[PGT] Final OTL Isles 2 Flames 1 Janko Not Bad

[AC]

I completely agree PepsiFree.

We certainly have some areas of concern, but the improvements are pretty evident I thought. Starting with the 1-0 win in Minnesota and OT win at home vs ARZ the next night.

We're 5-3-1 in that time, with the regulation loss vs Chicago maybe being our best game. That's 66% of our games in that stretch being very good IMO. Without Johnny Gaudreau.

Disappointing collapses vs BUF and PHI make up the other 2, and tonight was a good effort in the last half to tie it up on the final game of a grueling road trip.

We've also seen a huge step forward by Chad Johnson. Elliott has also been much better, but we know he's not getting the run support still. We've only scored 8 goals in Elliott's past 5 games.

Our penalty kill has also been pretty great lately. 29/34 or 85% success rate in our past 10 games, with 3 of those goals against coming in that BUF game alone.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

That's an awful goal to give up. Even if Elliott was tracking the puck, he should have seen it going wide and hugged his post.

He seems to give up a muffin every single game. 3-8-1 is an atrocious record for any goalie, and for a 2-time All-Star... something isn't right.

[calgaryblood]

Flames are definitely getting better in their own zone. They will have an adjustment period to get that Hartley no system pond hockey stank off them but this is how good teams win games.

[FireGilbert]

After reading that Elliot let in a weak one in OT I decided to check out the highlights. It was a freaking tip from a player alone in front! How is that soft?

[sketchyt]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

After reading that Elliot let in a weak one in OT I decided to check out the highlights. It was a freaking tip from a player alone in front! How is that soft?

LOL... totally agree. I was expecting some blue line muffin of a shot that went five hole.

I love the comments about "hugging the post"... total ignorance about the position and sport. The people commenting that was a weak goal are probably the same people who warm up their goalie in beer league by taking clappers on the blue line or try Gordon Bombay triple deke.

EDIT: If anything, that first goal is more on him than the tip IMO. He had a clean look, was too deep initially, didn't get his feet set when he had an opportunity, and then dropped his blocker. I don't expect Ramo or Hiller to make that stop, but Elliott didn't give himself much of a chance. Making a save on that Hickey tip would be like winning a hand of Texas Holdem with a 2-7. But hey, let's just say the guy can't stop a beach ball because someone needs a scapegoat.

[Toonage]

2 games out of 1st in the Pacific.

Let me have this.

[bubbsy]

Well they got a point but man were they terrible for the first 30 mins.

Ferland was a beast and best game from Elliott as a flame.

[Huntingwhale]

Exciting game. I thought the Flames deserved a better fate. We sure could use Johnny's offence right about now.

Elliot was great. Stole us that point with the big save on the breakaway in the 3rd. Brodie was solid as were Tkachuk and Ferland.

Can't complain about much other then the result.

[AC]

Originally Posted by sketchyt

LOL... totally agree. I was expecting some blue line muffin of a shot that went five hole.

I love the comments about "hugging the post"... total ignorance about the position and sport. The people commenting that was a weak goal are probably the same people who warm up their goalie in beer league by taking clappers on the blue line or try Gordon Bombay triple deke.

On second look at the highlights I agree it's tough to blame Elliott for the OT winner. Hickey was much more front and centre than I had remembered.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by AC

On second look at the highlights I agree it's tough to blame Elliott for the OT winner. Hickey was much more front and centre than I had remembered.

Much easier to panic post and blame the goalie immediately before looking at the replay right?

The first page of this PGT is absolute garbage. Pure trash and it's an embarrassment to this site.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Much easier to panic post and blame the goalie immediately before looking at the replay right?

I saw the Flames broadcast replays live. Just saw the Islanders replays.

I stand by my statement that the OT in general was brutal for the Flames. Ugly play from beginning to end unfortunately.

But hey, I also made a long post talking about the improvement of the team's play in general this month.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Agreed with those saying the Flames are showing improvement and overall trending in the right direction. When a team struggled like the Flames did early, it very easy for fans to see inconsistent play, whether it be within game or game to game and get worried that it still means the team isn't playing well. Truth is, even the best teams do. It dominate (very often) for a full 60mins or every night. Granted the Flames are still more wild and frequent in their inconsistency then they should be, more a comment that we should expect the team not to have to slug games out when they aren't playing perfect.

Road trip has to be seen as a positive. 3-2-1 on the longest road trip of the year, 6 in 9 and no Gaudreau, that's pretty sharp. Not quite enough of a winning % to have us make the playoffs if they don't increase, but given it was a hard stretch for the reasons listed above, get a better winning % moving forward is possible.

[Hockeyguy15]

It's quite comical how fast a bunch of people were ready to pile on Elliot.

[1_Flames_Fan]

Was doing ice rescue practice tonight and missed the game. How did Janko play?

[Reign of Fire]

Just got back from the game. I was the guy screaming at Frolik when he decided to go for a change in overtime. Should've stayed back.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Reign of Fire

Just got back from the game. I was the guy screaming

That was you!?

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by AC

I completely agree PepsiFree.

We certainly have some areas of concern, but the improvements are pretty evident I thought. Starting with the 1-0 win in Minnesota and OT win at home vs ARZ the next night.

We're 5-3-1 in that time, with the regulation loss vs Chicago maybe being our best game. That's 66% of our games in that stretch being very good IMO. Without Johnny Gaudreau.

Disappointing collapses vs BUF and PHI make up the other 2, and tonight was a good effort in the last half to tie it up on the final game of a grueling road trip.

We've also seen a huge step forward by Chad Johnson. Elliott has also been much better, but we know he's not getting the run support still. We've only scored 8 goals in Elliott's past 5 games.

Our penalty kill has also been pretty great lately. 29/34 or 85% success rate in our past 10 games, with 3 of those goals against coming in that BUF game alone.

BTW -- you just spelled out brilliantly exactly how me of two hours ago was completely and utterly wrong. Thank you for alleviating some of my concerns.

Great post.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Dion

I miss John Candy

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by timbit

Six games in nine nights on the road ?

15 games in 28 days. 11 on the road. 3 back to backs.

It's a completely asinine schedule.

The guys have to be gassed...and they play again Wednesday.

Just crazy stuff at the NHL level.

[heep223]

This PGT is an even bigger embarrassment than the Flames PP. That's saying something