[PGT] Flames lose to the Blues 4-1

[gvitaly]

For me this game was full of suck! but that's usually what happens when we play the Blues. I stopped watching after the terrible PP when we were down 4-0 towards the end of the 2nd. I did notice a few things though...

The special teams being a huge vulnerability of the Flames, really contributed to taking the edge out of some of our tough guys. It is a well deserved loss, but the refs themselves didn't help. The refs chose to close their eyes when Colborne's line was getting bullied. I still can't believe the refs missed the obvious dangerous cross-checks both against Colborne and Glencross right next to the boards. On the other side, the Flames decided to return the favor with Bollig and Engelland and were rewarded with a PK for cross checking. The refs essentially defanged all of our TRUCULENCE with a few penalties.

Hiller is a good goalie, I have no doubt in that... He just seems to lack those game changing saves, the ones that can change the entire game. I see him a little bit as the Bouwmeester of goalies. He is missing the wow factor and even with great play he sometimes leaves something to be desired.

Finally, I am still not entirely sure what was the Flames game plan coming into this game? and once they found out the plan wasn't working, why didn't they try a different plan? I do know the effort was there, but games against the Blues just always frustrate me. Perhaps it is because the Flames offense is built on capitalizing on mistakes(and the Blues don't make many of those) more than generating chances.

Anyways, bad games happen... it is still WAY too early to criticise either the players or the coach. I just hope they make the best out of a bad game and learn from it. Puck possession, special teams, and shots on goal still leave a lot to work on. Its good there are at least 79 more games to improve this season!

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Scoring chances last game: http://flamesnation.ca/2014/10/11/post-game-out-gunned

Wideman: +6 -12
Smid: +5 -15
Engelland: +0 -9

Monahan: +2 -8

Gaudreau: +2 -2

Brodie: +6 -3
Giordano: +6 -2

That's so telling of what is wrong with the team (not that I'm expecting more)

More Gaudreau!

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Scoring chances last game: http://flamesnation.ca/2014/10/11/post-game-out-gunned

Wideman: +6 -12
Smid: +5 -15
Engelland: +0 -9

Monahan: +2 -8

Gaudreau: +2 -2

Brodie: +6 -3
Giordano: +6 -2

What does this mean?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

What does this mean?

The flames had 6 scoring chances for while Wideman was on the ice, and 12 against

[Ashasx]

Those are also ES numbers

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Those are also ES numbers

Thanks for clarifying. I was wondering if it was special teams as well.

Those numbers just go to show you how great that Brodie/Gio pairing is.

[Meers]

We're not in Edmonton any more, Toto.

Not much of a chance in this game from the first minute on. It really shows the disparity of talent between the Flames and the contenders in 2014-15.

The Blues last season were a very good team. The addition of Stastny possibly makes them a great team. Their only real question mark is in net.

Realistically, for the Flames to beat this Missouri squad we'll need to get all the bounces, mos of the calls and lights out goaltending.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Meers

We're not in Edmonton any more, Toto.

Not much of a chance in this game from the first minute on. It really shows the disparity of talent between the Flames and the contenders in 2014-15.

The Blues last season were a very good team. The addition of Stastny possibly makes them a great team. Their only real question mark is in net.

Realistically, for the Flames to beat this Missouri squad we'll need to get all the bounces, mos of the calls and lights out goaltending.

The team needs to get stronger, faster and probably a bit bigger to be a contender.

It was really disappointing to watch this game last night, but the result was to be expected. At least we're losing the games we are expecting to lose and spanking the Oilers. Dulls the pain a bit...

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

That's so telling of what is wrong with the team (not that I'm expecting more)

More Gaudreau!

Especially on the PP, the only time it was remotely dangerous is when he was on the ice, Raymond and Glenx should not get 2X the PP time..period.

[AcGold]

I'm thinking flu symptoms are going all around. Yes they looked bad but it's not Hartley hockey, even getting beat they usually put up a decent fight and the first 3 games of the season they've looked sick. Atleast that's what I'm hoping, they aren't outworking their opposition and most games they do. Half the team seems to be having trouble even skating, the passes are incredibly sloppy and it just seems like they are way off their game. Also, Ramo is obviously the better goalie and will get the starter spot in less than 2 or 3 weeks unless he gets sick. Hiller is decent but Ramo tracks the puck in traffic way better.

[Gaskal]

Who's our PK units? I'd do PK1 as Brodie - Gio - Backlund - Bouma and PK2 as Russell - Engelland - Stajan - Byron.

[dammage79]

Missing the guy who stirs the cool-aid in Hudler was definitely noticeable last night.

The D needs work. Hopefully Wotherspoon gets up to speed quickly and he gets called up. I really feel he's going to be a key contributor for the team this year. Add a potential Larsson to the mix and I can handle the defensive lapses that coincide with growing pains.

