[PGT] Caps 6 - Flames 2 - ORTIO PLEASE

[Chingas]

^ This is such a BS stretch of the imagination. The worst part about the team playing crappy is that the team is playing crappy. The second worst part is the absolute drivel that we have to wade through in posts like this.

[bugsy]

to me they are playing exactly like a team that expects to win. after last season, getting into the playoffs, and then making moves in the offseason with additions like Hamilton and Frolik... they’re like a team that thinks they should be winning, but has no answers.
chemistry and patience is what we need, but this is a big hole

[Flames_F.T.W]

On a positive note:
-I thought Colbourne looked pretty good. He was physical, won some faceoffs and looked good along the boards.
-Gaudreau is still a bright spot and seems dangerous almost every shift
-Monahan looked better
- Frolik is still playing well
-This is (hopefully) rock bottom and we can only get better, especially when Brodie returns.

I'm praying they turn things around before the game in Ottawa I will be attending next Wednesday.

[JohnnyB]

Johnny Hockey is still a delight to watch on pretty much every shift, but the rest of the team is not so entertaining right now. Too much watching and not enough chasing.

[YYC in LAX]

I support Dougie Hamilton.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by AcGold

The problem is defensive coverage. The majority of goals against are because of the skaters making basic hockey mistakes, forwards and centre not covering high slot or the points.

D men making brutal breakout passes. They need to simplify the game in the defensive zone. They are playing like a WHL team, brutal breakout by everyone. The bad pinches and crappy goalies are second to the god awful coverage.

They don't play man or zone, the defenders don't stop shots from the rushing wingers, the other dman doesn't cover the pass. Nobody is doing anything in our own zone. Even an amazing goalie would lose with such bad dzone play. Engelland and Wideman are giveaway machines and Dougie ain't much better.

This is pretty much the way I see it too. You can't generate offense if you're running around your own zone all night.

This team relied on the defenseman to create offense on the breakout. For whatever reason this year, they are tentative and are regularly turning the puck over. I think we need to keep the forwards down low for now and help the breakout until they get more confident.

But flat out, everyone is missing defensive assignments right now. Mostly the defensemen are not battling hard enough in their own zone. Until that gets better, it will be a struggle to keep the puck out of our net. But if I'm being honest, every defenseman has been poor so far to start the year.

Giordano: slow to react, weak on puck battles, poor confidence in his physical abilities, has shown flashes now and then of what kind of player he really is.
Hamilton: unsure of where to be, really weak on puck battles (especially in front of the net), hesitant to skate the puck out of trouble, has also shown flashes, but less often than Giordano.
Russell: also weak on puck battles, not blocking shots because he's not in the right position, looks like he's afraid to make mistakes.
Wideman: offensively our best defenseman (has regularly created chances), regular turnovers in d-zone leading to goals against, has played pretty much like last year but without the support from Russel in his own end.
Engelland: is what he is, a 7th d-man who ices the puck a LOT. I don't expect much more from him.
Kulak: despite a strong camp, looks scared to handle the puck and hands it off to Engelland too much, has rookie turnovers that you would expect, not really the main problem.

Add in two incredibly shaky goaltenders and you have a recipe for one of the worst defensive teams to start the season.

Here's the thing. You can fix defensive systems, and we know that there is talent on the back end. The goaltending situation needs a shake up. Nobody has gotten the job done for an extended stretch of time now. Time for a change in net, and a LOT of practice on defense for the entire team.

Honestly, the forwards were better last game, but there's still a couple of underperformers (Backlund, Hudler).

[Hockeyguy15]

This is pretty much the same as the 8 game losing streak last year. The only way to get out of it is to play smart simple hockey, and work hard.

Right now the Flames aren't working hard enough, they aren't making the easy plays, and they are running around like a fire drill.

Also I think this 3 goalie thing is in the head of Ramo and Hiller. We need it dealt with and I feel like whichever vet is left will calm down and start playing better.

[Ashasx]

The Flames played a lot better during that losing streak last season.

