[PGT] Flames fall 4-1 to the Blues

[Erick Estrada]

I guess Monahan breaking 30 is a lone positive we can take from this one. I think Hartley should start Ramo for the next game and replace him with Hiller for the 2nd period as that seems to be the way to avoiding soft goals.

[Yamer]

Game I expected the boys to lose, even at their best. A point would have been a complete bonus.

Not very worried at their performance, as quite frankly it was a team that was supposed to be better...that was better. Flames played honestly.

Damn it's fun to be a Flames fan in this position at game 78. Last 4 are going to an absolute blast.

GO FLAMES GO!

[La Flames Fan]

Originally Posted by pylon

To be fair, Olaf has a very punchable face.

[MacFlame]

Really disappointed in Colborne's play since coming back from injury. It's not just the points either..his play along the boards, something that really improved over the last year, has really taken a step backward.

He was starting to look like a a good 3rd liner that could jump up to the second line when needed, but he's regressed so much lately that I really wonder where he fits on this team moving forward.

[DiracSpike]

I had such high hopes for the oilers kings game.

Color me concerned for Saturday in Edmonton, players are done but fans will be out for blood and that might give the oil a boost.

Bring on Bennett the face puncher

[dammage79]

The problem now is, the Flames absolutely cannot afford to lay an easter egg for either the ARZ game or EDM game. They HAVE to nail down those four points or it's over IMO. Besides if you can't beat them you really didn't earn a playoff spot anyways. All the Blues game was going to do was allow the Flames a little room for error walking into these next couple of games.

[blender]

I don't know if it is me, but it seemed like the forwards couldn't get out of the zone to speak of tonight. Plenty of clean breakout passes died at our own blueline. Like the third in Dallas, but Flames were up one instead of down.
Also, seems like no one wants to go to the net with the puck. Everyone is curling away or dishing off.
Tough to watch from a team that is typically entertaining to watch.

[GranteedEV]

Today was a very frustrating loss for a plethora of reasons:

- Couldn't win a faceoff worth anything
- Blues outmuscled the Flames on the boards
- Couldn't get a successful zone entry worth anything until it was too little too late
- Engelland and Wideman's inability to drive possession really killed the team tonight
- Super-soft goal on the first shot affected the rest of the game.
- Bollig's boneheadedness put the Flames on the PK to open the 2nd. Useless
- Should have had a 5-on-3 during the PP but the Refs decided slashes are legal
- 2nd PP Unit has been nothing short of brutal all season and it hit a climax today when Hartley felt he'd rather call a timeout than send them out
- Raymond continues to be terrible.
- Backlund had a crappy game, though I'm sure he'll bounce back.


The part that hurts in my opinion is that teams like this render our top line ineffective.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I guess Monahan breaking 30 is a lone positive we can take from this one. I think Hartley should start Ramo for the next game and replace him with Hiller for the 2nd period as that seems to be the way to avoiding soft goals.

Hiller needs a psychologist to fix those first shot/minute of the game goals. Im not certain, but that's gotta be close to 10+ games where he's been weak like that.

Not many positives, but it also seems like Jokinen exorcised his goalpost hitting demon back into Flames players.

[Vedder]

Did Diaz play another shift after he got hit in the leg? Would be a big loss at this point.

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by blender

I don't know if it is me, but it seemed like the forwards couldn't get out of the zone to speak of tonight. Plenty of clean breakout passes died at our own blueline. Like the third in Dallas, but Flames were up one instead of down.
Also, seems like no one wants to go to the net with the puck. Everyone is curling away or dishing off.
Tough to watch from a team that is typically entertaining to watch.

The whole team is just out of whack. The defence has been doing a really good job of skating the puck out of the defensive zone to make a good breakout pass all year. Lately, there's been a lot of "panic" plays where the forward or defenceman just blindly bang the puck of the boards/glass and out.

[blender]

Originally Posted by dammage79

The problem now is, the Flames absolutely cannot afford to lay an easter egg for either the ARZ game or EDM game. They HAVE to nail down those four points or it's over IMO. Besides if you can't beat them you really didn't earn a playoff spot anyways. All the Blues game was going to do was allow the Flames a little room for error walking into these next couple of games.

I agree, but I'm not too worried. One thing about this team is that seem to be able to take care of business against the weaker teams. They are good at execution; just their game isn't enough against certain top-tier squads.
They play an honest game.

[GioforPM]

Bollig probably cost them a fair bit. Gaudreau and Raymond had to sub in regularly, which is tiring.

[skcli]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Not even slightly bothered by anything that happened tonight, bar the goal by Monahan.

The Blues dominate us each and every time we play them. We did better tonight than we did in the previous 2, was close in terms of the score for most of the game. Not bothered by the play of Raymond, Backlund, Colborne etc. Perfect chance for them to get their offensive confidence back in the next 2. Hopefully the entire team can get zoned in and really get their tails up in time for the Kings game, which is looking like the do or die game for us.

Move on and get ready to hopefully sweep the Oilers series on Saturday.

Did you watch how the Blues scored the first goal on us?

[TheFlamesVan]

Originally Posted by FireItUp

Bennet in Raymond out, nothing else to see here.

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Thought Raymond played well, get Colborne out

Bollig...

[Hockey_Ninja]

Why do the Oilers have to be so ####ing bad?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Why do the Oilers have to be so ####ing bad?

Do you really have to ask given the last 9 years of evidence?

[dieHARDflameZ]

I know this game wasn't one we were favoured to win especially with the way the Blues seem to have our number, but I'm going to say a few things I need to get off my chest...

That first goal Hiller let in should not happen. By no means am I blaming the game on him, but letting in that goal, that early in the game is deflating. He's honestly let in virtually one bad goal every game he's played in over the past two months. I will say though tonight he rebounded very well and made some quality saves to keep this one from completely getting away from the Flames.

There were a bunch of passengers tonight, but I couldn't help but notice a few individuals in particular: Joe Colborne and Mason Raymond were atrocious. Honestly I'm at a loss of words as to why Raymond continues to get spoon fed power play minutes. Those guys need to elevate their games and quickly because we have all seen what they're capable of and if they could get back to those levels, it would be a huge positive.

I'm a big Backlund fan but he is as soft as butter. He shy's away from contact so easily. I just want to see him stop playing scared and start taking a hit to make a play occasionally... It's so frustrating to watch because I think he is capable of so much more.

In regards to bringing Bennett back up to the big club I am on the fence. I'm worried it could cause some issues with team chemistry, but after seeing some of the efforts out there tonight maybe injecting his energy into the lineup would be a huge boost. Either way, I trust whatever decision the team makes.

The Flames better be ready to go on Saturday because that is a huge trap game. Despite the fact the Oilers are looking like a steaming pile tonight, you better believe they will be ready to go on Saturday and would love nothing more then to put a dent in Calgary's playoff dreams.

[puffnstuff]

Berglund should be getting a call from the league about his embellishment on the Colborne penalty. Joe gets his stick on his left foot...but then Berglunds right foot somehow flies up off the ice...and down he goes.

[C-ero]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Granlund-Bennett-Jooris
Ferland-Stajan-Shore

Please Bob.