[GDT] Flames at Leafs - Does anyone care?

[btimbit]

I actually really like those lines

[JohnnyB]

I'm kind if glad that at least this particularly discouraging period for the Flames is happening while I'm busy. They're making it a lot easier to just ignore the game.

Hoping they win, but likely won't watch. Kind of expecting the McDavid beat down to be quickly followed by a Matthews and Marner beat down. By the sounds of commentary from last game, sounds like there might be competition to see who can dummy the Flames in more embarrassing fashion.

The Flames are certainly an easy target right now.

[genetic_phreek]

Originally Posted by blender

That 3rd pairing is scary. I'm glad Kylington draws in, but Ward better work hard to keep them away from Matthews line

how much more scary could it be from Valimaki/Nesterov and Valimaki/Mackey?

I think it's about damn time we see what we have for better or for worse. Gio is declining and it would be much better if we can balance out the time on ice for the D instead of rolling through 5.

[madmike]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Kylington finally getting a look

He deserves it. Nesterov in my opinion has looked pretty awful. The 3d pairing is killing the Flames at the moment. Despite limited minutes and easier matchups, both Valimaki and Nesterov are on the ice for a ton of goals against.

[SportsJunky]

No Thornton, Hyman or Muzzin tonight for Toronto.

[calumniate]

Puppet Guy for head coach!

[Burning Beard]

Macho0978 reminded me in another thread that they were in a similar situation standing and play wise and then the 9-1 drubbing from the Pens pushed them to play their way to first in the Conference a couple of years ago so I'll keep it positive and hope for that.

Usually these 5pm games are tough as I am grabbing a 4 year old from daycare and getting him fed and ready for bed but for once I am stoked to just be able to have the game on in the background.

[Always Earned Never Given]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Jake Muzzin not playing tonight apparently

Probably did it on purpose to stop that shot with his face not to play Chucky!

[old-fart]

Will always watch the game (if I can) so will be watching... just might need more beer to handle the view.

I predict the Flames will start the first period well, and will look like an actual NHL team for the first 2 or 3 minutes... then someone will make a lazy or stupid play attempting to stick handle through 3 Leafs and turn the puck over at the blueline, leading to an odd man rush that ends up in our net. From that point on, the Leafs will dominate the first and, depending on Markstrom's night, we'll head into the second period down by multiple goals.

The second will start off well again for the Flames, but someone will take a stupid penalty in the neutral or offensive zone that has zero impact on the play, but will lead to a momentum killing Leaf's PP, which will likely end up in our net and the Leafs will go on to dominate the Flames for the rest of the period.

The third will start out even as the Flames will already be well out of the game and the Leafs will be saving their energy for the next game, and everyone will be bored to tears before the mid way point as both teams skate around trying to make sure they don't accidentally bump into anyone.

Over/Under Questions
Flames - 5 shots in the first period? 20 shots overall?
Flames - 2 goals?
Leafs - 5 goals?
Flames - 15 hits?
Flames - 50 shots high and/or wide?

Not much hope for this one unless Markstrom turns God-mode back on.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

Lines are about as good as we can get them

https://twitter.com/user/status/1363892309234831361

It would be nice if they would put their first line RW, Elias Lindholm, on the first line but since they are not going to do that those lines are about as good as one could hope for.

Sure hope they win, this season has been a bad one to live in Ontario surrounded by Leafs fans. They are (accurately) pointing out how hard it is to determine whether the Leafs are actually this good this year or whether they just get to play crappy teams each night. Either way it has gone from competitive trash talk in the first series between the Flames and Leafs to the type of comments our WhatsApp group reserves for Sens fans.

[Robbob]

New winning streak starts tonight.

[kermitology]

Matthews feasts as the Leafs blow out the Flames 8-2.

4-0 after the first 10 minutes.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Jake Muzzin not playing tonight apparently

Didn’t notice him getting hurt the other game - in fact he was pretty vigourous against Anderson.

[FBI]

It's my birthday today but I'm hating the flames lately so tough to be motivated / excited.. I'll watch it a few hours after the fact IF they gave it some effort..

4-2 flames (yeah right) 2 goals Bennett, 2 goals Kylington

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by madmike

He deserves it. Nesterov in my opinion has looked pretty awful. The 3d pairing is killing the Flames at the moment. Despite limited minutes and easier matchups, both Valimaki and Nesterov are on the ice for a ton of goals against.

Hard to say he deserves it when he hasn’t played, unless you’ve seen him in practice. I think you’re saying Nesterov and Mackey don’t deserve it, which I’m not sure I agree with, but it’s arguable at least.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

Lines are about as good as we can get them

https://twitter.com/user/status/1363892309234831361

Swap Dube and Bennett and they look great to me.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

how much more scary could it be from Valimaki/Nesterov and Valimaki/Mackey?

I think it's about damn time we see what we have for better or for worse. Gio is declining and it would be much better if we can balance out the time on ice for the D instead of rolling through 5.

Really, since Kylington has more recent NHL experience than any of those guys, it can’t be scarier. Last time Nesterov held down an NHL job before this year, Matthews was an 18 year old rookie, albeit with 40 goals.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Swap Dube and Bennett and they look great to me.

Why won’t they try this? Dube is perfect for that line. Faster, better on D, uses his linemates, has a good shot. They are both high energy and a little penalty prone.

[getbak]

Kylington in?

Everything's going to be O. K.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

Ugly 1-goal win to get the team back on track. Leivo gets his first as a Flame.