[PGT] Flames 2 Blues 5

[868904]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I'm waiting still for this improved D to soundly shut down an opposing team.

(Anaheim yeah some credit, but they still peppered Smith)

Not saying they won't get there. But it's been a few weeks and I'd like to start to see it.

There is one "shutdown defenseman" on that blueline and that's Hamonic.

Giordano is all around and good but he is saddled in the defensive zone by Hamilton who is not good defensively. There's a reason why the Bruins let a 6'5" offensive defenceman go for magic beans. Watching Hamilton defend versus Parayko and Pietrangelo defend tonight was night and day.

Brodie when he is on is great, but he is prone to brain camps and bad games.

Stone looked better playing with Brodie. He looks like number 5 defenseman this year.

This defense will produce offense but it won't be shutting down anyone. You should lower your expectations for this defense core.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Karl

Yes. It's too bad that's all he has been though. Versteeg meanwhile has looked like hot garbage 5-on-5 since game 3 or 4 of the season.

Plays have died on Versteeg's stick more than any player this year. He hasn't been too hot on the PP either.

[Angelino]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

His opinion should not have sway in the GM's decisions. If so, that's dumb. Don't care who Gulutzan worked with and liked in the past, it doesn't necessarily mean they help you win.

I have no clue on how Treliving goes about his business but I would think he takes Gulutzan's opinion on some of the player acquisitions. Otherwise not sure why they made that trade to bring in Lack when we have some good young goalies in the system.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

They did tonight. Played a great defensive game outside the PK.

I bet the Flames dominated corsi tonight 5 on 5. Don't know how to check. I hope someone posts the stats.

Flames finished at 52%. St. Louis caught up big time in the third.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

You are some kind of obtuse, or delusional.

Tell us what goals Smith wouldn't have saved? Lack let in more questionable goals tonight than Smith has let in all season.

First and third Smith saves easily. Fourth he likely gets as well.

[Travis Munroe]

Tonight was average goaltending..... that good teams can still get into the playoffs with.
We better stop relying on Smith to win games for us. We were a wiffed open net shot away from going 0-2 on this trip. Pointing fingers at Lack is looking for a scapegoat.

Point the finger at
Hamonic for the brutal giveaway on the first goal
Bennett for giving the blues a PP on goal 2
Frolik for giving the blues a PP on goal 3
Hamilton for the pass/turnover to no one down the middle on goal 4

This season will come down to the special teams battle and we are being steam rolled right now. I disagree with Hrudey and Ball who loved the PP. All we did was pass it around and play keep away without a single good scoring chance. Sure it looks nice on TV but I will take half the passing with twice the shots than a full 2 minutes of pretty passing.

[Huntingwhale]

Lack wasn't that bad. Kept the team in it when it was 3-2. Not sure if Smith would have fared any better. But for game 1, it was decent.

The Blues have always been the type of team who shut down the Flames offensively. Not surprised at the result after playing last night and on the road.

But Gaudreau needs to learn to bury those breakaways. For the past couple seasons, he hasn't been able to convert like he did in College. Maybe if he buries that one tonight, the outcome is different.

[Brad Marsh]

Flames beating themselves lately with terrible giveaways and bad penalties. Clean that up and this team could go on a nice run.

[midniteowl]

The Flames dominated in the first, one mistake, it's a tied game. Blues made adjustment after that, started to take it to the Flames. My question is this, why was the Blues able to make adjustment and the Flames couldn't? How many time Gulutzen got out coached? Sigh...that's more frustrating then anything else.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Thanks Realtor 1, it’s nice to see someone with some perspective, a nice honest assessment.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Angelino

I have no clue on how Treliving goes about his business but I would think he takes Gulutzan's opinion on some of the player acquisitions. Otherwise not sure why they made that trade to bring in Lack when we have some good young goalies in the system.

Which is poor judgment on Brad's part IMO.

Gulutzan is not there to evaluate talent. He's not an AGM or scout. He should be talking to the guys in the organization in the appropriate positions.

Not sure how they expect one of these young goalies to break in when they keep opting for middling vets.

[Itse]

I though the team played okay despite the loss. You could tell it was a back to back, lots of guys looked like they were out of steam especially towards the end. They had some chances they couldn't bury. I felt the Flames should have gotten a couple more calls their way.

Lack was fine, if he plays like that he should get some wins for us. Obviously not as good as Smith.

Versteeg had a good game. I think Gulutzan felt though too as he seemed to get rewarded with extra shifts. The whole 4th line started the game pretty well, but started to get buried later in the game.

Monahan looked quiet after he hurt his foot, hope it's not going to bother him later on.

