[PGT] St. Pats 6, Flames 2

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

I don't even know what that looks like with this team.

They're anywhere between awful (wolf great!) and ok enough to squeeze points (thanks to wolf!).

When have they curb stomped a team, honestly.

They almost did in Philly

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

The Flames will beat NYR tomorrow and look solid. Then we will all believe again. Then they will continue this cycle to finish 9th.

That’s what I’m predicting. 87 points. The Blues 93.

[Jetfire]

I don't want to hear how Backlund is overrated again. Has he been playing injured and is declining offensively? Yes, absolutely, but this team is a defensive mess and so much worse without him, you're going to see a lot more games like the last few without him where either they fall apart at inopportune times or get outclassed completely by a top team, and while I love Wolf there's only so much he's going to be able to do. They've played their tails off for most of the year and I've enjoyed watching them for the most part, but this isn't a group that can handle the loss of the captain and all year I've thought that short of a Wolf injury, a Backlund or Kadri injury were the next most likely things to sink them.


It's a bit depressing that they rely so heavily on an aging defensive center, and it also highlights how thin they are at that position and that it's the number one thing they need going forward through the rest of this rebuild, no doubt. I hope they can rebound from this and finish the year strong because they've generally worked really hard, but I'm not optimistic at all in that regard. Get well soon Backs.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Turned the game off after the Leafs got the 6th goal. Someone else scored? Cool I guess

Sort of. Bahl shot from the point and it hit 3 sets of shinpads and went in.

So a Flames high skill goal.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

I don't even know what that looks like with this team.

They're anywhere between awful (wolf great!) and ok enough to squeeze points (thanks to wolf!).

When have they curb stomped a team, honestly.

The team is a bunch of hard working over achievers. They are what I thought they would be. They are competitive on most nights. No disappointments on my part.

One of the highlights of this season has been the play of Wolf. He should be up for Calder consideration. Without his stellar play we are not in the race for a playoff spot.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

Totally outmatched. I'm fully on team tank now, pick top ten with our own draft choice and later in the round with NJ's pick.

The Flames are now only two points up on 10th overall pick, 3 on 9th, 5 on 8 and 6 on 7th.

We are 1 point up on the 11th overall pick, although 4 teams are tied or behind us in those spots.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Jetfire

I don't want to hear how Backlund is overrated again. Has he been playing injured and is declining offensively? Yes, absolutely, but this team is a defensive mess and so much worse without him, you're going to see a lot more games like the last few without him where either they fall apart at inopportune times or get outclassed completely by a top team, and while I love Wolf there's only so much he's going to be able to do. They've played their tails off for most of the year and I've enjoyed watching them for the most part, but this isn't a group that can handle the loss of the captain and all year I've thought that short of a Wolf injury, a Backlund or Kadri injury were the next most likely things to sink them.


It's a bit depressing that they rely so heavily on an aging defensive center, and it also highlights how thin they are at that position and that it's the number one thing they need going forward through the rest of this rebuild, no doubt. I hope they can rebound from this and finish the year strong because they've generally worked really hard, but I'm not optimistic at all in that regard. Get well soon Backs.

So you're a big fan of Backlund is what you're saying.

This team was the same with him, consistently falling apart at inopportune times. Get well Backs for sure, but let's not act like they're so much worse without him at this point.

[Manhattanboy]

Not going anywhere with 2 wins in March.

Delusion is reserved for fans of the No Goods.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

The Flames will beat NYR tomorrow and look solid. Then we will all believe again. Then they will continue this cycle to finish 9th.

This is the way

[Jetfire]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

So you're a big fan of Backlund is what you're saying.

This team was the same with him, consistently falling apart at inopportune times. Get well Backs for sure, but let's not act like they're so much worse without him at this point.

If you don't see a defensive difference between the games that he's (been and will be) gone and the majority of the rest of the games they've played this year, I'm not sure what to say. The team earlier in the year was less of a "collapse at inopportune times" team and more one that allowed relatively little, but had such punchless offense that they'd lose anyways. I like Backlund, sure, but all this is more a testament to how weak the forward group is that he's still extremely important, even in the final years of his career.

[madmike]

Makes me sad, but the way this team has played over the last month, I think it’s much more likely they pick in the top 10 than make the playoffs. They’ve really fallen off.

[FireGilbert]

One of the top 3 worst games all year.

Leafs power play goes 5 for 8 against us this year. Guess Savard can run a power play with some actual talent. That Flames PP2 lineup was so sad.

I hate hate hate the offside reviews. Might be the worst part of any sport other than fouling on purpose at the end of basketball games. You get all excited when your team scores only to have the air sucked out of you. Then you get watch 10 minutes of replays trying to zoom and enhance in super slo mo to make a 50/50 call. Just kills any interest in the game.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

One of the top 3 worst games all year.

Leafs power play goes 5 for 8 against us this year. Guess Savard can run a power play with some actual talent. That Flames PP2 lineup was so sad.

I hate hate hate the offside reviews. Might be the worst part of any sport other than fouling on purpose at the end of basketball games. You get all excited when your team scores only to have the air sucked out of you. Then you get watch 10 minutes of replays trying to zoom and enhance in super slo mo to make a 50/50 call. Just kills any interest in the game.

Oh that happened?

Haha that tracks. It's not a Flames game in Toronto without an important goal yoinked.

[CFO]

Sucks Flames chances of playoffs are slipping but it's been a great season as basically the 1st year in a rebuild. In the offseason I expect a couple more older players traded, and next year a couple more young guys on the team.

Guys like zary, coronato etc need to take a step up next season and continue to push.

[1qqaaz]

It seems like the Flames might play Wolf again today, and he tends to be outstanding the next game after stinkers.

[VilleN]

The offside review needs to either be eliminated or revamped. The offside rule is to prevent cherry picking, and force teams to strategically enter the zone - in my opinion it's not a rule of inches, rather a rule that forces teams to play a certain way - the blueline is not the goal line. I think a reasonable compromise would be that the refs are allowed 2 minutes to review the play - if it is inconclusive the call on the ice stays.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

It seems like the Flames might play Wolf again today, and he tends to be outstanding the next game after stinkers.

Thing is, his last game wasn't a stinker,

Goals against will be high, if the Flames allow those type of opportunities

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by flambers

Thing is, his last game wasn't a stinker,

Goals against will be high, if the Flames allow those type of opportunities

Wolf's Goals Saved Above Expected was -1.68. That's well into stinker territory, especially for only 2 periods.

But I do agree that the team was weak, moreso than Wolf. Especially in the first period.

[gvitaly]

How do we fix Legor? He looks totally lost out there, often caught out of position, standing still as the opposing team plays around him. Is he still injured?

He was a much better, more confident player last year. This year all the swagger is gone, and more often than not his lines just end up playing without the puck, and when they get it back they're too tired to do anything more than just dump it in and head off. It really reminds me of how the Bennett - Jankowski line used to play.

Also I have no idea what Frost is worth for his next contract. I see glimpses of excellent offensive instincts, but the consistency of a 3rd line C.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

So you're a big fan of Backlund is what you're saying.

This team was the same with him, consistently falling apart at inopportune times. Get well Backs for sure, but let's not act like they're so much worse without him at this point.

They just are, though.

They've been run over in 2.5 straight games with him out of the lineup.

They can't score. They would likely lose those games anyway if he was playing but the metrics wouldn't suggest they never had a chance.