[PGT] Kings 1 - Flames 4

[TheIronMaiden]

Feels like it's only a matter of time for Neal. He is starting to look dangerous.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

I can't believe that between Valimaki Kylington and Andersson, Bill Peters manages to swap around 3 rookies and not miss beat. And then, you consider Hanifin is only 21! Unreal. Not often you see an NHL team rotate 3 D rookies in and out, and it can still be considered their best D corps in years. It's so surreal to me.

This is the D corps the team has been hoping for since Bouwmeester signed. The future is so bright on the backend.!

The really crazy part is we have a great skating D in Brodie. Then we get another great skating D in Hanafin, but I almost think Kylington is a better skater than both those guys.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Feels like it's only a matter of time for Neal. He is starting to look dangerous.

Haven't we all been saying this since game #10 or so? I agree he hasn't looked bad by any means, but it's time for this guy to start earning his paycheck in the goal scoring department. Just imagine how deadly this team will be if he ever gets rolling.

[The Professor]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Feels like it's only a matter of time for Neal. He is starting to look dangerous.

I agree. I don’t see any pouting from him. I feel like he’s been one of our most dangerous looking forwards in spite of underwhelming line mates.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Azure

The really crazy part is we have a great skating D in Brodie. Then we get another great skating D in Hanafin, but I almost think Kylington is a better skater than both those guys.

Mark Giordano is also an excellent skater and would be the best skating D on at least a few teams.

[Gaskal]

I think Flames will have to make a deal with Seattle to keep both Kylington and Andersson with the Flames, so that you are able to go 7-3-1 and protect the maximum amount of players overall. Brodie and Hamonic are both UFAs that year.

Johnny, Monahan, Lindholm, Tkachuk, Backlund, Bennett, Jankowski

Giordano, Hanifin, Andersson/Kylington

Big Save Dave

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Feels like it's only a matter of time for Neal. He is starting to look dangerous.

I feel like I've been saying the same thing for over a month now, but it's just not happening. Something's off with him, but I can't tell what because I didn't watch him as a player much before this year.

I do see him behind the play and lacking the extra gear necessary to keep plays alive in the offensive zone. If he can pick up his effort a little he'll get more goals. I think he's dogging it just a tad.

[Lil Pedro]

Doesn't help that he hasn't won a loose puck battle along the boards the entire season either

[calgarywinning]

Yeah, Neal to me is a strange one to figure out. Last night, he was in the attack zone, near the puck, looks around for an outlet pass and decides the play is dead, so stands there as Ryan comes in around him and digs the puck out, he's still asleep at the switch, watching the play unfold but disengaged. Play dies.

I'm still hoping he finds the next gear, or he's that "playoff assassin/grit" down the line. Other then that he's moving to that Flames typical FA signing that comes in to wind down their career on our dollar, cap space and playoff hopes.

[Inferno]

Whether you thought the goal Smith let in was bad or not he ended up making up for it by making a big save that ended up leading to the winning goal. Quit bitching and be happy he made that big game changing save that so many on here say he never does.

The more he plays the more I get the impression that some on here want him gone so bad that they hope he fails and get pissed when he doesn't and take it like a loss.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Feels like it's only a matter of time for Neal. He is starting to look dangerous.

I think we need to make this comment into a meme. People have been saying this since game 5. Maybe that skeleton in the chair pic or something.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by FBI

I think we need to make this comment into a meme.

I posted this in the GT last night.

[clancy]

Originally Posted by Jore

yeah the kings broadcast has always called a good game. nice analysis too.

dominant performance that got more of the scoreline they deserved at the end, it was too close for too long, wish they'd put them away early

kylington was very dynamic. really tight with his gaps and reads, as well as rotation in the offensive zone

Yes he was

[CaptainYooh]

Both quotes. Priceless. Thanks, Gaskal.

Each and every time I hear the poor trumpet guy, I wanna throw my beer at him and put him out of his misery.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Man, that ATL is depressing!

I thought Jankowski was excellent last night. Made 2 or 3 really nice defensive plays

[Enoch Root]

I thought Cassie Campbell was really good last night. Her insights have always been good, but her delivery was somewhat awkward (like most people as they start in that field). But she is clearly getting more comfortable. Might have been her best game covering the Flames.

The goal on Smith wasn't good - you have to push forward and challenge the shooter, but he sat back and made himself small. The epitome of a lack of confidence. However, the save in the 3rd was huge, and overall, you have to say he had a solid game. He seems to be coming around, and that would be great news for this team.

The D is ridiculous. Stone is a solid 5/6 guy, who can step up and be a decent #4 for a while when needed. Yet he can't crack a lineup that now boasts 4 guys that average 21.4 years old, and only one has celebrated his 22nd birthday. And they aren't just holding their own, they're all good. THREE years from now, these 4 will average 24 years old, the age that defensemen usually start to get comfortable in this league. It's scary how bright the future is with these guys. Kyllington was rock-solid last night.

