[GDT] Flames vs Sens 5:30. Flames hoping to play something resembling NHL Hockey

[Otto-matic]

Rog
It is clear to me after this am's skate in Ottawa, tonight's game has created a unique temperament for #Flames combo of anger and perplexity

I hope they are pissed off, they blew a massive stretch of games that really could have helped them in the standings. Our big boys really need to step it up if they want to earn the money given to them.

[Benched]

so we're either going to bust out for 5 goals....

or remain impotent and get 0-1...

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I'll say 7-1 Sens.

I have zero faith in the team and they are not fun to watch at all. Love to be proven wrong, but until I see some players going through the wall to make plays and stand up for teammates I'll continue to be pessimistic.

[Dr. Doom]

I think we get cream corned tonight

Frustration and anger seems to make this team worse somehow bunch of wussies

[flames_fan_down_under]

I honestly don't think we are going to see anything different from this team tonight. GG cannot go soon enough.

[Kovaz]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

The Bouma-Stajan-Ferland line is basically a line of players soon to be out of the NHL and is also staggeringly over-paid. Stajan is passable as an NHL player but even that is a stretch and I wouldn't care so much about a fourth line if it wasn't for the fact their collective cap hit is ~5.5 million dollars.

Anyways it's a new game. Time to put the agony of the last few games behind them. WIN!!!!

Not sure I understand this. Head-to-head against the Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik line, Bouma-Stajan-Ferland starts in the D-zone more often, wins 5% more faceoffs, and allows fewer shot attempts/shots/scoring chances any way you slice it. In fact, when you compare Stajan to Kopitar, Toews, and Kesler he's got easily better defensive stats with more difficult deployment, and he's neck-and-neck with Bergeron (identical expected goals against, fewer shots against, more shot attempts against).

Of all the players to complain about this year, Stajan deserves to be right at the bottom of the list with the 3M line.

[Burner]

i say - start the 4th line.....

[bob-loblaw]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Who's starting in net for us?

It doesn't matter. Put in Cameron.

[flamesfan55]

I am going with a 4-2 Flames win. Bennett and Jonny standing out tonight.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Kovaz

Not sure I understand this. Head-to-head against the Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik line, Bouma-Stajan-Ferland starts in the D-zone more often, wins 5% more faceoffs, and allows fewer shot attempts/shots/scoring chances any way you slice it. In fact, when you compare Stajan to Kopitar, Toews, and Kesler he's got easily better defensive stats with more difficult deployment, and he's neck-and-neck with Bergeron (identical expected goals against, fewer shots against, more shot attempts against).

Of all the players to complain about this year, Stajan deserves to be right at the bottom of the list with the 3M line.

My gripe is more with the entire 4th line taking up almost 6 million dollars of cap space. And of course the 4th line gets more D-zone starts, they're the fourth line, GG is a bad coach but he knows enough to not give your 4th line starts in the offensive zone.

[btimbit]

Hate Chaisson with Backlund but love Frolic with Monahan

[ComixZone]

Offence will wake up a bit, but the team will still lose a game where Gulutzan/Gio both get to say "We did a lot of things right, just lost a close game. If we play like that every night, we'll be okay - it was a close game right up until the end".

Flames lose 5-2.

Flames out-shoot Ottawa 44 - 23.

[Kovaz]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

My gripe is more with the entire 4th line taking up almost 6 million dollars of cap space. And of course the 4th line gets more D-zone starts, they're the fourth line, GG is a bad coach but he knows enough to not give your 4th line starts in the offensive zone.

And my point is that $6M 4th line that takes a ton of tough starts and puts up great defensive numbers is not that big of a deal. If they weren't effective, sure, but they're doing their part and doing it well. Honestly, subtract Bouma and replace him with Hathaway, and for $5M I'm happy with a line that can eat 12-15 minutes night in and night out and get under the opposition's skin without being a liability defensively, let alone be a great shutdown line.

[REDVAN]

I think it's Backlund and Frolik that have good chemistry and this year it's just been a bonus that Thachuk has fit in. So I think this line juggle will be a mistake.

But I did like the suggestion some made of

Thachuk - Monahan - (ANYONE BUT Chaisson): I feel like Monahan could use a pest on this wing right now to get some emotion back. Not that he's been bad, but he really seems checked-out.

Gaudreau - Backlund - Frolik as a second unit, try it out for a while...

And move Brodie to the right with Gio. Just sayin'

[MisterJoji]

If he's going to experiment with the forwards, why not the defense? Brodie needs to play the side he's most comfortable on, and sit Wideman for a game.

Gio - Hamilton
Kulak - Brodie
Jokipakka - Engelland

[TheScorpion]

I'm going to predict a 12-8 finish.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Kovaz

And my point is that $6M 4th line that takes a ton of tough starts and puts up great defensive numbers is not that big of a deal. If they weren't effective, sure, but they're doing their part and doing it well. Honestly, subtract Bouma and replace him with Hathaway, and for $5M I'm happy with a line that can eat 12-15 minutes night in and night out and get under the opposition's skin without being a liability defensively, let alone be a great shutdown line.

Fair enough, we really see things differently. I see it as a misallocation of resources, you see 12-15 minutes, I see 10-12 minutes of three players who collectively have 2 POINTS in their last ten games, 100 minutes of ice time in the National Hockey League with 2 points. Make sure you point out the moments when they're under the oppositions skin tonight. I'm sure McDavid and co. were really rattled when that line was a collective -6.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I think it's Backlund and Frolik that have good chemistry and this year it's just been a bonus that Thachuk has fit in. So I think this line juggle will be a mistake.

But I did like the suggestion some made of

Thachuk - Monahan - (ANYONE BUT Chaisson): I feel like Monahan could use a pest on this wing right now to get some emotion back. Not that he's been bad, but he really seems checked-out.

Gaudreau - Backlund - Frolik as a second unit, try it out for a while...

And move Brodie to the right with Gio. Just sayin'

Don't disagree that Backlund and Frolik complement each other very well, but Tkachuk has definitely made his teammates better. Remember the pre-season when Tkachuk-Bennett-Brouwer looked so promising?

I think Tkachuk-Monahan-Gaudreau has potential -- put Johnny on his off-wing in transition and let Monahan and Tkachuk work below the dots.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Burner

i say - start the 4th line.....

Line brawl off the opening face-off? Try to ignite some Hartley-Canucks magic?

[D as in David]

I hate to say it but I foresee one or two goals against after the first five shots on net.