[PGT] Kings 2, Flames 1 - Monahan 1G, Gaudreau 1A, Ortio with 35 Saves

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by ssjshmo

noooooooooooooooooooooo!
I loved them. not sure why people were so up in arms about them.
i say keep puns rolling

Well you could've said that before. Now, nope.

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by saillias

I don't know about the overall picture but I am worried about Monahan & Hamilton. Both have been something of a one-trick offense pony this year. The rest of their game ranges from meh to awful. If they are core pieces going forward, they need to get a lot better at everything that isn't offense

PS If you get all defensive and respond to this that they are 21 and 22 I will kick a puppy.

What an ignorant post. The fact is, they ARE 21 and 22 and that DOES matter. Or do are you suggesting they already peaked?

Other than the first month, Hamilton has been great. What the hell are you talking about

As for Monahan, do you expect him to dominate guys like Getzlaf, Thornton, Kopitar, Toews...?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

This season he has 3 times as many goals as Ferland.

If the object is to score goals, give me Colborne over Ferland every day of the week.

I'll take Ferlands speed and 5 hits per game over Colborne's occasional goal and useless powerplay time.

Oh and he's 3 years younger and started playing hockey 10 years later than Colborne.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I hope you realize Colborne has had tons of PP time and scores half his points against Edmonton.

He's had slightly more PP time than Ferland (1:32 per game vs 1:06), and has no power play points this season (Ferland has 1 goal and 1 assist on the PP). He also only has 1 point against the Oilers, and in fact has only played in two of the four games against the Oilers this season (he played in the two wins).

[polak]

How about we don't play either when we pull the goalie because both are useless offensively?

Yay!

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by getbak

He's had slightly more PP time than Ferland (1:32 per game vs 1:06), and has no power play points this season (Ferland has 1 goal and 1 assist on the PP). He also only has 1 point against the Oilers, and in fact has only played in two of the four games against the Oilers this season (he played in the two wins).

Don't confuse him with the facts.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'm first going to respond to this saying that they're 21 and 22, because that's actually a perfectly valid counter-argument. Please don't kick any puppies.

Also, they're actually playing much better than I think you realize. Monahan was coasting earlier in the year, but last night, he was creating plays, and generating offense. In January, it looked like the play was always dying on his stick. Now he's actually realizing his potential.

Dougie started off horribly, but he's quickly become one of the Flames' best defensemen. He hasn't stood out a ton, but that's a good thing for a defender. A couple of bad passes aside, he's looked great, skating well and scoring the odd goal - and his defense hasn't faltered.

I will give Hamilton a pass for not excelling in our silly breakout system that leaves our D out to dry. It demands them to be pinpoint accurate on long passes. And being paired with Russell most of the year has, surprise, kept him hemmed in his own zone all the time.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by ssjshmo

noooooooooooooooooooooo!
I loved them. not sure why people were so up in arms about them.
I say keep puns rolling, I canNak get enough of them

I think people like puns well enough if they are actually clever but the ones on these PGTs are insipid and derail actual discussion...like I'm doing now.

As for the game, funny how a game where we were so badly outshot and outplayed is the most positive game we have seen for awhile.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Fan in Exile

I think people like puns well enough if they are actually clever but the ones on these PGTs are insipid and derail actual discussion...like I'm doing now.

As for the game, funny how a game where we were so badly outshot and outplayed is the most positive game we have seen for awhile.

I fail to see how they actively derail discussion. Are they really that inflammatory that they prompt a page of off-topic discussion?

[codynw]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I fail to see how they actively derail discussion. Are they really that inflammatory that they prompt a page of off-topic discussion?

Yes.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Count me in the camp that is really worried about the future of this team.

There's a "camp"? I thought it was a couple dudes.....and now you.

I guess even a small camp can be a camp.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by polak

How about we don't play either when we pull the goalie because both are useless offensively?

Yay!

If Monahan, Hudler and Gaudreau have just come off a shift and Bennett, Frolik and Backlund are on, who is your choice for extra attacker? On your "No Ferland or Colborne" analysis, I guess you'd send out Jooris, Jones, Bouma or Bollig? Because they are so much better offensively?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by keratosis

Don't confuse him with the facts.

Actually his facts support my statement that Colborne is useless on the PP... He's been given more opportunity on the PP than Ferland and has done nothing with it.

And last season Colborne got something like 40% of his points against Edmonton.

Nice try though.

[polak]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

If Monahan, Hudler and Gaudreau have just come off a shift and Bennett, Frolik and Backlund are on, who is your choice for extra attacker? On your "No Ferland or Colborne" analysis, I guess you'd send out Jooris, Jones, Bouma or Bollig? Because they are so much better offensively?

Double shift one of the top line guys or something because those two aren't going to get it done.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Actually his facts support my statement that Colborne is useless on the PP... He's been given more opportunity on the PP than Ferland and has done nothing with it.

And last season Colborne got something like 40% of his points against Edmonton.

Nice try though.

Two seasons ago Colborne had 10 goals and 28 points in 80 games. Last season Colborne had 8 goals and 28 points in 64 games. This season he's got 9 goals and 22 points in 50 games (so far). If he stays healthy and plays, he will have his best year yet - something like 12-15 goals and 30-40 points, and steady (not spectacular) progression over his career. That's third/fourth line material and about the correct amount of salary too.

His PPG is just below Frolik, who is a second liner, and way above any of the other role players on the team like Ferland, Stajan, Jones, Jooris, etc.

