[PGT] Kings Cinco, Flames Nada

[tkflames]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

^ often (on good teams) the drop pass allows you to switch side of attack when the opposition funnels you to their strong side.

Absolutely. The point I am making is that if you watch those teams closely, the receiving defenseman switches sides by passing the puck to a player at full stride ahead of him. We have a tendency to have the puck carrier gain the line with all 4 others standing at the line.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by tkflames

General Observations:
1. Dougie did not pass the puck to Grossman in the 3rd despite several opportunities.

Imagine you're Dougie Hamilton, and you learn at the morning skate that your D-partner, Jokipakka, has been scratched in favor of Grossmann.

[tkflames]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Imagine you're Dougie Hamilton, and you learn at the morning skate that your D-partner, Jokipakka, has been scratched in favor of Grossmann.

I agree with you. It was an observation only that it looks to me like Grossman's teammates have lost faith in him.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by tkflames

I agree with you. It was an observation only that it looks to me like Grossman's teammates have lost faith in him.

Yup. It's unfortunate that we're in a situation where the players may already be trying to force GG's hand.

[KevanGuy]

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

If you are Wideman or Kevin, how do you feel about getting benched over Grossman over and over again...

I'd be asking for a trade if I was Jokipakka. It's disgusting. In my mind he's our 4th best defenseman and he's being sat for Grossmann? Absolutely disgusting.

[1qqaaz]

The Flames sucked tonight

Do you know what I'm saying?

Not sure about Gulutzan

Do you know what I mean?

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by tkflames

A positive and some observations from the game that are bound to get lost in the post game emotion:

1. Tkachuck drew 2 penalties without taking any.
2. Kulak and Eng. once again the best pairing stats wise.
3. PK was finally perfect for a game.

General Observations:
1. Dougie did not pass the puck to Grossman in the 3rd despite several opportunities.
2. The drop pass only works if you move the puck forward from the puck carrying defenseman and the team attacks with 5 players at full speed rather than lining up 4 at the opposition blue line. This was the first game where I have seen this executed properly at least once during a game.
3. A personal opinion only- I enjoyed watching losses under Hartley a lot more than this. At least the games were entertaining.

All is forgotten if we break the curse tomorrow...but man its going to be rough for this team coming home if they don't.

I was feeling the exact same. How someone can say Kulak was Sub Par is beyond me. He was excellent tonight. His first period was probably the best of his career.

[Racki]

Shinkaruk must be wondering who he pissed off or what he did wrong to get called up by the Flames. The Stockton Heat looks like a confident team that's having fun and winning.

[djsFlames]

The team is much more fragile than with Bob. They may have got a better x and o's guy. But they got a worse motivator. And if you can't motivate guys to play or to overcome a bit of adversity then it's kinda hard to execute a game plan. GG probably knows his stuff, it's no knock on his smarts but he also needs to be able to kick the horse. It's a mix of abilities and perhaps personality that's required to be a successful head coach. I mean if it weren't for Mark Giordano pulling the team aside to give them a heart to heart where would they be? The coach needs to be able to rally the guys as effectively as the captain.

I see where Treliving was going with the decision, but perhaps the track record was a bit of an indicator in this case. Not writing him off entirely cause it's still early, but this is what I'm seeing from certain patterns with this team, and recurring issues, with the 'system adjustment' argument no longer holding much weight. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Tomorrow's as good a day as any to come out flying and for GG to show that he can get this team up for games when it matters most.

[Wiggum_PI]

Originally Posted by Racki

Shinkaruk must be wondering who he pissed off or what he did wrong to get called up by the Flames. The Stockton Heat looks like a confident team that's having fun and winning.

I have no idea why Shinkaruk was sent down in the first place, when Gulutzan has been playing a guy like Grossmann.

I thought Shinkaruk looked really solid in his 7 games with the Flames last year and really thought he would start the season on the team.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

I'm not fixing it. It will catch on.

Let's hope it sticks.

[flames_fan13]

Originally Posted by Wiggum_PI

I have no idea why Shinkaruk was sent down in the first place, when Gulutzan has been playing a guy like Grossmann.

I thought Shinkaruk looked really solid in his 7 games with the Flames last year and really thought he would start the season on the team.

Well for starters one is forward and the other is a defenseman. Second who do you do you scratch from the forwards and keep in mind Shinkaruk would have only replaced a top 9 forward. If he plays on the fourth line than Stockton is the best place for him. Backlund, Monahan, Guadreau, Frolik, Bennett, and Brouwer weren't going to be scratched. Tkachuk played his way onto the team so he's probably not getting scratched. Which leaves it to Chiasson or Ferland both who's effort has been there for most of the season. Granted Chiasson doesn't really have the skill to be on the top line but it's hard to tell when both the elite top line players we have are off their game.

I agree that Grossman shouldn't have played today, let alone been signed but i wonder how much influence Burke had on that decision in that he likes having a big strong team.

[Looch City]

Don't worry guys we'll win the next two and everything will be alright again.


...and then we'll get destroyed in another game.

Repeat. Where the #### is the consistency in this team? I'm having déjà vu moments here

[dying4acup]

Beating the Ducks would correct all wrong with the world.

It would also mean going 2-2 against the Hawks, Sharks, Kings, Ducks on a 4 game trip. It would also mean the Flames sleep tomorrow night in their own beds in a playoff spot.

Tonight sucked, tomorrow will be better.

[tfi racing]

Originally Posted by Timbo

Glen Gulutzan. "We were a little bit intimidated. They came real hungry and ready. We didn't."

Sigh

Ugh.Intimidated? You're coaching a silly game in the Staples Centre. If you want to experience what real intimidation is,get on a bicycle and head east of the Staples Centre several blocks...

[Coach]

I think the most concerning thing is that Johnny just does not look like himself. He is the catalyst for the offense of this team. Something is off about him compared to the two previous seasons. I hope it can all get sorted out, but, to me, it doesnt look like he has the freedom to work his magic, like he's trying to play within parameters that just don't make sense to him. Just let him do what he do. Play the guitar sittin beneath the tree by the railroad track. Just a kid doing what he does.

[kn]

This year's rendition of the Flames...

[Jetfire]

Originally Posted by zamler

Glue Gun, can't unsee.

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

I'm not fixing it. It will catch on.

[Machiavelli]

Trending towards another season amongst the league's worst in goals against is very concerning.

Do they really need to carry 8 defensemen? Smid is on LTIR, so they should punt Grossmann to the AHL and let the D develop some chemistry and stability. IR cap relief leaves space for call-ups as necessary.

Gio-Brodie
Jokipakka-Hamilton
Kulak-Engelland
Wideman

Tired of seeing musical chairs on the backend, and Kulak should never sit again.