Watching Wideman train wreck through the first few games has been so tough to watch for me as I am a fan and supporter of his. At least with Diaz he's not noticable either way. Stick with Diaz for the time being.

I feel this roster will take some time to gel but will become stronger as the season progresses. Just going to be tough to watch until game 15 or 16. Goaltending no matter who is in net won't be the problem.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Feels like the team needs to use gaudreau more effectively. More minutes so he doesn't lose a feel for the puck. Not saying he needs to be given minutes without merit. I figure he showed that when the offense is allowed to run through him he produces.

Plus need to start looking for him on the breakout. It's frustrating to watch him wide open with speed moving through the neutral zone and other guys just look him off and dump it.

I strongly disagree with suggestions that he should be sent down. If anything, guys need to be brought up to join him.

How many minutes a game is Gaudreau getting? Seems about 6 to 7 minutes? I don't think that serves him well and it is not like everybody else is playing so much better than him.

I would like to see him used like Monohan was last year. I think Burke said that if the kid stays up, he has to play at least 13 to 15 minutes a game?

Give him some minutes, some time on even strength, power play etc, see what happens.

[ah123]

Originally Posted by redforever

How many minutes a game is Gaudreau getting?

TOI (from the Flames website) for Gaudreau is about 12 mins a game

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by redforever

How many minutes a game is Gaudreau getting? Seems about 6 to 7 minutes? I don't think that serves him well and it is not like everybody else is playing so much better than him.

I would like to see him used like Monohan was last year. I think Burke said that if the kid stays up, he has to play at least 13 to 15 minutes a game?

Give him some minutes, some time on even strength, power play etc, see what happens.

That is exactly what Hartley is doing with Gaudreau.

Originally Posted by ah123

TOI (from the Flames website) for Gaudreau is about 12 mins a game

By way of comparison, Monahan played 11:40, 13:20, 13:42 in his first three games respectively. Gaudreau has played 16:04, 12:54, and 12:22 (No surprise that he logged the most minutes at the Dome).

I think that part of the problem is not that he is not playing enough, but rather that he has not been overly visible the past two games. (Not that he has been invisible either. I didn't see the Edmonton game, but thought he did some very good things in St. Louis.) We should not be at all surprised if he takes some time to adjust to NHL skill and speed, but I do believe that he will get there, and will likely be one of the team's best players by mid season. But this is pretty typical for him. Gaudreau was pretty quiet when he started his college career at BC, and then started to tear up the League by Nov/Dec in his freshman season. He will probably start to be more noticeable as time goes.

He'll be fine.

[DeluxeMoustache]

While he hasn't been dazzling (and successful) offensively, he has not been a liability defensively. In fact he has had some nice takeaways and great hustle defensively when the offense doesn't go his way. I agree. Patience.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

That is exactly what Hartley is doing with Gaudreau.


By way of comparison, Monahan played 11:40, 13:20, 13:42 in his first three games respectively. Gaudreau has played 16:04, 12:54, and 12:22 (No surprise that he logged the most minutes at the Dome).

I think that part of the problem is not that he is not playing enough, but rather that he has not been overly visible the past two games. (Not that he has been invisible either. I didn't see the Edmonton game, but thought he did some very good things in St. Louis.) We should not be at all surprised if he takes some time to adjust to NHL skill and speed, but I do believe that he will get there, and will likely be one of the team's best players by mid season. But this is pretty typical for him. Gaudreau was pretty quiet when he started his college career at BC, and then started to tear up the League by Nov/Dec in his freshman season. He will probably start to be more noticeable as time goes.

He'll be fine.

Ok, thx.

It just seemed that he was getting half those minutes. If those are the minutes he is getting, I am fine with how he is being used.

[cannon7]

So glad we re-acquired Byron off free agency. Feaster might have had a good read on this guy after all. Byron has just picked up where he left off last season. If he can keep this up, we have a solid second line winger that we almost gave away.

I would like to see Gaudreau get PP time before he is sent down. I think a goal would do wonders for him, he's visibly overwhelmed and now finds himself routinely on the fourth line . It certainly couldn't hurt our PP at this point. If his play doesn't pick up, I can see him getting swapped for Baertschi.

[cannon7]

I have to agree with those who say our D is a problem. After the Brodie and Giordano pairing, our defense falls apart. Russell looks good, but he's hobbled by Engelland or Smid or whoever Hartley is pairing with him next. Clearly Hartley knows it's a problem because he's juggling that second and third pairing almost every shift. We really really overpaid for Engelland.

[Street Pharmacist]

Smid is just awful. He blocks shots and lays his body on the line, but can't make a pass to save his life and gets near way too often