Defensive pairings, how should we feel.

[killer_carlson]

I really liked having a shutdown pairing who can control possession. It helps settle a game down.

Giordano and Brodie were that pairing.

The only reason I can think of to break that up is to reduce the amount of ice they see through the season so they don't wear down.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I've done a lot of thinking and after seeing some suggestions, I'd love to see the following pairings next game:

Gio - Hamilton
Kulak - Brodie
Joki - Wideman

1. The top pairing I'm honestly not super confident with, but it's got to be better than Gio - Wideman. I mean Gio-Wideman are both known for getting pucks on net so why have them on the same line?

2. The world should not be kept from the greatness that is Brodie's backhand pass. He wants to play the right side, let him play the gosh darn right side. Kulak is mobile, reliable, 2-way defenseman. I just want to see them together, it will be magical.

3. I'm pretty meh on Joki but he's serviceable on the bottom pairing. He's good at getting the puck up ice which will work well paired with Wideman who can hopefully blast it home once Joki gets him in position.

[polak]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I really liked having a shutdown pairing who can control possession. It helps settle a game down.

Giordano and Brodie were that pairing.

The only reason I can think of to break that up is to reduce the amount of ice they see through the season so they don't wear down.

Yes, It also helps the forwards tremendously.

Not playing Gio and Brodie when the game was spiraling out of control seriously shook my confidence in our new coach.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I guarantee you, Elliott did not want to come out.



Gio-Brodie

George-Dougie

Kulak-Engelland

Wideman



Problems solved.

Who the hell is George? Do you mean Kevin?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by neo45

The goalie never does but a good coach knows when. That fourth goal was when

Second.

Two Goals on Two Shots. You are out. Doesn't matter if you're Hasek, Roy, Price, or Lundqvist. Team needs a mental reset.

[indes]

The big problem with having a weak defender on one side is that the other team is going to consistently go to that side. That leaves our best defenders playing back and covering. It takes the offense right out of our offensive defenders.

One pinch that doesn't work and it's going the other way with a slow dman and a forward. It doesn't help anyone to have those slow guys out there. Hopefully it doesn't take too many games of getting burned to switch it up.

[Otto-matic]

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg 8s8 seconds ago
#Flames pairings are: Giordano-Brodie; Hamilton-Jokipakka; Wideman-Engelland; Kulak-Grossmann

[getbak]

From practice this morning...

Kristen Odland ‏@Kristen_Odland

Brodie and Giordano are back.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Brodie and Giordano are back!

[GranteedEV]

I would rejoice if...

Wideman-Engelland wasn't back.

Sigh. That pairing is all kinds of slowful.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Second.

Two Goals on Two Shots. You are out. Doesn't matter if you're Hasek, Roy, Price, or Lundqvist.

You're probably right but if it didn't work, and Johnson lets up five, this place blows up and questions the decision even more.

"Way to show confidence in your new #1 GG!"
"Both our goalies suck!"
"Hiller and Ramo have skinned Elliott and Johnson and are wearing their faces!"
suicide booth, etc, etc...

I honestly think a goalie switch wasn't helping anything last night. The Flames just weren't ready to play and the Oilers were. Grossman instead of Kulak/Jokki didn't help but I think we were destined to lose that one regardless. The top line was disjointed and ineffective, as were the defense. IMO the only players that had good games were Frolik, Backlund, Brouwer, Bennett (sorta) and the 4th line at times.

I'm not sure how much GG's lineup contributed to all that, but they just weren't good enough as a team at the end of the day. I mean Kris Russell was better than 90% of the Flames last night. I don't care who the goalies are, or what the circumstances are... that can't happen, it just can't.

You could really tell that the top line didn't spend a second of training camp together.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg 8s8 seconds ago
#Flames pairings are: Giordano-Brodie; Hamilton-Jokipakka; Wideman-Engelland; Kulak-Grossmann

Well at least we found out the new coach is not stuborn and set on his ways. If this was B. Sutter he would have tried that experiment for another couple of weeks.

Wideman played allright last night, but he is to slow. Him paird with Engelland could be a gong show, especially on the road. I guess it is was it is, because i don't see the flames taking Wideman or Engelland out for Kulak.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg 8s8 seconds ago
#Flames pairings are: Giordano-Brodie; Hamilton-Jokipakka; Wideman-Engelland; Kulak-Grossmann

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Who the hell is George? Do you mean Kevin?

Some guy on Reddit translated Finnish NHL names to English - Jokipakka's translates to George.

Originally Posted by neo45

The goalie never does but a good coach knows when. That fourth goal was when

It's game one. It happens. Keeping Elliott in was the right call. He's your big acquisition, and you expect him to play 60+ games this year. Let him work it out.