Defensive game was sloppy again, but getting better. Brodie still doing too much, Hamilton not enough, Hamonic especially has been a bit of a hazard with the puck. The team as a whole still seems too eager to attack, cheating on their defensive duties. St. Louis was more disciplined in that sense, and it helped them when the Flames were pressuring.

Still, didn't think it was too bad. Blues are a good home team and they earned their win tonight.

[SuperMatt18]

Special teams have been the killer.

Flames the better team 5v5 the last 3 games.

But if you take too many penalties and can’t score on your PP opportunities you are going to end up losing more than you win.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I can't wait until Brouwer, Stajan, and Versteeg are off this team.

What? That's who Gulutzan has out there in the last 1:30 down two goals (okay Gaudreau was out there instead of Versteeg). Can't believe we didn't make the comeback!

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Lack wasn't that bad. Kept the team in it when it was 3-2. Not sure if Smith would have fared any better. But for game 1, it was decent.

The Blues have always been the type of team who shut down the Flames offensively. Not surprised at the result after playing last night and on the road.

But Gaudreau needs to learn to bury those breakaways. For the past couple seasons, he hasn't been able to convert like he did in College. Maybe if he buries that one tonight, the outcome is different.

Mm yeah. He's got to cut out the backhand between the pads attempts. It's not working any more.

[belsarius]

I don't get it. Why is the fourth line out there down by 2 with only a few minutes left. Second game of the back to back I know the guys are tired but looking at who is the only offense on the team right now you better be only playing lines 1 and 2 to finish it up. That's why there are timeouts (I didn't see the whole game so if it was already used excuse the ignorance).

I could even get behind Janko and Bennett and tossing Johnny out with them but Stajan, Brouwer and Versteeg did an admirable job of wasting almost a full minute and not generating any offense or even usable possession.

Flames played good enough to win, but so did St Louis, sometimes it just doesn't work out for the good guys. On to the next one!

[Angelino]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Which is poor judgment on Brad's part IMO.

Gulutzan is not there to evaluate talent. He's not an AGM or scout. He should be talking to the guys in the organization in the appropriate positions.

I do know Treliving said the following after the Lack pickup "We did a lot of homework on the person as well. (Flames coach Glen Gulutzan) coached him in Vancouver and knows him very well … it's really critical to determine the type of person you're bringing in."

But I agree with you. I would just rather have Rittich or Gillies cutting their teeth as the backup rather than lack personally.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Itse

I though the team played okay despite the loss. You could tell it was a back to back, lots of guys looked like they were out of steam especially towards the end. They had some chances they couldn't bury. I felt the Flames should have gotten a couple more calls their way.

Lack was fine, if he plays like that he should get some wins for us. Obviously not as good as Smith.

Versteeg had a good game. I think Gulutzan felt though too as he seemed to get rewarded with extra shifts. The whole 4th line started the game pretty well, but started to get buried later in the game.

Monahan looked quiet after he hurt his foot, hope it's not going to bother him later on.

Defensive game was sloppy again, but getting better. Brodie still doing too much, Hamilton not enough, Hamonic especially has been a bit of a hazard with the puck. The team as a whole still seems too eager to attack, cheating on their defensive duties. St. Louis was more disciplined in that sense, and it helped them when the Flames were pressuring.

Still, didn't think it was too bad. Blues are a good home team and they earned their win tonight.

No.

Fully disagree with your Versteeg assessment. Versteeg was terrible and quite frankly has been terrible 5-on-5 since about the 4th game of the season. Plays just died on his stick time and again and most of his passes were no good.

He was possibly the worst overall Flame tonight IMO.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Angelino

I do know Treliving said the following after the Lack pickup "We did a lot of homework on the person as well. (Flames coach Glen Gulutzan) coached him in Vancouver and knows him very well … it's really critical to determine the type of person you're bringing in."

But I agree with you. I would just rather have Rittich or Gillies cutting their teeth as the backup rather than lack personally.

Thing is I really don't think the gap between one of our young guys and Lack is great. It's probably pretty slim, and those guys have plenty of upside.

Backup goaltending is not a position where you should be putting much weight on personality. Really, who cares? So what if the guy manning one of your nets in practice for the season and once a dozen games is enthusiastic or not? Use the cheapest option with upside. That would've been Rittich or Gillies. They would've been up for it.

Brad is overall good, but some odd ones every now and then.

[JJFlash]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I thought Lack played great. Only one goal was suspect and be more than made up for it. This guy is a backup and hadn’t had a start since the preseason. Not sure what people expect.

I think Lack was fine, lost his net a few times. Personally, I think Gillies or Rittich could have been just as effective. Allan was brutal but was bailed out throughout the game.