[PGT] Flames beat Capitals 5-2

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Flames still can't get any goaltending, Mangiapane still utterly useless, and Backlund is nothing but an overrated 4th-liner. No talent on this team at all. Their only hope is to gut out a 2-1 win, and against a high-flying team like the Caps, you just can't do that (as the score proves).

On top of that, my wife was watching some damn fool thing on the living room TV, so I had to use the ancient TV in the basement and the remote was dead. While fiddling around with the buttons on the side of the set, trying to adjust the volume, I managed to change to channel 3.0, and there was no way to get the Shaw box back, so the rest of the game was just snow. Of course it's the only remote left in the world that takes AAA batteries, and I have a drawer filled with AA's and 9-volts, but was there a AAA in sight? You just know the answer to that one. And all the stores were closed by then, except Circle K which wants like $5,000 for batteries if there are even any in stock. And there wasn't even enough time left on the clock to make the trip.

Damn the remote, damn the AAA batteries, damn Circle K, and above all, damn this worthless hockey team that can't ever win a single damn game.

New Favourite. Keep this #### up!

[CaptainYooh]

X-mas party tonight, couldn’t watch the game. So, was it any good?

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

Players seem to blossom when they are on Backlund's line, Mangi before and now Rosie.

Not only that, he hates McDavid and I'm on board with that.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Darth ranked 18th among nhl net minders for save % now

Skinner 20th and plummeting

[hurtin_albertan]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Looks like a team that can win some games with adequate goaltending.

Simply and brilliantly said.

[trieu8]

The team is trending in the right direction. I hope Vladar gets a few more starts in a row. Weegar is looking a lot more comfortable recently. I think he should get a look on the top PP. Huberdeaus passing is great but guys are not expecting or ready for them. I think he can be better though. Hopefully Mang keeps playing like he has been. Kadri has to be better. 4th line should get less offensive zone opportunities.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Huberdeau's disappointing play is the biggest reason why this team isn't doing better. I hate to think of 8 more years at a $10.5 million cap hit if he doesn't figure it out.

I'm willing to be fairly patient with him considering he's coming from playing his whole career in a different type of conference, and style of play, to a more defensive minded structure. Just like with Gaudreau it took some time (half a season) to acclimatize to Sutter, it may take Huby the same, if not a bit longer.

And if anything, he has less points than he should at this point because his teammates are still getting used to playing with him; and aren't prepared to handle the vision he has when making passes. There's been plenty of strong scoring chances that could've been developed or finished on, but the players didn't have their sticks ready for the pass. As they learn to always be ready since he will find him, we'll probably see Huby in a more favourable light since he is doing things that can lead to more goal outcomes.

[chedder]

Seems Huberdeau passes too much and Kadri not enough. I know theres nothing wrong with a shoot first mentality but anyone else notice Kadri doesn't seem to use his teammates very well.

[Aarongavey]

Solid effort. Great goaltending when they needed it. Backlund line looks great and Mangiapane and Dube are finding something. For a shooter, Toffoli sometimes handles the puck like a live grenade, still not sure how he did not bury that chance at the start of the second.

[Naitix]

Good game, I like how Ruzickas game has progressed, I think he should swap places with Kadri on the top PP but the issue with that is that Kadri is good on face offs.

I thought Huberdeau was playing the right way, if his line mates had more skill he easily should have had 2 assists in the first. People who are saying that Huberdeau passes too much or don’t like his blind passes - that’s the way he plays and how he gets 100+ points. I still think Phillips would work so good with him, I think Phillips players the exact game that can succeed with how Huberdeau likes to play. I still think Toffoli is too slow to play with Huberdeau

I think the most important task that Sutter has is to get Huberdeau going, and I do not think there is anyone on the roster that fits his play style as much as Phillips does

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Naitix

Good game, I like how Ruzickas game has progressed, I think he should swap places with Kadri on the top PP but the issue with that is that Kadri is good on face offs.