I think people must dislike him because he looks like he can be much better. But he's not - he is what he is and he's played about as much as he should be played, in comparison to the team around him.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

If Monahan, Hudler and Gaudreau have just come off a shift and Bennett, Frolik and Backlund are on, who is your choice for extra attacker? On your "No Ferland or Colborne" analysis, I guess you'd send out Jooris, Jones, Bouma or Bollig? Because they are so much better offensively?

Ferland and Jooris are the best candidates for extra attacker.

Colborne, is not.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by polak

Double shift one of the top line guys or something because those two aren't going to get it done.

You think he wouldn't double shift if it was an option? They were back out in 30 seconds. With a minute and a half to go with an extra man.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Ferland and Jooris are the best candidates for extra attacker.

Colborne, is not.

Ferland wasn't an option for Polak. I agree he's an option for me.

As for Jooris, Colborne is a .44 PPG guy with 9 goals, who is big and can stand in front of the net and screen. Jooris is a smallish 4 goal guy who is a mighty .20 PPG who excels at speeding down the wing, not the scrum in front of the net which happens 6 on 5.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Decided to watch this game in the end since most of the comments were pretty positive and the score was close. Here are some thoughts:

-Flames were excellent to start this game. They held the Kings without a shot during the first 5 minutes of play. Pretty difficult thing to do, but they were the better team in that stretch.

-The Kings absolutely dominated a 20 minute stretch from the 5 minute mark of the first to the 5 minute mark of the 2nd. The Flames did a good job mitigating the damage, but nevertheless they couldn't generate any attack at all for that stretch and it probably hurt their chances to win.

-Sam Bennett looks very sharp on the defensive side of playing center. I was worried it would take him quite a bit of time, but he looks ready to be a full time center as he plays the position effortlessly. Really picked up the attack at the end there too.

-I had no issues with the referees, save for that one awful diving call on Frolik. I don't know how that official thought he was diving there. He had his knee and then the opposite skate taken out from underneath him. Nobody is staying on his feet on that play. Awful call, but the referees didn't do anything to decide the outcome in this one.

-I really liked what Ferland brought tonight. Flew around the ice delivering body checks and played the puck pretty well when called upon. Prototypical 3rd line banger. He's been getting better throughout the year, and he'll likely be a solid 3rd line player going into next year.

-Didn't miss Stajan at all tonight, and I can't remember the last game where he made a noticeable difference. I wonder if they bring him back or try to trade him in the off-season. I have a suspicion that Jooris, Grant, Shore or maybe even Arnold can play 4th line minutes next season and add more to the team.

-Both Wotherspoon and Nakladal continue to impress. Nakladal will probably never be better than a 3rd pairing guy with offensive punch, but he is an upgrade on Engelland or Smid. Wotherspoon looks really composed out there. He reads the play exceptionally well and has even been jumping up in the rush now and then. He would be a guy that I would heavily consider to make the team out of camp next year since he seems to be finally figuring out what he has to do to be an NHL player.

-Ortio was very good at times, and seemed more composed in net than at any other time this year. However, his inconsistencies still concern me. This is why I would like to see what he can do with a long string of games, like 15-20, to see if he can at least be a backup next year. I can't stomach watching Hiller any longer and he won't be back anyway. Give the net to Ortio and let the chips fall where they may.

-Top line really had some magic tonight, which is rare for them on the road. Need to capitalize on their chances more, but other than that they finally showed that they can battle through an unfavorable line match-up when they want to.

-Hamilton looked sloppy tonight. He still has games like this where he makes poor decisions and his compete level is on the low end. I would like to see him bring his A-game more consistently. When Engelland is outperforming you, you're doing something wrong.

-The penalty kill was actually quite good tonight. The Kings have a lethal power play, and the goal they scored was a fluke bounce right to Kopitar at the side of an empty net. Those are the breaks. However, they really limited the chances, made plenty of clears, and made the zone entry incredibly difficult for the Kings. When he needed to make a big save, Ortio was there. Shows you how much goaltending affects the PK numbers. Give me that penalty kill any day of the week.

-Bouma was invisible except for one notable blocked shot. I really hope he comes ready to play next fall, because he's looked utterly replaceable this year.

-Get Bollig off this team. He's a detriment to his line mates, more on the offensive end, but also in terms of taking care of the defensive zone. So much so that McGrattan would probably be an upgrade. I'm ready to move on from him.

-Jones can go now too. I haven't seen a positive game from him in probably a couple of months. I know he's disappeared for long stretches in the past, but he's now holding back guys like Ferland and Bennett from being more productive.

All in all, this is the type of team I expected this year, but we've only seen them sparingly throughout the campaign. I still think with an above average goaltender this team is in the playoff picture. Maybe just on the bubble, but still right in the mix for the post season. If we address that issue in the off-season, and fill another 2-3 holes (top line RWer with size, 2nd line LW, #4 d-man), this team will start to win a lot of games.

[Huntingwhale]

I don't get all the hatred for Colborne. Sure he's not the best player on the team, but he's great value for his contact. If he was getting paid like Jones, I'd be all over him. But he's not. He doesn't even make 1.3 mil. If Raymond was making <1.3 and had the same amount of points, would people complain about him like they do now?

I have a feeling the same posters with a hate-on for Colborne are the same people who look at an overpaid player on another team (Phaneuf for example) and trot out the ''he's not a bad player, he's just overpaid'' line. But you cannot even say Colborne is overpaid. For <1.3 mil, there is not much to complain about with him, other then you take it personally that he's not the player you want him to be. Especially if he scores over 30 pts, which he is on pace to do. Jones doesn't even get 1/4 of the hate Colborne gets. And Jones plain sucks.