[PGT] Flames 3 Ennis 4

[gunnner]

Originally Posted by Thor

I think the reason so many are bothered by a few very vocally upset posters at this game, are simply frustrated that people are so quick to be ready to jump all over the team.

We've had a really fun run so far, WAY beyond expectation, and it was inevitable we would stumble. Adversity is going to happen and is good for the young guys to grow and learn from.

This team is still leaps and bounds more fun to watch than what I've seen in nearly a decade of hockey, speed, skill, youth, 2 solid goalies, amazing offensive D (reminds me of the Suter/McInnis era)

I think you guys flipping out need to just learn to take this all with a grain of salt, not be such drama queens over a loss. This is not going to be a smooth ride, no team plays perfect 82 games, we knew this type of streak was coming, lets just hope it goes no further than 3.

Well said. I have had more total enjoyment watching 30 games with this team, than the previous 4 seasons combined. The future is bright. But when someone says "I like this team better with Baertschi and Ferland in the line up over Raymond and Stajan," the entire CP need not take it personal and destroy the people saying it. Its just an opinion, and to some a valid one.

[Max Cow Disease]

I didn't catch this game but I'm not too worried. This is our first stretch this season of losing consecutive games and I'm optimistic that we'll bounce back and get things on a more desirable track.

To that end, Hartley's post game comments about his players were great, I thought. "Sometimes you get easy/free lessons. This was an expensive one, but we'll take it". Also sticking behind his players and instead of commenting on Brodie's mistakes, invoking the question of where the team would be this season without TJ, and that Brodie knows better than anyone what needs to be done. He clearly has a lot of faith in that room, and the team will be all the better for it when they climb out of this rut.

[UKflames]

I think that these kind of games are to be expected with the injured players starting to drip back into the line up. We had some good lines rolling but with the injured vets coming back in it was always going to mess with the chemistry of the lines and the team, which leads to lesser performances than what we have been enjoying whilst they settle back in.
Last night you could see that Raymond was still shaking off the rust, he was poor on our first couple of power plays and couldn't keep his feet or make a decent pass, Colborne was slightly better considering it was his first game back but there were still a few wayward moments.

Just as a side note, whilst I am not anti advanced stats, they do seem a lot like accounting, you can make the figures say what ever you want.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by DOOM

You misplelled stone hands Byron:

No I didn't. I'm talking about #17 who lost his man on the Sabres 2nd goal, then stood around puckwatching while covering nobody. Was that Byron? No.

Byron has been anywhere from snakebitten-poor offensively but reasonable defensively 5-on-5, and still good on the PK. I don't disagree however that he could use a scratch too.

As for Bouma, look, I get that he blocks a ton of shots and pays a premium to do that. That is nice and it is taxing, don't get me wrong. However his defensive coverage, especially 5-on-5, has been very piss poor recently. He could use a short pressbox visit.

[Flames89]

We looked a bit slow and distracted last night.

Fortunately I have learned many things as a Flames fan. One of the first lessons is to not take mid-December games as a representative sample of our season. I learned this from many a Christmas when the flames would go on a run and make us think we had something special but instead were just playing in the weird seasonal games where good teams are tired and distracted thinking of the upcoming break after a long and concerted push in the first half of the year.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I wish the Flames would take advantage of the two week conditioning stint when players are coming off the IRL. Let the guys go to the minors to get their legs and timing back. Raymond and Colborne both look slow as hell and out of shape. Use the minors to get your guys back in the swing of things and then put them back in the mix. The returning players all looked substantially worse than the players they forced back to the AHL and I think that is strictly because of not having their game legs or timing going.

[saillias]

Really disappointing, sick of the non-calls on our players night after night, someone remind the refs they have to make a concentrated effort every year to make sure obstruction isn't creeping back in the game, or obstruction creeps back into the game. It's like 2003 out there.

[flambers]

Flames had lots of offensive pressure, but were terrible in their own end.

Sabres had great scoring chances.... I didn't think Ramo had any chance on the 4 goals.. it could have easily been 6 or 7 goals.

Flames defense were a problem, maybe an off night but they really struggled.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

How the heck did Moulson's goal for the 4th against even count? What a joke.

There was no distinct kicking motion. It would have been a goal any time in the last 15 years.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Karl

No I didn't. I'm talking about #17 who lost his man on the Sabres 2nd goal, then stood around puckwatching while covering nobody. Was that Byron? No.

Byron has been anywhere from snakebitten-poor offensively but reasonable defensively 5-on-5, and still good on the PK. I don't disagree however that he could use a scratch too.

As for Bouma, look, I get that he blocks a ton of shots and pays a premium to do that. That is nice and it is taxing, don't get me wrong. However his defensive coverage, especially 5-on-5, has been very piss poor recently. He could use a short pressbox visit.

