[PGT] Hawks 4 - Flames 3

[djsFlames]

Having Russell and Jones in would've really helped.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Flames give one of the best teams in the league everything they could handle, out shoot them, out hit them. Win or lose this sort of exciting hockey is so much more than I expected from the team this year.

This team is too good for me to be satisfied with moral victories now.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Having Russell and Jones in would've really helped.

Losing Russell could really hurt the flames if he is out for a long time. Diaz is horrid and engelland is not much better.

[Travis Munroe]

Ramo was confirmed for next game. If he plays well I suspect Hartley goes back to him and he has a chance to run with it!

Hiller didnt play like Hiller can but by all means, he didnt play bad and allows me to breath much easier compared to prior goalies we have had back there.

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Losing Russell could really hurt the flames if he is out for a long time. Diaz is horrid and engelland is not much better.

agree defensive depth is not that good - Hope to see Wotherspoon and soon!

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by SebC

This team is too good for me to be satisfied with moral victories now.

Our 2 best centres, 2 of our best wingers and our #3 defenseman out. Facing a Stanley Cup favorite . You need to lower your expectations just a tad.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Sucks to lose, but nothing to be ashamed of in this game. They pressed the play for large parts of the game, had multiple chances, and were never out of it mentally.

Despite designating Hiller as the starter, I do think we'd be best served by giving him regular rests. I think that the slight sag in his game lately has been from more routine saves and plays, similar to tonight's weak puck-handling effort on the 4th goal. These are simple mental fatigue mistakes in my opinion.

I thought a good effort by pretty much every Flame. It's really interesting to watch Ferland because he does seem to be a more straight line player. He'll cycle if appropriate, but I like that he'll push away from the half-boards and drive the net with the puck. We need a player that will take that direct line to the crease in order to complement Hudler and Gaudreau who prefer to stay on the perimeter looking for seams in the defense.

As for the Hawks, just a great team. Toews and Kane are studs, but in my book I would take Hossa in a heart beat. He's just a beast out there. Smart, uses his size to advantage, great offensive skills and no slouch on the defensive end. You can't get the puck off him in the offensive zone, and if he hunts you down in the defensive zone he creates the turnover no problem.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Feck. A win in regulation there would've put a wide margin between ourselves and the hawks for a playoff spot and would've made me a huge believer in a post season. Can still happen for sure but I think it'll be really tough to break through for this group. Gives me a lot of hope in the trend and therefore next year

[AC]

If you had told me we'd go 1-1 vs the Ducks and Blackhawks heading into the homestand, I'd take it.

But damn if I didn't believe we could have and should have won tonight.

Granlund gets crosschecked/punched in the face on the opening PK and no call, Hawks score right after... sigh.

[btimbit]

Bollig reaction was pretty close to mine.

[TheDebaser]

Originally Posted by SeeGeeWhy

Feck. A win in regulation there would've put a wide margin between ourselves and the hawks for a playoff spot and would've made me a huge believer in a post season. Can still happen for sure but I think it'll be really tough to break through for this group. Gives me a lot of hope in the trend and therefore next year

The Flames still have the highest odds in the pacific division to make the playoffs. It's way too early to start thinking about next year.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Western.html

[Jacks]

Too many complainers in this thread. Half the teams in the league would trade rosters with ours

[Phanuthier]

The fact that we were in the game until the very end, and did not look out of place.... and what, 1/3 of our team is rookies, many who were mid-round picks? (even the vets are mid-round picks)... pretty freaking incredible.

[Gaudfather]

Focus is now on the Devils and Cammalleri - if we beat them on Sat nite we still go 4 for 5 on this homestand.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Our 2 best centres, 2 of our best wingers and our #3 defenseman out. Facing a Stanley Cup favorite . You need to lower your expectations just a tad.

I wasn't expecting them to win, I'm just not satisfied by the loss.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

Focus is now on the Devils and Cammalleri - if we beat them on Sat nite we still go 4 for 5 on this homestand.

Same position we were in going into on the roadtrip vs Carolina, but we had a disappointing effort.

Lets see if the team has learned something from that. I expected a big win.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Our 2 best centres, 2 of our best wingers and our #3 defenseman out. Facing a Stanley Cup favorite . You need to lower your expectations just a tad.

Monahan is one of our two best centers IMO, but still a fair point you make.

[codynw]

[Gaskal]

Just a massive shame to see a game end like that with a derp goal.

[djsFlames]

Put Ramo in and destroy the Devils 8-0. Then we'll be back on track.

NJ is playing piss poor hockey anyways. Time to take advantage.