Flames fall 3-2 to the cargo planes

[Bingo]

I'm just not sweating individual games nor am I worried about season series.

The Flames have had a tough schedule (no Sens, less home games, less games overall), but have some of the best underlying numbers. They should be fine.

Unless they continue to shoot themselves in the foot in the first period every night.

If you had told me Monahan and Gaudreau would be back, Tanev would be a great addition and possibly ignite Hanifin, and that Markstrom was as advertised I'd be pretty damn happy.

This team feels like a five game win streak is on the horizon.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

Does Lucic have to play every game? Is he able to sit out? Seems like when he’s on, he’s ok. But when he’s off, he’s a complete liability out there.

Having Lucic in the lineup every game does not represent the best possible lineup. So what gives?

Not so sure I'd agree.

He had a rough game or two to start the season, but has once again settled into that "nothing much bad happens" when he's on the ice role. He's moved into the team's top 8-9 in most underlying metrics.

Given his linemates he's been money of late for giving the team five on five shifts that don't result in disaster.

It's amazing he's at 54% xGF when he's had a 6% and a 10% game in the nine games.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Not so sure I'd agree.

He had a rough game or two to start the season, but has once again settled into that "nothing much bad happens" when he's on the ice role. He's moved into the team's top 8-9 in most underlying metrics.

Given his linemates he's been money of late for giving the team five on five shifts that don't result in disaster.

It's amazing he's at 54% xGF when he's had a 6% and a 10% game in the nine games.

Bad things did happen when he was on the ice last night though

Bad giveaway leading to a goal where he didn’t back check, another goal against his line (albeit not his fault), and a reckless penalty against

And for whatever reason he is still on the powerplay. I really don’t get that one

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by neo45

Bad things did happen when he was on the ice last night though

Bad giveaway leading to a goal where he didn’t back check, another goal against his line (albeit not his fault), and a reckless penalty against

And for whatever reason he is still on the powerplay. I really don’t get that one

Fair enough ...

I guess what I'm saying is among the bottom six forwards on this team (or bottom four maybe more precisely) he's been more consistent and less of a tire fire than the rest.

[TheIronMaiden]

If/When the Flames drop a game to the Sens this place is going to implode.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

If/When the Flames drop a game to the Sens this place is going to implode.

No, just the usual suspects.

Some people just can't help but complain about sports all the time. I don't think they'd even be happy if the Flames won because it would mean their self fulfilling prophecy would be proven false.

If you think about it, it isn't surprising that a large number of pessimists are drawn to sports. Most teams are going to lose most of the time. Even dynasties like the 90s Bulls, late 90s Yankees and the 00s/10s Patriots have no shortage of angry fans who still find reasons to complain year in and year out.

Add in the emotional fans who take every loss personal and it sure is easy to get the impression the Flames are the most soul sucking franchise in the history of professional sports. In reality, we're just like every other fanbase.


I don't even blame people for wanting to enjoy the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs and the creamy middles. Just don't get caught up in focusing on a single one or you'll become an angry and disgruntled fan.

[Bingo]

Yeah not me any more.

I think the cancer battle changed that for me. I really enjoy the games, the season, love it when they win ... utter the odd "#####!" when they get scored on, but it doesn't really get to me any more.

[Manhattanboy]

Agree with the above posts for sure, just thankful to have hockey back with everything going on.

Its still is weird, and always will be, without fans in the stands however.

It would never happen but would be cool if the NHL and the PA agreed that all contracts would be extended by a year, so in a fractured season like this we would not lose another year of Johnny, Mony etc.

Although of course some would argue its too bad we couldn't shorten some contracts by a year lol.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Yeah not me any more.

I think the cancer battle changed that for me. I really enjoy the games, the season, love it when they win ... utter the odd "#####!" when they get scored on, but it doesn't really get to me any more.

A little perspective will do that to someone, and you got a bigger dose than most (to put it lightly!)