[Hakan and the Loobs]

Originally Posted by heep223

Whatever BT was thinking with this goalie experiment, whether it was accidental or planned, it has been an utter failure.

I know he's said that it's not ideal, well do something about it FFS instead of letting the team implode on itself. I know the whole team has been bad but man....the softie by Ramo completely deflated them. And then the softie by Hiller again just horrible, when they had some momentum to come back. You know you're bad when Jason Chimera is sniping on you, with no traffic, from the outside of the face off dot, at a key time in the game.

Seriously it's ridiculous, just waive one of them already. Let the other vet take the helm until the team settles down and then play Ortio for a stretch.

####ing #### #### ####

The whole league knows that shooting high on Hiller results in goals.....

[Cflames_12.5]

This team needs a extended road trip. That usually helps turn things around. I'm not worried, they have the talent and the tools to turn it around. Plus it is still so early.

[Huntingwhale]

Terrible game yet again.

-Players need to get puck to the net and shoot the god damned thing. WTf was that Johnny, a 2 on 1 and you try to pass behind the goaltender? Same with Wideman. 2on1, lets pass into the goalies skates. Such a dumb play that works once per season if your lucky. Shoot the damned thing. Looks like a team of less talented Tanguay's skating around looking for the perfect play.

-Both goalies suck and it's maddening to hear Hartley say he's not going to play Ortio. Maddening. Waive one of Hiller or Ramo. Don't care who. Don't care if he gets claimed and we lose them for nothing.

-Bottom 6 is putrid. Stajan, Ferland, you guys need to pick it up. Jooris had some snarl in him and actually had a couple take aways.

-I think it's pretty clear this team isn't at all about puck possession. That's not the system. Good teams hold onto the puck even where there isn't a play. The Flames if they don't see a play dump it in and lose possession.

-The lack of physicality. Hit the damned oppositions D when they have to retrieve the puck in the corner. Tired of seeing Flames players skate away.

To me the saddest part in all of this is that I don't feel the Flames have a chance to come back when they are down. Down 2 goals last season? Got 'em right where we want 'em. This season? You can just feel it's a loss.

Yeah, this is a brutal stretch. I know the team will get better eventually. But today is not that day.

[Royle9]

Ortio be like

[Hockey_Ninja]

I miss Kipper

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I miss Kipper...

Do you remember his last season here?

[Armchair Quarterback]

We suck.

That said, I'm still going to watch the Flames and support the team, I just have to get drunker now so I don't lose it during games. 6-2? Whatever, pass me another beer...

[HartAttack]

I don't normally like to pick on individual players that are playing poorly, but there is 1 Defenseman in particular who is THE reason for a handful of team deflating plays & goals so far this season....

Dougie Hamilton is the worst defenseman on this Flames team by a country mile. The guy has absolutely ZERO defensive hockey IQ. Get a clue Dougie. You're soft (Oshie goal), you aren't smart (Ovi goal), you're weak on your stick (Nuge goal the other night, and at least one or 2 others so far this year). Start acting like a kid that wants to make a difference, instead of one that just got paid big time.

[polak]

Well I didn't think I'd say this but I'm absolutely thrilled that I don't have tickets to a game until December. The last 3 home games I've been to have been blowout loses. It's painful to sit through.

[Hack&Lube]

Ovechkin was as advertised. He just stands out when on the ice. Didn't mind the loss to see him play in person. I can see the floating/cherry picking/lazy defense arguments but he's like a lion who sleeps all day and then pounces when the play goes a certain way. Very dynamic and exciting player. Nobody on the Flames has that charisma or stands out like that.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Terrible game yet again.

-Players need to get puck to the net and shoot the god damned thing. WTf was that Johnny, a 2 on 1 and you try to pass behind the goaltender?

In this case I believe Gaudreau ran out of room so he tried banking it off of Holtby, not pass it. Either way, didn't work out.

I think you are bang on about everything else.

[erikk3]

Ramo is on waivers. Let's hope we see ortio

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