[PGT] Flames 4 Canucks 1

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I think Flames need to do that and see if Elliott can find his form. Maybe Johnson is still the starter but he has looked fallible lately.

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Woah, what did I wake up to? People are anointing Elliott the starter over Johnson now? Why?

In fairness I think they're both 1b kind of guys, and when you run a system like that you have to alternate to the hot hand.

It isnt 'one guy's net' and the backup gives him the odd night off but still gives the team a chance to win, its a constant battle for the net. It has to be.

[sa226]

Maybe someone can correct me, because my bias may be showing with this.

But, I don't see Tkachuk in the same realm of ####heads as the more famous ones around the league. He doesn't appear to be cheap or dirty. He doesn't bite fingers or throw flying elbows or take runs at guys. He does attempt to play on the edge, but its more controlled and calculated.

Hes for sure an ass, but Im not seeing the upper echelon of ass.

[Magnum PEI]

He's thrown a few elbows and Oiler fans are still pissed about the slew foot on Davidson that caused an injury. Edit: and there was that headbutt, but that was nothing IMO.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by sa226

Maybe someone can correct me, because my bias may be showing with this.

But, I don't see Tkachuk in the same realm of ####heads as the more famous ones around the league. He doesn't appear to be cheap or dirty. He doesn't bite fingers or throw flying elbows or take runs at guys. He does attempt to play on the edge, but its more controlled and calculated.

Hes for sure an ass, but Im not seeing the upper echelon of ass.

He's elite, maybe even generational ass.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by sa226

Maybe someone can correct me, because my bias may be showing with this.

But, I don't see Tkachuk in the same realm of ####heads as the more famous ones around the league. He doesn't appear to be cheap or dirty. He doesn't bite fingers or throw flying elbows or take runs at guys. He does attempt to play on the edge, but its more controlled and calculated.

Hes for sure an ass, but Im not seeing the upper echelon of ass.

He does a lot of stuff "accidentally on purpose" that pisses people off. It's the best type of ass. His penalties will rarely be for things like diving or unsportsmanlike, and probably for roughing and elbowing.

That Backlund goal is the perfect example. He abuses a guy behind the net digging for the puck, guy gets pissed off at this little wiener and distracted into going after him for the rest of the play. Then, fighting for the net with the same guy, backlund scores and Tkachuk "accidentally on purpose" falls on top of the guy. "Whoops. Sorry. My bad. Oh, am I in your way?"

Perfect.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Woah, what did I wake up to? People are anointing Elliott the starter over Johnson now? Why?

Have to go with the guy that's winning. Besides the team needs to see what they have in Elliott seeing they gave up a 2nd and 3rd round pick. Johnson's been a nice story but I highly doubt management will want to go with Johnson as the starter next season.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Woah, what did I wake up to? People are anointing Elliott the starter over Johnson now? Why?

Johnson has about 1 full season worth of starter-esque play in total. Elliott has a much more proven career.

Both goalies can be good. It's OK.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Have to go with the guy that's winning. Besides the team needs to see what they have in Elliott seeing they gave up a 2nd and 3rd round pick. Johnson's been a nice story but I highly doubt management will want to go with Johnson as the starter next season.

I agree, Elliott won and has earned the next start. I kind of felt he should have been given the start in SJ, too, if only to show consistency.

[Gaskal]

Elliott's looked alright outside of those wtf goals in AZ and the weird fly ball over his shoulder last night. I'd give him Colorado.

[squiggs96]

In the last 5 games Calgary is 2-3-0. Elliott is 2-0-0. Johnson is 0-3-0. I'm not seeing why people would have an objection to playing Elliott right now.

[Tron_fdc]

If Tkachuk played for van I would probably want to burn down their rink.

It's glorious knowing that's what they think of him in Calgary.

[Yrebmi]

Elliott got Van and ARI while Johnson got CBJ and SJS. (agree Tampa was a stinker)
It's all good trying to get Elliott some confidence back, but Johnson is still the better goalie right now.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

Elliott got Van and ARI while Johnson got CBJ and SJS. (agree Tampa was a stinker)
It's all good trying to get Elliott some confidence back, but Johnson is still the better goalie right now.

I am not convinced. From where I sit both goalies are still competing for the starter's net, and will be all season. It is still a platoon situation in which the coach will continue to ride the hot hand.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am not convinced. From where I sit both goalies are still competing for the starter's net, and will be all season. It is still a platoon situation in which the coach will continue to ride the hot hand.

People seem to want to have a clarified starter. I don't get the appetite for it perosnally. There are only 30 nets. It stands to reason that you could have 60 goalkeepers in the world that are all relatively equal in skill-set. I don't see whats wrong with having equal trust in 2 goaltenders. Players have bad games or bad stretches, no matter how good they are. Isn't it good to be able to have someone step in who isn't demonstratively worse? To me, that's exactly what's happened here. We had a goalie with bonafide starter numbers who looked human behind one of the worst starts in the NHL. Confidence shaken, he started to look bad, so the solid back-up presence was brought in and did very well (as you would hope and expect if you trust in your players). As you would also expect, the goalie who has never seen that much of a workload begins to fatigue and his play slows down, so you swap them and the other guy is well-rested, eager to prove himself, and looking forward to playing. This isn't the 80's anymore where the back up sat on the bench and took shots in warm-up for 82 games. Goaltending is becoming more of a tandem game IMO, and why wouldn't it? Even guys like Price and Lundqvuist need their rest.

In the absence of one of the top 3-5 goalies in the world, I don't see why you wouldn't just take the hot-hand approach all the time.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by MattyC

This isn't the 80's anymore where the back up sat on the bench and took shots in warm-up for 82 games.

By that standard, even the 80s weren't the 80s anymore. Platoon goalies were a pretty common thing back then. Grant Fuhr was at his best sharing the net with Andy Moog. Patrick Roy shared his net with Brian Hayward. And one big reason why the Flames sold Brett Hull for peanuts was to get a capable goalie to rotate with Mike Vernon.

I'm all in favour of the hot hand approach, as long as both goalies play often enough to stay sharp.

[foshizzle11]

I couldn't imagine being an NHL coach with the goalie situations we have had since Kipper left. Coaches with a bonafide numero uno have it easy.

Johnson has looked solid to me and in control most nights. It seems the team plays more sound hockey with him in net. When Elliot plays, he seems to be all over the place, Hiller/Ramo esc. Now that Elliot has had a couple good games, albeit against weaker opponents, maybe test the waters, give him some harder starts. See how he does, if he craps the bed, then it is an easy answer, put Johnson back in.

I think we have a 1a/b situation here and neither have really taken on the no. 1 role yet. I agree with some above, if we have a Carey Price type of guy, then you roll with him for like 70 games in a year, but we don't so you ride the hot hand.

Next game, we should give Elliot a shot. The team is playing better now and he has been solid the last couple games he has played.

[HockeyKhan]

Originally Posted by Bunk

He's elite, maybe even generational ass.

Blue Chip ass?