Hockey is fun to watch. It's more fun when they win, but it's still fun when they lose. No sense getting upset to the point of doom and gloom, on to the next one. And if you can't? I dunno, bail, hockey is hardly worth it. It's a game.

[CaptainCrunch]

I agree with Bingo on a lot of aspects, I think this team is better then the results, and they do a lot of really good things. At certain points they're dominant.


At the same time, the lack of consistency is maddening and the pure slow starts are deadly at the NHL level.


I expect that this team when it picks it up is going to be a tough out on a nightly basis.

[Enoch Root]

Some of the doom and gloom in this thread is pretty hilarious. Here are the records of teams, excluding 'free' Senator games:

MTL: 7-1-2 = 16 pts
TOR: 6-1-1 = 13 pts
CGY: 4-4-1 = 9 pts
WPG: 3-3-1 = 7 pts
EDM: 4-6-0 = 8 pts
VAN: 3-7-0 = 6 pts

47 games left in the season (for CGY). The Flames have played 2 games against the bottom 3 teams in the division.

Talk about missing the playoffs, digging a hole, and being behind the 8 ball already, are just ridiculous.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Some of the doom and gloom in this thread is pretty hilarious. Here are the records of teams, excluding 'free' Senator games:

MTL: 7-1-2 = 16 pts
TOR: 6-1-1 = 13 pts
CGY: 4-4-1 = 9 pts
WPG: 3-3-1 = 7 pts
EDM: 4-6-0 = 8 pts
VAN: 3-7-0 = 6 pts

47 games left in the season (for CGY). The Flames have played 2 games against the bottom 3 teams in the division.

Talk about missing the playoffs, digging a hole, and being behind the 8 ball already, are just ridiculous.

I think there's a good case to be made that the above is how the Great White North standings are going to look at the end of the season.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Some of the doom and gloom in this thread is pretty hilarious. Here are the records of teams, excluding 'free' Senator games:

MTL: 7-1-2 = 16 pts
TOR: 6-1-1 = 13 pts
CGY: 4-4-1 = 9 pts
WPG: 3-3-1 = 7 pts
EDM: 4-6-0 = 8 pts
VAN: 3-7-0 = 6 pts

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I think there's a good case to be made that the above is how the Great White North standings are going to look at the end of the season.

Interesting. This ranking also corresponds very closely to goal differentials:

MTL: +17
TOR: +4
WPG: +4
CGY: +3
EDM: -1
VAN: -3
OTT: -24

One of the reasons the Flames still have a positive goal differential is because they and the Canadiens are the only two teams in the Division to have suffered only one multi-goal loss, and that loss was to the other team.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm just not sweating individual games nor am I worried about season series.

The Flames have had a tough schedule (no Sens, less home games, less games overall), but have some of the best underlying numbers. They should be fine.

Unless they continue to shoot themselves in the foot in the first period every night.

If you had told me Monahan and Gaudreau would be back, Tanev would be a great addition and possibly ignite Hanifin, and that Markstrom was as advertised I'd be pretty damn happy.

This team feels like a five game win streak is on the horizon.

People complained after the 2-0 shutout win vs the Habs.

They will complain the 5 game win streak wasn't 10.

[dino7c]

Sens could have easily beat the Oilers in one of those games with NHL average goal tending. The 3rd Oilers goal last night was the worst goal I have ever seen that wasn't a strange bounce or something.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Some of the doom and gloom in this thread is pretty hilarious. Here are the records of teams, excluding 'free' Senator games:

MTL: 7-1-2 = 16 pts
TOR: 6-1-1 = 13 pts
CGY: 4-4-1 = 9 pts
WPG: 3-3-1 = 7 pts
EDM: 4-6-0 = 8 pts
VAN: 3-7-0 = 6 pts

47 games left in the season (for CGY). The Flames have played 2 games against the bottom 3 teams in the division.

Talk about missing the playoffs, digging a hole, and being behind the 8 ball already, are just ridiculous.

