[PGT] Sharks 7 Flames 4

[Samonadreau]

I don't even know what to say. Most frustrating regular season game I've watched in years.

The combination of
- no playoffs
- no picks
- boring hockey
- added a Smith and a Hamonic and we are worse than last season
- the impending doom that we may have rebuilt into ANOTHER mediocre team.

....Makes this the most frustrating season I recall.

Want to know the scariest part.... as much as GG should be fired into the sun right now, I don't know if we are a new coach away from being a contender.

[Manhattanboy]

Ya I guess we can certify the rebuild a failure.

[Samonadreau]

Its not a failure yet but next season will tell us alot about this team. Another coach and a few other moves and if they are still a bubble team then ya it's crazy but probably a swing and a miss

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Feel bad for Gio. He brings it game in and out. He must know better than anyone the terrible shape this team is in going forward.

Gio was about the anyone on the ice that showed MAJOR frustration and care at any point and time. So, I believe this is correct.....

[Calgary4LIfe]

I thought the Flames were playing really well, and even the high danger chances were 'real' high danger chances with legitimate opportunities to score. The goaltending deflated them.

Now that seems like a reasonable excuse on the surface, but...

1) Gulutzan had to pull Smith earlier. He just wasn't ready. After 3 goals - maybe. After the 4th goal, most definitely. Gulutzan waited too long, and it felt like game 4 of last year's playoffs all over again.

2) Push-back push-back push-back. This team has to fight through games like this. I was surprised that they scored a goal at the end, and then not surprised when they surrendered another empty netter. This team just doesn't have that belief any longer. I laughed so hard at RNH proclaiming that once you go down by 3 goals, there is no coming back while the Flames kept pushing back and making those comebacks a few seasons ago. Not that I think that is what the Flames should move back to, but THAT team had a lot of push-back and 'believe' in itself. This team doesn't seem to have that belief.

Some players were great, others not so great... Doesn't matter right now. They are not out, but they are not instilling any confidence that they can beat the odds and sneak into the dance. The odds are against them right now, and when I see a team that folds for a long stretch in such an important game, it makes it real tough to believe in them.

After that 6th goal (or was it on the 7th?), the camera panned to Gulutzan running his finger around the inside rim of his shirt. He must have felt that noose tighten a little bit on that goal. I don't hate him - I don't even dislike him - but it has become obvious to me over the last 2 seasons that he just can't get this team to win for one reason or another. Expectations were fairly high this season, and when that happens, there are changes and there is always a sacrifice to appease the hockey gods.

They have to go on some kind of a win streak to even make it interesting. Some of those teams that are 4 points ahead of them have a game in hand, and the Blues who are 1 point behind have two games in hand. Lose the afternoon game in Vegas, and they are all but mathematically eliminated.

Tough season to follow, but this core does have a lot of promise. They need better coaching and they need that 3rd line to start clicking. The 4th line is so good right now - Lazar - Stajan - Brouwer. The worst line for the majority of the year has now turned into one of the strengths, especially down the stretch. That's something nice to see.

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

I don't even know what to say. Most frustrating regular season game I've watched in years.

The combination of
- no playoffs
- no picks
- boring hockey
- added a Smith and a Hamonic and we are worse than last season
- the impending doom that we may have rebuilt into ANOTHER mediocre team.

....Makes this the most frustrating season I recall.

Want to know the scariest part.... as much as GG should be fired into the sun right now, I don't know if we are a new coach away from being a contender.

As I understand it when slingshotting around the sun you have to lose weight in order to pick up the gravity propulsion swing on the other side, so people will have to go into the sun if we want to go back in time.

[RM14]

[Anduril]

With hockey being as random as it is, it's not surprising to see almost similar rosters have dramatically different results from one year to the next. Tampa Bay from no playoffs to being one of the Cup favorites, New Jersey from bottom of the league to playoff chaser, Colorado being a laughing stock to a darkhorse to make the playoffs and Edmonton being no good in the playoffs and being no good at the bottom of the league again.


