[PGT] Avs 3 Flames 2 on the brink

[NewFan]

I hope Peter is a smart coach and is learning from these playoff games too. I think he should change line ups and his player usage at least a little bit to help to overall team defense. Last night Bennett played less, and Neal was on ice on an important moments. If Bennett and Jankowski played with another player not named Neal and spent at least 2-3 minutes in O-zone, we may won the game. 1st line is completely hammered in own zone, but still getting d-zone starts. Other coach had easy time to send his guys because Flames played same game last 3 games. He knows who is the weak link in our lines and working on it. But Peter didn't.

[Toonage]

Peters is no fool. I agree with people who suggest that he's being told certain players have to see the ice. Well, Neal. I mean Neal.

But now that its 3-1, he may just be told to go with what he wants. Let er rip.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Monahan lacks qualities you want in your #1 centre to be sure, and he has physical limitations on what he can do on the ice in terms of his speed. However, when Gaudreau is routinely giving away pucks in transition and within 10 feet of the blueline, that is going to make a guy lacking in speed look MUCH MUCH worse than he is.

IMO the problem right now is that Gaudreau's negative energy is a black cloud over the whole team and his linemates could be Francis and Iginla and he'd be making them look bad with his ####ty passes and horrific turnovers, because those other guys are never allowed to handle the puck.

Gaudreau is playing really poorly to be sure. But to say that Monahan isn't allowed to handle the puck is letting him off the hook. I can't recall the last time I saw Monahan even be remotely capable of handling the puck, gaining the offensive zone, and creating some openings with it. Johnny's doing it because he's the one who most often can. The play would die on Monahan's stick if he was "allowed" to handle the puck. Also, he's not a rookie anymore and should be a leader on the team -- if he wants to handle the puck he should do it, and do something good with it.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by NewFan

I hope Peter is a smart coach and is learning from these playoff games too. I think he should change line ups and his player usage at least a little bit to help to overall team defense. Last night Bennett played less, and Neal was on ice on an important moments. If Bennett and Jankowski played with another player not named Neal and spent at least 2-3 minutes in O-zone, we may won the game. 1st line is completely hammered in own zone, but still getting d-zone starts. Other coach had easy time to send his guys because Flames played same game last 3 games. He knows who is the weak link in our lines and working on it. But Peter didn't.

Jankowski has been terrible too IMO and is just as big an issue on that line as Neal. Both of them would be out of the line up for Game 5 if I was coaching, Dube and Czarnik would come in.

[NewFan]

And, we need a good hard working C who can drive own line. This summer BT need to use Brodie, Jankowski, 1st, Stone or even some off Dube, Mange or Kylington to find a good and big C with a acceptable cap.

[Reign of Fire]

Just watched the highlight of the Backlund chance in OT, he needed roof that shot. I remember the Gio blast when Frolik had a better shot. Gaudreau shot when 9/10 times, he would've noticed Monohan had better look. So many missed opportunities. They need to go back to playing their game. At this point it seems avalanche are in their heads.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Reign of Fire

Just watched the highlight of the Backlund chance in OT, he needed roof that shot. I remember the Gio blast when Frolik had a better shot. Gaudreau shot when 9/10 times, he would've noticed Monohan had better look. So many missed opportunities. They need to go back to playing their game. At this point it seems avalanche are in their heads.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

Opposite of what David Moss did in Game 6 vs Detroit.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by NewFan

And, we need a good hard working C who can drive own line. This summer BT need to use Brodie, Jankowski, 1st, Stone or even some off Dube, Mange or Kylington to find a good and big C with a acceptable cap.

Those are good assets and I do think Treliving has the ability to make some interesting moves this summer.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I said this in the other thread as well.

Gaudreau for Hall makes too much sense if the Flames go down this route. Unless the Devils know for sure that he is going to re-sign, why not send both star players to their hometowns.

sounds like you're willing to trade Gaudreau for one year of Hall.
why oh why would you do that?
and if you did, you'd better be prepared to pay Hall over 10M per year.

[zamler]

Smith is putting on a rare set of performances it will likely be a long time before we see a goalie play at this level. Crying shame the Flames are WASTING such stellar goaltending.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by zamler

Smith is putting on a rare set of performances it will likely be a long time before we see a goalie play at this level. Crying shame the Flames are WASTING such stellar goaltending.

couldn't agree more.