Demanding to press box players like Byron and Bouma when the alternative is McGrattan doesn't benefit the team. They will work through it.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by flambers

Flames had lots of offensive pressure, but were terrible in their own end.

Sabres had great scoring chances.... I didn't think Ramo had any chance on the 4 goals.. it could have easily been 6 or 7 goals.

Flames defense were a problem, maybe an off night but they really struggled.

I don't know man. A .789 SV indicates that your goaltender certainly didn't make any big saves. Any NHL goaltender can make the saves goaltenders are supposed to make but the difference is making key saves and Ramo didn't make any. He was left out to dry on a couple of occasions but his anticipation last night certainly wasn't top shelf.

[PeteMoss]

Ramo was flopping around on at least one of the goals. Not his best game.

[Vinny01]

I thought the Flames deserved to win. I think they deserved to win all 3 games on this losing streak. It seems like the luck is running out. The next 2 games are a big hill to climb we can easily be staring at a 5 game losing streak by the end of the weekend

[Steveyoto]

I get that we can't do this, but...... When we are winning, we ride the hot goaltender.... It should be the same for the line up. Only get the IR players back into games following a loss.
Stajan gets back= Loss
Raymond gets back = Loss
Colbourne gets back = Loss

I think we should apply the mentality we use for the goaltenders to the way we re-introduce all players (regardless of $ Value) from the IR.

[Poe969]

lol no. Colborne is a beast and deserves to be in the lineup. The coach will do what the coach feels is right, it doesn't always work because the other team is (usually, unless it's Edmonton) doing everything they can to win too. 3 game losing streak isn't that bad guys....

A friend asked me if I thought the Flames will still make the playoffs and I said Honestly I don't care. They've played amazing and they're fun as hell to watch. If they win a lot and make the playoffs then that's awesome but if they go on a massive skid and even come in 9th and miss the playoffs it's fine too because I'm sure they're going to be playing balls to the wall amazing hockey and it'll be fun to watch. Most expected this team to be a bottom 3 team and they're playing waaaaaaaaaay above that. Let's just accept that this team is what it is and they're getting better.

[UKflames]

Originally Posted by New Era

I wish the Flames would take advantage of the two week conditioning stint when players are coming off the IRL. Let the guys go to the minors to get their legs and timing back. Raymond and Colborne both look slow as hell and out of shape. Use the minors to get your guys back in the swing of things and then put them back in the mix. The returning players all looked substantially worse than the players they forced back to the AHL and I think that is strictly because of not having their game legs or timing going.

I think you are right and it seems strange that you hear of other teams doing this but we didn't for any of the three returning players. It is not like we needed to rush them back as the team were rolling along nicely.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Steveyoto

I get that we can't do this, but...... When we are winning, we ride the hot goaltender.... It should be the same for the line up. Only get the IR players back into games following a loss.
Stajan gets back= Loss
Raymond gets back = Loss
Colbourne gets back = Loss

I think we should apply the mentality we use for the goaltenders to the way we re-introduce all players (regardless of $ Value) from the IR.

I really think posters are making to big of a deal with veterans coming back.

Stajan replaced knight...... Don't think knight would have gotten flames a win

Raymond replaced Sven.... Do you really think 7 minutes of Sven would have meant win?

Colbourne replaced Ferland..... Colbourne played pretty well. I guess Ferland in instead of Bollig might have made a small difference, but Bollig also played well.

Basically what I'm trying to say is the flames more than likely would have lost the last 3 games anyway.

[direwolf]

Flames could easily find themselves out of a playoff spot over the next few days if they can't shore up the defence and find a way to get back into the win column. The west is extremely tight right now, and I don't see any of those other teams falling off anytime soon. Although the Canucks haven't been playing well lately, so hopefully that will continue. 3 regulation losses in a row is enough. Flames need a big bounce back game, and it might as well be tonight. Really hope they can turn this around quickly and find their game again. They've got a very tough schedule coming up, but I think they can do it.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I really think posters are making to big of a deal with veterans coming back.

Stajan replaced knight...... Don't think knight would have gotten flames a win

Raymond replaced Sven.... Do you really think 7 minutes of Sven would have meant win?

Colbourne replaced Ferland..... Colbourne played pretty well. I guess Ferland in instead of Bollig might have made a small difference, but Bollig also played well.

Basically what I'm trying to say is the flames more than likely would have lost the last 3 games anyway.

I thought Bollig played a great game last night as well.

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I really think posters are making to big of a deal with veterans coming back.

Stajan replaced knight...... Don't think knight would have gotten flames a win

Raymond replaced Sven.... Do you really think 7 minutes of Sven would have meant win?

Colbourne replaced Ferland..... Colbourne played pretty well. I guess Ferland in instead of Bollig might have made a small difference, but Bollig also played well.

Basically what I'm trying to say is the flames more than likely would have lost the last 3 games anyway.

Although the math is correct 100% (today). Their return puts pressure on the others with regards to lines, ice time etc.