Yep, games in hand plus strength of schedule. Flames haven't been their best but still in the driver's seat for playoffs and really which one of these teams scare you? All are worse than Colorado/Dallas

[CsInMyBlood]

I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to juggle up the lines now.

Gaudreau-Monahan are looking good, cant mess with that.

Tkachuk-Lindholm have been struggling of late.

Backlund-Leivo/Backlund-Bennett/Backlund-Lucic just have not been clicking.

Ryan-Nordstrom seems ok.

Maybe moving Backlund up to play center with Lindholm and Tkachuk and playing them against the top lines?

Tkachuk-Backlund-Lindholm

Gaudreau-Monahan-Mangiapaine

Giving the center spot to Bennett (If he agrees I guess) and putting him with Dube?

Leivo-Bennett-Dube

Nordstrom-Ryan-Lucic

I dont know but something needs a shake up to get all 4 lines going.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Some people just can't help but complain about sports all the time. I don't think they'd even be happy if the Flames won because it would mean their self fulfilling prophecy would be proven false.
If you think about it, it isn't surprising that a large number of pessimists are drawn to sports. Most teams are going to lose most of the time. Even dynasties like the 90s Bulls, late 90s Yankees and the 00s/10s Patriots have no shortage of angry fans who still find reasons to complain year in and year out.
Add in the emotional fans who take every loss personal and it sure is easy to get the impression the Flames are the most soul sucking franchise in the history of professional sports. In reality, we're just like every other fanbase.
I don't even blame people for wanting to enjoy the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs and the creamy middles. Just don't get caught up in focusing on a single one or you'll become an angry and disgruntled fan.

Partially true, but I think you're not taking into account that this team has made it to the conference finals just once in the past 30 postseasons, and has just 4 overall series wins in that timeframe. Not many teams are sitting on such a long stretch of comparable playoff ineptitude. So the notion that people are "complaining for the sake of complaining" is not entirely accurate.

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to juggle up the lines now.
Gaudreau-Monahan are looking good, cant mess with that.
Tkachuk-Lindholm have been struggling of late.
Backlund-Leivo/Backlund-Bennett/Backlund-Lucic just have not been clicking.
Ryan-Nordstrom seems ok.
Maybe moving Backlund up to play center with Lindholm and Tkachuk and playing them against the top lines?
Tkachuk-Backlund-Lindholm
Gaudreau-Monahan-Mangiapaine
Giving the center spot to Bennett (If he agrees I guess) and putting him with Dube?
Leivo-Bennett-Dube
Nordstrom-Ryan-Lucic
I dont know but something needs a shake up to get all 4 lines going.

I wouldn't be opposed to giving Bennett another shot on the top line with Johnny & Mony. He's been picking up his play over the last couple of games and I don't see the downside to at least giving him a game or two to see what he can do on the top line.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Partially true, but I think you're not taking into account that this team has made it to the conference finals just once in the past 30 postseasons, and has just 4 overall series wins in that timeframe. Not many teams are sitting on such a long stretch of comparable playoff ineptitude. So the notion that people are "complaining for the sake of complaining" is not entirely accurate.

Perhaps not "complaining for the sake of complaining," but definitely "complaining prematurely," as it occurs in the first quarter of the season. There is absolutely nothing the Flames can do about making the playoffs today beyond what they have been doing. Considering that they have made the playoffs the past two seasons and substantially improved their greatest weakness for this season, then really, any such fretting as a result of past playoff ineptitude can also be construed right now as "complaining for the sake of complaining."

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by neo45

Bad things did happen when he was on the ice last night though

Bad giveaway leading to a goal where he didn’t back check, another goal against his line (albeit not his fault), and a reckless penalty against

And for whatever reason he is still on the powerplay. I really don’t get that one

I like Lucic in the lineup as a bottom 6 forward. He is usually one of our better ones, has a tendency to make good passes out of trouble areas and is physical.

But I wholeheartedly agree he should not be on the PP.

Bennett, Leivo, Valimaki or Hanifin are some of the guys I would prefer to see with the other regulars on PP2.