[PGT] Flames beat Sharks 3-2.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by AcGold

It's Chiasson fyi foshizz, I like the concept but I'd put Backlund and Brouwer on the top line. Bennett needs to find his game yet, Backlund seized his like a boss.

Ya, that is fair. These lines aren't in order by any means. It is like having a 1a/b and c. Because all can log good minutes but right now, I agree that the Backlund line is our #1 line, no matter who plays with Backs and Fro, they are rock solid.

[icarus]

Keep Johnny and Monahan together, if Versteeg is hurt call up Klimchuk and try him on that line. Can't get any worse than it is now. With so many road games and last changes the opposition will have to continue to respect the top natural talents and key their top defensive lines against the Gaudreau line which should hopefully allow the other lines to continue to be effective. The game where the opposition stops keying their main shut down lines against the Gaudreau line will be the game they break out.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

The issue with that is, if you notice Tkachuck likes to setup from behind the net, so does Johnny. They can't both be there.

Regarding Johnny and his woes, he is really suffering from not having Hartleys system. That stretch pass allowed Johnny to usually be entering the zone on an odd man break.

Also, Monahan is not driving the net hard like he did last year. He's not engaging physically at all and his shot is missing some mustard.

Add those issues together and you're going to have a mis-firing top line.

I believe Monny is injured still or concerned about re-injuring his back is on his mind.

GG's system could perhaps be the first in a very long time that isn't built around Gaudreau and Johnny needs to figure out how to be as dynamic without always being fed the puck. Problem is, he's not going to body players off the puck.

I get that, but I also think Tkachuk is smart enough to adapt. IIRC Marner was the same way in Junior and that seemed to work.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

The issue with that is, if you notice Tkachuck likes to setup from behind the net, so does Johnny. They can't both be there.

Regarding Johnny and his woes, he is really suffering from not having Hartleys system. That stretch pass allowed Johnny to usually be entering the zone on an odd man break.

Also, Monahan is not driving the net hard like he did last year. He's not engaging physically at all and his shot is missing some mustard.

Add those issues together and you're going to have a mis-firing top line.

I believe Monny is injured still or concerned about re-injuring his back is on his mind.

GG's system could perhaps be the first in a very long time that isn't built around Gaudreau and Johnny needs to figure out how to be as dynamic without always being fed the puck. Problem is, he's not going to body players off the puck.

I know its not an exact matchup. But with the football team that I coached, we had a kid at running back who badly shattered his leg last year and missed the season. He came back and he was tentative and afraid to take hits and was just unsure of himself, and I think in his mind he was freaking out and worried about any hit breaking his leg again.

After two games we were considering moving him to a backup or receiver role and looking at promoting our full back to half back, cause at least we'd get 3 bruising yards a carry. But in game three he took a hard hit to the leg, and he stood up and flexed it a couple of times, of course as coaches we're like "oh shyte man". But he stayed in and ripped a dive for about 5 yards, and bounced up. After that he was dominant for the rest of the year and looked like the player that we thought he'd be before the injury.

Sean looks like a guy that's focused on an injury and because of that he looks slow and tentative and he looks like he's second guessing everything that he does.

But I'll tell you what, I firmly believe that he'll get there, he'll find something to build his confidence, or he'll wake up one morning and feel like a different person.

Because frankly this team is what 5-6-1 without the top line being good or even near to last year.

[puckedoff]

We need to bring in McGratton to spark Monahan. Spirit animals and all that.

[Racki]

If there is a call to the farm I'd love to see Klimchuk get the call. Shinkaruk might be the natural choice as he's already played on that line and has more offensive upside but I think Klimchuk could be a great fit. The reason I think Hudler had so much success with #13 and #23 despite having average speed was because he was smart. The two things you always hear about Klimchuk are that he is smart and responsible away from the puck. I'd love to see how he would work on that line.

[CaptainCrunch]

To me its too soon for Klimchuk, he's had a nice start after a pretty horrible pro experience last year. Let him really build his confidence before you bring him up.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I kind of want to try Tkachuk with Monahan and Gaudreau. I think he is a really smart player that has shown he can play and think the game at that elite level. Enthusiasm may get them rolling.

Originally Posted by Robbob

I get that, but I also think Tkachuk is smart enough to adapt. IIRC Marner was the same way in Junior and that seemed to work.

IIRC though, they have tried Tkachuck with them (Johnny and Monny) and the experiment didn't last long. Perhaps it could work now as players are more familiar with each other.

But considering that it was tried, both players like to play in the same spots, both have played LW, except for when on the same line, and you would then have to breakup our best line this season.. it doesn't make a ton of sense.

That said, it would be interesting to perhaps see a Gaudreau-Bennett-Tkachuck line to see if there's anything there.

Add to that, bring up Hamilton and sit Monny if he's still having back issues.

Gaudreau-Bennett-Tkachuk(Lw)
Ferland-Backlund-Frolik
Hathaway(Rw)-Hamilton- Brouwer
Bouma-Stajan-Chiasson

But that leaves some unbalanced lines and I could see it being quickly switched to

Gaudreau-Bennett-Brouwer
Tkachuk-Backs-Fro
Ferland-Hamilton-Chiasson
Bouma-Stajan-Hathaway

but wtf do I know.. I'm not saying you're wrong, that's just my take on it.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I kind of want to try Tkachuk with Monahan and Gaudreau. I think he is a really smart player that has shown he can play and think the game at that elite level. Enthusiasm may get them rolling.

I think Backlund and Frolik are the perfect mentors for Tkachuk...you gotta keep him there.

[sa226]

Its kind of funny how what you think is automatic couldn't be further from the truth.

