[PGT] Flames Lose 2-1 + EN to the Caps.

[Justin]

From a TV viewers perspective:

Elliot was fantastic in my opinion. Really made some clutch saves that this team desperately needed the last 2 seasons.

Hamilton I have to give credit to, he takes a lot of flack on here (lately) but last nights game I thought he played much better. To me he seems to be settling in and finding his game more.

Gio could of been better. Maybe it's just me but I always find that he's falling down and trying to get back in the play when the play goes along the boards.

Monahan, I can't really complain like a lot of people are today. He hasn't looked THAT bad to me. I think we're just really used to seeing the incredible chemistry that he and Johnny had with Hudler. I don't think Chaisson is the answer on the top line with JG and Monahan, and I feel thats why the line is struggling. Communication seems off and they just aren't clicking together.

JG: Frustrated player right now. But it's also frustrating to watch him give the puck away at the offensive blue line as well. Yes, JG does more good than harm, but some of that harm can easily be avoided sometimes by eliminating the amount you do with the puck, or avoiding the 1 on 4's at the blue line by dumping the puck in deep.

Backlund has impressed me a ton. The last few seasons I've wanted to trade him. I'm glad I'm only an armchair coach because he has looked fantastic this season. IMO the best Backlund the Flames have had since they drafted him.

[FlamesAddiction]

Hard to be upset with essentially a one goal game after a decent 3 game winning streak.

The only frustrating thing is that last year they couldn't win on the road and now it seems like they are having trouble at home.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Thought it was a well played game by both sides. Unfortunate the Flames came up short. 0% PP at home is unbelievable and last night they earned to keep that terrible stat in place. Very brutal aspect of the game last night.

Gaudreau's frustration is obviously being noticed by everyone. And, although it's positive he wears his emotions on his sleeve, he has to be aware that emotions can be contagious. If he's being an emotional anchor to the fan base watching him, he could be doing it to his team mates and, more specifically, his line mates. I hope Giordano has a chat with him. He needs that.

[-TC-]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Best part of the game was reading the armchair psychiatry diagnoses.

the Flames would have won if Johnny wasn't so sad

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

This game was winnable but missing the net on multiple great scoring chances is unacceptable. I don't know how many times I yelled "get it on net you idiot" last night. Trying to make that perfect shot every time, stupid.

It sucks missing the net. But the only way to beat NHL goaltenders these days (especially an elite one like Holtby) are:

i) deflections
ii) screens
iii) perfectly placed shots

If no one is in front to deflect or screen, you have to pick the corners, get it 18 inches off the ice blocker side, or snap it 5-hole. Those are hard shots to make if the goalie is in good position and Holtby is one of the best.

But yeah, it was very frustrating seeing shot after shot go wide.

[Enoch Root]

The effort was certainly there last night - not sure how anyone could argue about the compete level.

However, the score flattered the Flames, and it was the same few issues we have seen over and over:

1) the PP, a momentum killer, and still 00% at home - 'nuff said

2) passing was terrible - I still think it is partially due to learning a new system and not being confident yet where each other are (still overthinking), but they pass the puck like a house league team

3) offensive zone time. The coach seems to have them either dumping and chasing, or taking shots from anywhere. The problem is, they can't win a board battle to save their lives, so they can't generate any zone time. Dump it in - out it comes. Take a wide angle shot - goalie deflects it to a Dman and out it comes.

4) (This one was particular to last night) they couldn't hit the net. There must have been 10 decent scoring chances last night where they shot wide. Any one of them could have turned the game around.

Again, the effort is there, but their confidence level is so low right now. It's really painful to watch.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

good D + bad D ≠ average pair

good D + bad D = bad pair

it's simple math. I know GG is trying not to have one disaster bottom pair, but that's just not how it works. drink a mixture of half fresh milk and half spoiled milk and you're going to be puking just the same.

if you have one super pair, at least there's a decent chance they'll help generate a lead, so that you can afford a couple of scary minutes of Engelland and Wideman together. but that's almost besides the point, since the lineup should never have both of those guys in the same game anyways.

I don't like the pairings my Gulutzna either.

You put your best two guys together, and you give em tons of ice.

Then your next two best d-men, and finally your 3rd pair who don't get a lot of ice-time. Your bottom pair should be good enough not to be a tire fire, and be on the ice long enough to give the other two pairs time to recover.

[Lil Pedro]

Brodie looks lost playing the left side; definitely think they need to reunite him with Giordano. Gio looks lost and indecisive out there. It reminds me of his first 12-15 games to last season.

[Machiavelli]

Gio/Brodie absolutely should be reunited; it's a no-brainer

Should they go with seven defensemen so the third pairing doesn't get as much icetime?

