I thought Hamilton had a great game. In spite of a bit of sluggishness on the lucky bounce that was the tying goal. Seems like he's been stepping up and pinching more, picking off passes and playing more physical. And getting involved offensively. Much like.
Actually I've noticed all of our D stepping up more at the blue line and in the neutral zone. Flames play far more effectively when they do this IMO.
Wotherspoon has been pretty good, but still gets burned wide sometimes and I think has some confidence issues with the puck. That'll come. I wasn't high on him before the call up but he's performed admirably.
Kevin and Nak, great bottom pairing. Solid both ends of the ice and most importantly both can skate.
Good effort tonight all around! Monahan had a great game as well as obviously Gaudreau. He seemed like he had more snarl than usual.
Happy to see Backlund playing well. He's making a difference out there night after night.
Well, just got home and Johnny was worth the ticket price alone. What a treat to watch. Went and bought my wife a Johnny jersey in the first intermission
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Every time I see someone say OMG in random conversation, I can't help but think how awesome adding Okposo to the Monahan-Gaudreau would be.
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@PR_NHL
The @NHLFlames are the first team to feature four players each with 50+ points within their first 45 games of a season since the Penguins in 1995-96 (Ron Francis, Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Tomas Sandstrom).
Fuzz - "He didn't speak to the media before the election, either."
Agreed - still early days but very encouraging what we are seeing from both Kevin and Nak. Could this be our #5 and #6 pairing for next season? We would then have Wideman and Hamilton as our second pair with Wotherspoon and Engelland as floaters.
Unless Treliving can work some magic and somehow deal Wideman this off season and find a better guy to play with Hamilton. Maybe Kevin could even move up to the # 4 slot by next year?
Agreed - still early days but very encouraging what we are seeing from both Kevin and Nak. Could this be our #5 and #6 pairing for next season? We would then have Wideman and Hamilton as our second pair with Wotherspoon and Engelland as floaters.
Unless Treliving can work some magic and somehow deal Wideman this off season and find a better guy to play with Hamilton. Maybe Kevin could even move up to the # 4 slot by next year?
There's no doubt in my mind you can trade Wideman. He's having an off year, but that doesn't take away from his offensive prowess.
Quote:
Originally Posted by polak
Sign Nakladal
I hope they sign Nakladal. He'll be an NHLer next year, and it better be with the Flames.
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I can sleep well at night knowing Jokipakka and Nakladal make older vets expendable . Seriously, Jokipakka has opened my eyes even more than they were before (was a fan since he made the team out of nowhere in Dallas out of camp) . The guy is legit good. Everything Wotherspoon can be and should aspire to be. I cannot believe how stable the D corps has become since the trade deadline. There's a really nice balance going on right now.
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Nakladal and Jokipakka are really doing a nice job on the backend.
I focused on Wotherspoon tonight and he really played a solid game. His confidence has grown so much. He was physical, he was pinching at good times, making good first passes, and rubbed several guys off pucks. Absolutely he is an NHL defenseman at this point.
Ferland made lots happen again. He just needs to get a couple goals and then the points should start coming more regularly.
Giordano was fantastic. Backlund had another strong game.
And Ortio looks better every game.
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Nakladal, Jokipakka and Wotherspoon actually make a really solid bottom 3. They all have size, they all play physically, they can all make a good first pass.
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- Hathaway is amazing. His presence on the ice was felt every shift. In a very good way. Loved his energy
- Gio was unreal last night. An absolute return to the top notch Gio we've come to expect
- Ortio was rock solid again. And not only do the players seem to play better in front of him, but the crowd (myself included) seemed less ... anxious when the puck was in the Flames zone.
- Johnny F^&ing Hockey. That first goal we were all screaming at the ref that it was in even as he waved it off. Dipspit Zebra. And his OT pass THROUGH Weber? Magic. Pure mystical forces there.
- The Zebras seemed less against the Flames than the usual norm lately. Yeah yeah I know there isn't an actual conspiracy against the Flames, but lately it sure felt like it. Not so much last night. It felt very even handed in the calls.
- I missed Dome Foams. Damn they were delicious.
- Section 224 Row 4 has fantastic sight lines. Would sit there again A++++
Saw the first two by Johnny then had a power outage (we're on Van Island) for most of the rest of the game. Power came back during the third so also got to see the OT. The two goals against were disappointing - looks like the Flames stopped up a bit and let NSH take over, but by then it was hard for us to develop context. Sounds like it was a good affair all around though. That's a developmental thing; to get a lead and hold it against a rising tide of attack.
Not sure what happened to Bennett and Brodie, but hope they're OK.