I thought coming into this season, the difference would be secondary scoring. lines 2 and 3 really needed to take the pressure away from Gaudreau and Monahan. Well here we are and the top 2 forwards on the team are struggling mightily. If it wasn't for the secondary players, the record would be even worse. Those guys need to get going ASAP.

With all the bellyaching about the 2 high profile UFA's signed in the past 2 years. Frolik and Brouwer have been among the best forwards thus far.

Ferland may fit into a Gulutzan team better than he fits in to a Hartley team. Or maybe he is just starting to figure it out. He is gaining consistency in his game and its great to see.

By year end, Bennett may be the best forward on the team. You can see it coming. As long as he stays healthy and the learning curve remains steep.

I don't know what to think of the defence. There's the top 3 and they will carry the load for the season. But then there's Kevin who seems to be a top 4, bottom 2 tweener. Engelland who has been a positive surprise this year, but self destructs when played out of place. Then Mr Jekyl and Hyde, Wideman. As much as we all would like it, you can't sit Wideman for the year. When he's playing well he is an average defenceman who is okay on the PP. When he's not playing well he drags down his partner and loses you games. For me it Gio\Brodie---Hamilton\Kevin---Engelland\Kulak\Grossman until the cows come home. I'm not a Wideman hater, he's just too much of a wildcard to be any sort of asset to the everyday lineup.

Most pleasant surprise thus far? Chad Johnson by a country mile.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

I think Backlund and Frolik are the perfect mentors for Tkachuk...you gotta keep him there.

I get that. I love how they are playing, but getting the first line going needs to be a priority. The thing I think with Tkachuk's time on the Frolik/Backlund line is the caliber of players he is playing against. Really shows his growth and helps quell some reservations about throwing him into the deep end.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I know its not an exact matchup. But with the football team that I coached, we had a kid at running back who badly shattered his leg last year and missed the season. He came back and he was tentative and afraid to take hits and was just unsure of himself, and I think in his mind he was freaking out and worried about any hit breaking his leg again.

After two games we were considering moving him to a backup or receiver role and looking at promoting our full back to half back, cause at least we'd get 3 bruising yards a carry. But in game three he took a hard hit to the leg, and he stood up and flexed it a couple of times, of course as coaches we're like "oh shyte man". But he stayed in and ripped a dive for about 5 yards, and bounced up. After that he was dominant for the rest of the year and looked like the player that we thought he'd be before the injury.

Sean looks like a guy that's focused on an injury and because of that he looks slow and tentative and he looks like he's second guessing everything that he does.

But I'll tell you what, I firmly believe that he'll get there, he'll find something to build his confidence, or he'll wake up one morning and feel like a different person.

Because frankly this team is what 5-6-1 without the top line being good or even near to last year.

My suggestion was to drop Monahan and Chiasson down to third line duty for a few games, perhaps with a guy like Bouma. Tell him not to worry about scoring but just to crash and bang, be physical on the cycle. If he can't do it then you know he's injured and/or playing tentative and that won't change if you keep gifting him minutes on the top line and on the PP with Johnny. On the other hand, if he can get used to skating and getting into the flow of the game, I think he'll eventually start finding the open areas again and that's when you put him back with Johnny.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Engelland probably told him about this Calgarypuck place somebody told him about.

So I asked him if he ended up checking out CP, and he said no, he forgot. His wife originally said she didn't want to look because she thought he always gets bashed on those types of sites. I told him he will always be loved on CP because of fighting the 2 Canucks (Dorsett and whoever).

He said he has the pictures and newspaper clippings of that fight plastered all over his garage. Seems he's quite proud of it as well.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

That was the least noticeable I've seen Gaudreau. He didn't stand out at all. I find that more than a little concerning.

I thought he was noticeable. But for all the wrong reasons. His move-de-jour is to rip down the wing and try to roof it from a sharp angle. That has worked maybe twice for him his entire Flames tenure. The puck misses short side and exits the zone. Rinse and repeat.

Johnny's trying. But he really needs to adapt his game.

[Bunk]

What's plaguing Johnny is the same what's plaguing the powerplay. They are too easy to defend on the zone entry - it's like this big wind up where Johnny circles back, takes an outlet pass, the opposition stands at the blue-line, there is no support and he coughs up the puck 1-3. Frustration mounts, confidence drops, it gets in their heads. They have to change the transition game to be much quicker and play a simple up and down game.

They should watch video of every successful scoring chance from last season they had and watch how it developed. I bet it looks a lot different than what they are trying now. It's not just execution, it's the line's entire approach moving up the ice.

[I_H8_Crawford]

After finally having time to watch a full game, and witnessing that awful, awful PP, I am not convinced that it is on coaching.

Unless coaches tell them to miss passes, not move, lose board battles, forget how to skate, miss the net, and allow the defending team to OUTNUMBER you on the boards for the puck.

IMO the craptacular PP rests solely on the shoulders of the players who aren't performing even the most basic of hockey plays (i.e. skate, pass, shoot) let alone run actual plays.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

Unless coaches tell them to miss passes, not move, lose board battles, forget how to skate, miss the net, and allow the defending team to OUTNUMBER you on the boards for the puck.

It looks to me like they're trying to think while playing. Thinking is supposed to happen in practice; during the game, they should be executing, because there's just no time to spare. But it takes time to learn the habits of playing a new system. Last month we saw them thinking at 5v5, with horrible results. Now it's the turn of the special teams.

[Flash Walken]

Is Tkachuk the player we thought we were getting with Bennett and is Bennett the player we thought we were getting with Monahan?

[The Professor]

Baby steps, but Monahan had a few shifts where he carried the puck around, protecting it well with his body. Of course he then passed it directly to a Sharks player. But I feel like it was a sign that he might be getting closer to becoming his old self.

Especially after a win, let's look for the positives!

[rumy]

Nice win. Hope we can keep it up for the other 2 California games