Yet Calgary doesn't really show much in the way of breaking out into anything positive despite all the metrics that show otherwise. Are we to expect that with the likes of Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk, Hamilton and Smith ALREADY having career years that somehow this team will take that next major step into being at the top of their division?

The only consistency shown so far is that of mediocrity. Treliving's got his hands tied in terms of roster movement as this is the team he's gambled to put together. The only move left is the coach before all cards are on the table.

[Corral]

This reminds me of the early 2000s. The iggy years were going nowhere until mikka kiprusoff came to town. Smith is good but he’s no kipper. Need to find a longer term #1.

[Ullr]

Huh. Flames lost, wouldn't know because instead of watching crap hockey I got to see the biggest upset it March madness history

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Anduril

With hockey being as random as it is, it's not surprising to see almost similar rosters have dramatically different results from one year to the next. Tampa Bay from no playoffs to being one of the Cup favorites, New Jersey from bottom of the league to playoff chaser, Colorado being a laughing stock to a darkhorse to make the playoffs and Edmonton being no good in the playoffs and being no good at the bottom of the league again.


Yet Calgary doesn't really show much in the way of breaking out into anything positive despite all the metrics that show otherwise. Are we to expect that with the likes of Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk, Hamilton and Smith ALREADY having career years that somehow this team will take that next major step into being at the top of their division?

The only consistency shown so far is that of mediocrity. Treliving's got his hands tied in terms of roster movement as this is the team he's gambled to put together. The only move left is the coach before all cards are on the table.

This is one of the reasons I wish we had gambled and brought in Sutter before the win streak, at least this way your able to assess the problem if it is coaching intangibles or if it is problems with the roster. And even then maybe if Sutter clicks by bringing in a better defensive system and a stronger identity you either make the playoffs or you see if he really can get more out of the players.. Another option could have been adding an impact player or even changing special teams coaches, but at least something to show that the current situation can, or can-not be improved from what was not working.

Lots of suggestions, just a little surprised we didn't do more. Riding out the season in our current situation is a little puzzling but maybe that 7 game win streak carried things over.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Corral

This reminds me of the early 2000s. The iggy years were going nowhere until mikka kiprusoff came to town. Smith is good but he’s no kipper. Need to find a longer term #1.

Also coach.

[minnow]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Many people want Brodie traded, and I don't necessarily disagree. But I also wonder what would happen if you paired him back up with Gio next season. I'm betting he'd rebound in a big way.

They jived. Taking apart the top pairing wasn't a good idea. Hamilton and Gio will never be as good as Brodie and Gio was. Not gonna happen. Maybe Brodie and Gio should be together on the first pp line. I don't know who would work the second though. Something has to change there.

[btimbit]

Tried to start a fire Gulutzan chant with 3 minutes left but nobody joined

[Monahammer]

Lots of guys around here were trashing Kane around the deadline. Probably our just dessert coming back. Shame that this entire season has felt that way. Hard year to be a flames fan. Not sure how ownership expects the city to bend to their will when the team can barely put in the effort for a full season.

[djsFlames]

It's not rocket surgery to see that the issues lie in the second pairing's play, top 9 RW scoring and the bench.

Arguably all may be fixable in the off-season. I wonder if they're bold enough to actually go out and make the necessary changes/additions this time.

If we want to break out of mediocrity then no more bandaids. That means no outcasts coaches, waiver pickups, 3+ million dollar depth players or reclamation projects (unless ultra cheap). I'd rather they stand pat if the right moves aren't there than make more of those sorts of moves that will only promote more of the same (But swapping the coaches being a given of course).

[questionmotives]

I fly into Phoenix at 6:30 on Monday. Thought about pulling the trigger on some $7 Stubhub seats. Going to take the old man for dinner instead...

[81MC]

Watching your team lose sucks.

[crapshoot]

What to do in the most important game of the year? Crap the bed royally, because why not? Everything comes up terrible this season. Hopefully next is better.

[Manhattanboy]

Was in the owners’ box for the game. That was fun.