That's what is so disheartening from this.

Even just a medium showing from the Flames roster with this goaltending should be enough to win the series in 5 or 6 games.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

couldn't agree more.

That's what is so disheartening from this.

Even just a medium showing from the Flames roster with this goaltending should be enough to win the series in 5 or 6 games.

And we were saying the reverse of this all year long.

[Otto-matic]

Smith is giving the Flames the cup winning goal tending we all were worried about having in the regular season. He seems to be the only one that flipped the switch post all-star break.

[ComixZone]

For game 5, I'd be trying to force players to get in the game through line changes:

Gaudreau - Bennett - Lindholm
Gaudreau and Bennett have shown an ability to play together with pace. Bennett is our best forward in this series, and has earned this. Let the boy dig in. Lindholm has been our 2nd best forward in my eyes. Bennett and Lindholm can play with pace and dig/grind it out.

Tkachuk - Ryan - Neal
Ryan is our 3rd best forward this series in my eyes. I'd put him between Tkachuk and Neal, while telling Tkachuk and Neal to get greasy.

Mangiapane - Monahan - Hathaway
Simplify the game for Monahan. Start skating, our you're going to be embarrassed by Mangiapane and Hathaway's worth ethic.

Frolik - Backlund - Czarnik
Czarnik would add some speed, and hopefully Frolik's experience mixed with Backlund wanting to redeem himself could help us drive another solid line.

Giordano - Brodie
Hanifin - Hamonic
Valimaki - Andersson

The only change I'd entertain on the back-end would be bringing Brodie out, moving Andersson up, and sliding Kylington into the line-up. I don't like that Peters has, for some reason, completely forgot that Kylington played 38 friggin' games this season and played them pretty damn well. He can help bring pace back to our game.

Smith

No goalie change. Smith has been excellent.


...or go in with the exact same lines, which to me would be a mistake because they flat out having been executing to their fullest potential for a few months now.

[3rd liner]

Just shows the importance of being 'hot' going into the playoffs. Avs had to battle to get in there at the end and were in 'intense' mode coming in. Once we clinched, we didn't have to battle, and weren't playing that well anyway for the last month. Despite finishing 1st, we went into playoffs cold, they went in hot.
I think of the 03/04 flames who got hot at the right time and made a huge run, despite finishing 6th in the conference and not being as talented on paper. It also helps that the 03/04 flames were built for the playoffs- grit and determination.

[NewFan]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Jankowski has been terrible too IMO and is just as big an issue on that line as Neal. Both of them would be out of the line up for Game 5 if I was coaching, Dube and Czarnik would come in.

I would put Jankowski, with Lindholm and Gaudreau. And tell him and Lindholm to play like PK, Just shut down the other team and when they have a chance go for breakaway. Monahan with Bennett and Frolik. Tkachuk -Backlund with a fast guy, Czar or Dube.

[Strange Brew]

And while I'm in a blaming mood, Gio has been OK this series I guess. But having the supposed best defenseman in the league should be a difference maker. Maybe the difference is just too much to make up when your other best players are getting owned.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by 3rd liner

Just shows the importance of being 'hot' going into the playoffs. Avs had to battle to get in there at the end and were in 'intense' mode coming in. Once we clinched, we didn't have to battle, and weren't playing that well anyway for the last month. Despite finishing 1st, we went into playoffs cold, they went in hot.
I think of the 03/04 flames who got hot at the right time and made a huge run, despite finishing 6th in the conference and not being as talented on paper. It also helps that the 03/04 flames were built for the playoffs- grit and determination.

Coldest team heading into the playoffs was Vegas, who looks spectacular now.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Coldest team heading into the playoffs was Vegas, who looks spectacular now.

They intentionally kept Fleury out for most of the final stretch. Locked into 3rd. Prior to that they were playing at a decent clip.

Teams like Colorado & Columbus played playoff hockey right up until Game 1 of the actual post season.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Coldest team heading into the playoffs was Vegas, who looks spectacular now.

If we had made the same deadline deals as Vegas we would have won the series by now.