Really liked Bennett's game - continuing to play physical and aggressive, but also looked very confident in dropping a couple nasty dangles. I also thought Neal had a solid game. Good to see Backlund get a couple - hopefully that ignites him offensively.

Johnny was off the charts in that game, not just dangling, but flat-out embarrassing guys. He embarrassed Doughty, among others. Could easily have had a hattie.

Some people talking about a lack of finish or lack of killer instinct, but there were lots of grade A chances (form Johnny alone!) that could have broken the game open. He destroyed Peterson on the wrap-around, and that's a goal 99 times out of 100.

Solid home win against a really bad team. 10-4-1 in their last 15. And it still doesn't feel like they're playing as well as they can, nor can you say they're firing on all cylinders yet.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I thought Cassie Campbell was really good last night. Her insights have always been good, but her delivery was somewhat awkward (like most people as they start in that field). But she is clearly getting more comfortable. Might have been her best game covering the Flames.

The goal on Smith wasn't good - you have to push forward and challenge the shooter, but he sat back and made himself small. The epitome of a lack of confidence. However, the save in the 3rd was huge, and overall, you have to say he had a solid game. He seems to be coming around, and that would be great news for this team.

The D is ridiculous. Stone is a solid 5/6 guy, who can step up and be a decent #4 for a while when needed. Yet he can't crack a lineup that now boasts 4 guys that average 21.4 years old, and only one has celebrated his 22nd birthday. And they aren't just holding their own, they're all good. THREE years from now, these 4 will average 24 years old, the age that defensemen usually start to get comfortable in this league. It's scary how bright the future is with these guys. Kyllington was rock-solid last night.

Really liked Bennett's game - continuing to play physical and aggressive, but also looked very confident in dropping a couple nasty dangles. I also thought Neal had a solid game. Good to see Backlund get a couple - hopefully that ignites him offensively.

Johnny was off the charts in that game, not just dangling, but flat-out embarrassing guys. He embarrassed Doughty, among others. Could easily have had a hattie.

Some people talking about a lack of finish or lack of killer instinct, but there were lots of grade A chances (form Johnny alone!) that could have broken the game open. He destroyed Peterson on the wrap-around, and that's a goal 99 times out of 100.

Solid home win against a really bad team. 10-4-1 in their last 15. And it still doesn't feel like they're playing as well as they can, nor can you say they're firing on all cylinders yet.

Enoch agree with everything you say here about the game. Johnny was on another level, and Bennett was awesome. I’ve been pretty critical of Bennett’s IQ and would be happy to eat crow if he really solidifies himself in the top six.

With the exception of your take on Cassie. And I have not been in any way vocal about her, I’ve been kind of half paying attention to the vocal critics. I thought she was pretty bad last night, but she completely lost me a few weeks ago, when she was going on and on about how Tkachuk is always so eager to be the first one over the boards to serve penalties, because he likes the potential for breakaways coming out of the box. Like giving him props for paying attention and jumping over and racing to the box.

Anyone who’s played hockey knows that that is a coaching decision. I know it’s just one thing, but it just made me realize that she really doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by tkflames

Agreed.

@DM you are looking for flaws in her work. Cassie had good insight on the zone entries and overall provided fair commentary. She made at least three separate references to that puck getting through Smith, how he would like to have that one back and how this has been what has been getting through him the last few weeks.

You know that things are going well for the flames when our biggest complaints are about the commentary from a decent colour personality who also happened to be a women's hockey great.

You have no idea what I am looking for.

She has gone out of her way lately to pump Smith’s tires. She was, as you and others mentioned, fair on the goal.

I like her work generally.

I like that Smith stopped everything that he should have. He has been steady lately but not called on to be spectacular.

Generally most media folks close to the team are overcompensating because of the beating Smith has earned and taken all year.

And the amount of time she spent early this broadcast and all of the previous time he played was too much.

If you don’t believe me, go do the drinking game. Take a PVR’d game he has played recently. Every time Smith is complimented for routine plays, or for no actual play but just as part of the colour, have a drink. Then you can tell me I was right when you get out of the hospital

[Shazam]

Tkachuk volunteered to be the guy in the box for bench minors and such, for the reasons stated.

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by Azure

The really crazy part is we have a great skating D in Brodie. Then we get another great skating D in Hanafin, but I almost think Kylington is a better skater than both those guys.

Andersson, Gio, Valimaki and even Hamonic are no slouches. Other than Stone, who's injured, and maybe Prout, who barely plays, our D has to be one the most mobile in the league. I doubt there's an advanced stat for that, but who knows nowadays.