I thought Huberdeau was playing the right way, if his line mates had more skill he easily should have had 2 assists in the first. People who are saying that Huberdeau passes too much or don’t like his blind passes - that’s the way he plays and how he gets 100+ points. I still think Phillips would work so good with him, I think Phillips players the exact game that can succeed with how Huberdeau likes to play. I still think Toffoli is too slow to play with Huberdeau

I think the most important task that Sutter has is to get Huberdeau going, and I do not think there is anyone on the roster that fits his play style as much as Phillips does

Kadri is 46.1% in terms of faceoff percentage. Lindholm is 54 percent. It is perplexing as to why Kadri takes faceoff on the PP. Backlund is 54.1.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

I thought the team played very well overall. Mangi getting hot, Backlund seems to be playing with way more confidence this year. Huberdeau really needs to start making things happen. I thought Kadri was actually better tonight.

It's frustrating that Sutter is refusing to really limit his 4th line to "rest" his top three lines. They are not in a playoff spot and their best players will be extra extra rested if they only get 16 minutes a night and then miss the playoffs.

2/3 of the fourth line only played 7 minutes last night. That's actually a little low for the NHL average.

The issue with the Flames is Backlund (it's a good issue).

Sutter likes him and he's too good to be the average third liner so the ice time in the top six gets brought down.

Backlund is #2 in 5 on 5 ice time behind Huberdeau, and 8 guys are getting within a minute of each other nightly.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by chedder

Seems Huberdeau passes too much and Kadri not enough. I know theres nothing wrong with a shoot first mentality but anyone else notice Kadri doesn't seem to use his teammates very well.

It has been a big problem so far this year. However, I thought he was using his teammates lot more last night. A step in the right direction, I thought.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

You’re discounting the intangibles that some combination of Lucic, Rooney, Lewis, and Ritchie bring to the team.

Need to make sure three of those guys dress and play a lot every night , especially Lucic.

And if they get caved in while they are on the ice it doesn’t matter anyways, because the 4th line isn’t supposed to do anything positive and are supposed to be bad anyways. Except not actually bad because intangibles and that’s good even if not actually measurable in any way except old hockey guy talk.

That wasn't very nice.

Sarcastic drive by ... honestly can't believe the number of things above that are misrepresented.

- only talked about Lucic intangibles
- never said all three have to dress
- in fact was trying to come up with a way to send someone from the top nine down and bring Phillips up
- never said they need to play the fourth line a lot
- said fourth lines aren't scoring lines, never said they didn't have to do something positive

Why let facts get in the way of a good drive by attack right? Well done man.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Bingo

2/3 of the fourth line only played 7 minutes last night. That's actually a little low for the NHL average.

The issue with the Flames is Backlund (it's a good issue).

Sutter likes him and he's too good to be the average third liner so the ice time in the top six gets brought down.

Backlund is #2 in 5 on 5 ice time behind Huberdeau, and 8 guys are getting within a minute of each other nightly.

Sorry my friend but Lewis was at 11:55 and Lucic 10:25 that's a significant difference from 7 minutes.

Rooney 8:26. No one got 7 minutes.

Just had to correct that error unless I'm missing something?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Backlund was awesome tonight.

Huberdeau with his worst game this year and if his line finished a few passes ends with 2 assists.

No doubt about it but this is Vladars team now.

Might be a little doubt about that! Just a smidge.

[Naitix]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Kadri is 46.1% in terms of faceoff percentage. Lindholm is 54 percent. It is perplexing as to why Kadri takes faceoff on the PP. Backlund is 54.1.

I wonder what his PP face off percentage is, by the eye test I think he is doing good. But if he’s not, then I would say def swap him with Ruzicka. Kadri is playing on the right side and I think Ruzicka would be more effective there + Kadri can play the net front on pp2

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Might be a little doubt about that! Just a smidge.

I meant Right now missed the word.

We need to get on a roll and Vladar gives us the best chance to win every night at this moment we can't waste points with Markstrom trying to figure it out.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Might be a little doubt about that! Just a smidge.

That wasn't a sarcastic drive by, was it?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Naitix

I wonder what his PP face off percentage is, by the eye test I think he is doing good. But if he’s not, then I would say def swap him with Ruzicka. Kadri is playing on the right side and I think Ruzicka would be more effective there + Kadri can play the net front on pp2

I notice our face offs are decent but it seems like we lose a lot of Pp faceoffs and it kills the momentum because we waste time trying to get back in.

Kadri has been awful this little while.