Giordano-Brodie
Jokipakka-Hamilton
Engelland-Wideman
Kulak

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by debil

Where's your top line center Monahan ? Gaudreau not going for a while and Monahan is lost. And you pay this plug guy top center money.

He certainly needs to improve...also on pace for over 30 goals

[Vinny01]

Lots of talk of shuffling the lines and pairings on the FAN today. For me personally if they are going to switch things up I would try the following.

Gaudreau-Bennett-Brouwer
Tkachuk-Monahan-Versteeg
Ferland-Backlund-Frolik
Bouma-Stajan-Chaisson

Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Engellend
Jokipakka-Wideman

Other moves I consider. Monahan with Brouwer if Gaudreau is going with Bennett. Brodie with Hamilton.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Easy partner.

Debrusk is defiantly not a ####ty colour guy. He is actually really even keeled broadcaster.

And he'll be even better once he understands that we don't praise losing like they do up North.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by dino7c

He certainly needs to improve...also on pace for over 30 goals

And zero assists! Talk about a pure sniper.

[Weitz]

Current clubhouse leader for the Cy Young award.

[djsFlames]

The Dome crowds have been pretty disappointing all season too. Seems to be lifeless right from the get go, maybe because of nerves/skepticism over the slow start? But their home struggles are being reflected in the building atmosphere. Maybe doesn't harm things, but it sure doesn't help. At least give the team an advantage in the intangibles battle every night and cheer your rear ends off. Let's not take a page out of Vancouver's book ffs.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

The Dome crowds have been pretty disappointing all season too. Seems to be lifeless right from the get go, maybe because of nerves/skepticism over the slow start? But their home struggles are being reflected in the building atmosphere. Maybe doesn't harm things, but it sure doesn't help. At least give the team an advantage in the intangibles battle every night and cheer your rear ends off. Let's not take a page out of Vancouver's book ffs.

I've only been present for one game so far this year (vs. St. Louis) but the crowd was great for that one. If you're going by TV to gauge reactions keep in mind the arena always sounds like a morgue on Sportsnet.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

The Dome crowds have been pretty disappointing all season too. Seems to be lifeless right from the get go, maybe because of nerves/skepticism over the slow start? But their home struggles are being reflected in the building atmosphere. Maybe doesn't harm things, but it sure doesn't help. At least give the team an advantage in the intangibles battle every night and cheer your rear ends off. Let's not take a page out of Vancouver's book ffs.

I went to the home opener and the Canes game. At the opener, the crowd was really loud for the first part of the game. Died right down after. Horrible crowd for the Canes from start to finish.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Obviously the takes on here are a wide variety, so I'm not trying to paint with a broad brush, but in general, I think that the vibe in here is way to harsh on the team after last night. I'm sure it's a result of the fact that the team started so poorly, that every loss seems so large as we once again we drop below 500, but I thought last nights game was pretty good, against a pretty decent team and goaltender.

I didn't see the lack of confidence some are saying, or the flattering score to the Flames (sure Elliott was good, but so was Holtby). For me, it was a pretty good game against a good team that just didn't go our way. And that's without the following:

- Mony and Johnny are still not playing well, especially Johnny, he's down right awful right now.
- Gio made the one glaring error at the end their, but hey, when you are in a pulled the goalie situation I'm not going to rag on that too much. I do think he's got a couple of other gears he could hit though, and for the most part I think Brodie and Hamilton (especially Hamilton) are starting to do their part on the back end, so I'd like him to get there too.

Outside of that, they lost a close game to a really good team, and as pointed out, tones of room to get better. I'm feeling a lot more positive about this team and their potential than I was in the first week.

It's going to be a tough stretch over the next bit, I think the fans around here need to wrap their heads around the miss steps of the first week and half of the season are not going to be erased (in the standings) in one fell swoop and take more of a long game approach to us fighting our way back into it, because that's what its going to take.

[djsFlames]

I was at the same two as CroFlames and can confirm the same observations. Though it's true SNET also has poor audio. Switching to TSN during the Sens game it was like emerging from a cave.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

The Dome crowds have been pretty disappointing all season too. Seems to be lifeless right from the get go, maybe because of nerves/skepticism over the slow start? But their home struggles are being reflected in the building atmosphere. Maybe doesn't harm things, but it sure doesn't help. At least give the team an advantage in the intangibles battle every night and cheer your rear ends off. Let's not take a page out of Vancouver's book ffs.

I've been to two home games. I don't think you can put all the blame on the crowd. The hockey has been tough to watch. With all the missed passes, slow as molasses breakouts, offsides, stupid penalties and giveaways it's hard to get into the games.