such a promising season.


Crazy that Gaudreau and MacKinnon got the same amount of season points. Head to head, Mackinnon is obviously a much better player.

[The Yen Man]

Johnny was super frustrating to watch last night. Several times, the guy is cheating trying to leave the zone early and skating before the puck even reaches him. Then an Avs player swoops in and grabs the puck and keeps it in the zone, all while Johnny's already taking off the other way. It's like he doesn't have that drive to take that extra step to fight for the puck.

Johnny is a fantastic player, but guy has yet to elevate his game past regular season level this post season. It's like he doesn't have that extra gear needed to win important games.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Matata

I don't see the flames as a team that could or should win this series. Such a painful end to such a promising season.


Crazy that Gaudreau and MacKinnon got the same amount of season points. Head to head, Mackinnon is obviously a much better player.

Mackinnon was 1st overall for a reason.
Flames have sucked for years, but never bad enough to grab 1st OV.

How many cup wins since lockout have come from teams without 1st or 2nd ov pick? Not many

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Mackinnon was 1st overall for a reason.
Flames have sucked for years, but never bad enough to grab 1st OV.

How many cup wins since lockout have come from teams without 1st or 2nd ov pick? Not many

To that point, there value of first overall picks is easy to see looking a recent cup champions, and on the flip side all we need to do is look North up the highway to see a great example of how it’s also not an automatic unless you build around the pick well.

I actually think BT has built well in his tenure, and as down as I want to be on the team, they aren’t going to be earning a 1st overall pick anytime soon. What would we be willing to part with on this roster to get a first overall if it would even be remotely possible?

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

I admire your optimism but the only way Flames win game 5 is if Col takes their foot off the gas since the series has been so easy for them

The Avs didn’t let the foot off the gas last night and needed a late tying PP goal and an OT goal after a huge missed chance(Backlund) to win. The Avs obviously had a lot of control of this game but your notion that the only way for the flames to win game 5 has to be from a huge Avs let off is just garbage.

The flames were within minutes of closing out two games that they lost. How they got there(because of Smith heroics) is irrelevant. The flames are very capable of winning by their own merits. And if that calls for another smith great performance, so be it. He’s part of the team. Never apologize for winning games in large part to your goalie.

[Toonage]

My retro car flags just arrived yesterday and I don't get to pick them up until today.

I'd appreciate a Flames win so I can at least have these on for the weekend.

Also depressing, my Division Champions t-shirt was delayed and likely won't arrive until after Round 1.

[1991 Canadian]

It’s funny, going into this series, I figured goaltending and powerplay would be the Flames undoing. The top lines would cancel each other out, but the Flames depth on forward and defense would be enough to overpower the Avs.

Almost the complete opposite has happened. The Av’s top line has dominated the Flames. The goaltending has been great. The powerplay has been good (albeit not opportunistic in OT).

It’s baffling. I’d argue the Flames played better in their 4 and 5 game playoff series losses to Anaheim in recent years.

[Flamenspiel]

The series seems to be following a a first round pattern of dominant players/lines taking over and winning. The Wheeler/Mark Scheifele/Connor line in the Winnipeg series, Benns line in Dallas, Stasny's line in the Vegas series and McKinnon in this one.

Certainly you cannot win a cup with one line and problems will come up later on when injuries occur and depth is more important. It seems to be good enough in the first round though.

In light of the comments above, it's important to note that Benn and most of the others were not 1st or 2nd overall. You can certainly find players like that in the draft. Vegas's dominant line was picked 22nd(Patches), 178th(Stone), and 44th(Stastny). Benn was drafted 129th.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Smith has not disappointed at all. He has been fantastic, which actually makes the rest of the Flames more disappointing.

I wish Peters was showing some sign of action though. He hasn't seemed to bring any compete level of his own. No gamesmanship. No emotional management. He should have complained publicly about the reffing to distract and take pressure off. He should have switched Smith out in game 3. He should have had the Flames ready to go and should be able to adapt the game plan as needed. None of these things going on though.

This is a ridiculous take: why would Peters complain about officiating? First, it will accomplish nothing, and second, he'll get fined. All to no net effect.

Pull Smith? The ONE player who's played his balls off? Sure.....glad you are not the coach.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by 1991 Canadian

It’s funny, going into this series, I figured goaltending and powerplay would be the Flames undoing. The top lines would cancel each other out, but the Flames depth on forward and defense would be enough to overpower the Avs.

Almost the complete opposite has happened. The Av’s top line has dominated the Flames. The goaltending has been great. The powerplay has been good (albeit not opportunistic in OT).

It’s baffling. I’d argue the Flames played better in their 4 and 5 game playoff series losses to Anaheim in recent years.

The four game loss for sure. Flames played better than the ducks for a lot of that series. I’m still baffled how that ended ina sweep.

The 2015 series, the flames were outplayed badly in Anaheim and their fun lightning in a bottle run game to an end. Pretty hard to say they were better than this year, but I don’t think it’s far off.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Johnny was super frustrating to watch last night. Several times, the guy is cheating trying to leave the zone early and skating before the puck even reaches him. Then an Avs player swoops in and grabs the puck and keeps it in the zone, all while Johnny's already taking off the other way. It's like he doesn't have that drive to take that extra step to fight for the puck.

Johnny is a fantastic player, but guy has yet to elevate his game past regular season level this post season. It's like he doesn't have that extra gear needed to win important games.

Man, that kid used to be all about extra gears. He's looking like he wants excuses now, and easy advantages. Yes, Johnny, you are being hooked and slashed. You are also letting that tactic work.

[devo22]

I get that people are disappointed, but the name calling in here is embarrassing.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

The series seems to be following a a first round pattern of dominant players/lines taking over and winning. The Wheeler/Mark Scheifele/Connor line in the Winnipeg series, Benns line in Dallas, Stasny's line in the Vegas series and McKinnon in this one.

Certainly you cannot win a cup with one line and problems will come up later on when injuries occur and depth is more important. It seems to be good enough in the first round though.

In light of the comments above, it's important to note that Benn and most of the others were not 1st or 2nd overall. You can certainly find players like that in the draft. Vegas's dominant line was picked 22nd(Patches), 178th(Stone), and 44th(Stastny). Benn was drafted 129th.

The Isles would be the most interesting one, winning after you lose your 1st OV. But that's not happening, I don't think. Nor are the Jets or Stars winning. Vegas is a different animal.
Hopefully the trend, if it is in fact a trend, that you need that 1st/2nd pick to win gets broken, and repeatedly.

[CroFlames]

I am sick of losing. Plain ole sick of losing.

We’ve been losing since 1995 and it wears on a guy.

This season was great because of all the winning, but it counts for nothing if we get bounced in the first round. I’m especially peeved about the apparent lack of heart on the ice by some key guys. I don’t think it’s too much to ask as a fan for our team to match the compete level of the other team.

I suppose it’s not over till it’s over, so here’s to hoping beyond hope for Friday, but I’m preparing myself for a long offseason.

Disappointed.

[DSIM420]

We just need to win 3 in a row. We have done it before. Hopefully the players have done their soul searching and realized they can beat this team if they want to.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

Heres another happy thought: this avs team that has been DOMINATING the Flames was the BEST matchup for the Flames of the west playoff teams.

Lol.

Nah. IMO they'd have been better against SJ at the very least. Maybe also the Preds. They'd also be better against the Stars if they could solve Bishop. Ditto Vegas and Fleury.