Should Johnson or Elliott Start Game 4?

[Tron_fdc]

Kind of surprised at the amount of people saying gillies.

So let's say he starts......who's the back up?

[bubbsy]

I voted Johnson. The anger has worn off.

Gilles/parsons - guys havr played 1 Or less nhl games, it's a joke to even consider putting them in an elimination game

Johnson - he hasn't played since getting injured. No point putting him in to see how the injury feels considering it's an elimination game.

Elliott - realized last game he hurt the team. If he keeps it real, that's 2 games he's been prone to softies. I think he's got a lot to prove and giving him the start provides him the opportunity of redemption. I am not an Elliott fan but think that fire may be what's needed to get an extremely strong goaltending performance out, at least for the next game.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Why are there so many people voting for Gillies?

Thinking he is the unknown and will miraclously win 4 straight playoff games with only a single NHL game experience? No way it is going to happen.

Why feed a baby sheep to the wolves? What happen if the Flames actually starts Gillies and he got lit up for like 3 goals in the first 5 shots? His confidence may be f'd forever.

Again for the Flames to win 4 straight including winning twice in Anaheim is 99.999% impossible. It might be easier to get Anaheim suspended by the league and forfeit the playoffs.

The Flames may win game 4 and that's pretty much it. Please don't prolong the agony.

No one is thinking this, it's simply a chance to give the kid some experience and see what happens.

Elliott has lost 5 times to the Ducks in the last 16 days, giving up 18 goals in the process. You know what is a 'no way it's gonna happen' situation? The idea that Elliott is going to suddenly turn it around.

This idea that it could ruin Gillies forever is absolute nonsense. I don't know what it is about Flames fans but everyone assumes doom and gloom with everything. News flash: sometimes players actually succeed when given a chance.

Young goalies get into games all the time. And yes, into playoff games too. Ken Dryden had played 6 whole games for the Canadiens before being made their starter for the playoffs. He ended up winning the Conn Smythe. (not saying Gillies is Ken Dryden, just saying young goalies get thrown in all the time).

Even if Gillies did #### the bed, so what? That happens to goalies too. They live to fight another day or they were never NHL caliber in the first place.

Let the kid play.

And imagine if he stands on his head and actually gives the team a spark!

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Parsons just got eliminated. Call him up?

Makes only slightly less sense than the folks voting for Gillies.

[sureLoss]

Parsons isn't an option. His NHL deal starts next season.

Nevermind that throwing a 19 year old into a NHL playoff elimination game with 0 pro shots and 0 pro minutes played is a bad idea.

[calgaryblood]

Can't believe that many people want to start Elliott again....

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Can't believe that many people want to start Elliott again....

Flip a coin as far as I'm concerned but Johnson hasn't played for a while and I would have felt better starting him if he at least got a game in down the stretch. That and he has been pretty awful since his hot streak ended. As someone mentioned going glove side on him is almost an automatic goal. I still want the team to go back to Anaheim to take another run at breaking the Honda Center curse and Elliott may be able to atone for last night with a better effort. Johnson could be good or the game could be over in the first 20 minutes which to me isn't what I would call an enticing option.

[FireGilbert]

There is nothing to lose so might as well go with Gillies and give him a taste of playoff hockey. Elliott should never play for Calgary again and Johnson struggled down the stretch and might not be 100%.

[Rollin22x]

Unless Johnson has looked amazing in practice go with the devil you know. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
One isn't playing well and the other hasn't played lately and looked iffy in his last game.
The other option is to limit the Ducks to 3 shots and win the game 4-3 in OT


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[2macinnis2]

To those worried about shattering Gillies' confidence, ask yourself: are the Ducks really playing well enough right now to do that?

They're getting very few quality scoring chances and limited sustained pressure. Putting the rookie in (and I would make the official call as close to last minute as possible, to shield him from nerves etc etc) may even spark the Flames to be even more diligent in owning the play... or if nothing else motivate an effort that prevents an obvious turn around.

The Flames have played very well in this series. If Gillies put in a solid effort they're probably headed back for game 5. If not, oh well, it was 0-3 in the series anyways and there would be little shame in that (most of you are recognizing we need another goalie not on the roster for next year anyhow).

[Erick Estrada]

I think Gulutzan is only concerned with one thing and that's winning the next game. I highly doubt he's even considered starting a total unknown like Gillies in such a big game.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

This idea that it could ruin Gillies forever is absolute nonsense. I don't know what it is about Flames fans but everyone assumes doom and gloom with everything. News flash: sometimes players actually succeed when given a chance.

Young goalies get into games all the time. And yes, into playoff games too. Ken Dryden had played 6 whole games for the Canadiens before being made their starter for the playoffs. He ended up winning the Conn Smythe. (not saying Gillies is Ken Dryden, just saying young goalies get thrown in all the time).

Okay, how many goalies with fewer than 10 NHL games under their belt have been brought into an NHL playoff elimination game in the last decade? Name them.

There's a reason teams don't do that. And there's a zero per cent chance the Flames do it, because the team is run by professional hockey people.

[tfi racing]

Go ahead and fire up the time machine.You could bring back Kipper,Vernon,Brodeur,Roy,Belfour,Bower, Broda or any great of the past at their best and in their prime,even go ahead and play all of them in the same game.The result for this series will be exactly the same,it's over tomorrow night.

[Azhouse]

I chose Gillies in the poll. If it is between Elliott and Johnson I choose Elliott in hopes he has a bounce back game. If he fails the Flames have hopefully no illusions about offering a contract next year.

[jlh2640]

Gillies 100 percent deserves it. At this point why not ! He is the only one of the 3 that might be the future.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Okay, how many goalies with fewer than 10 NHL games under their belt have been brought into an NHL playoff elimination game in the last decade? Name them.

There's a reason teams don't do that. And there's a zero per cent chance the Flames do it, because the team is run by professional hockey people.

lol

you managed to make the parameters tight enough that I doubt there were any chances for that to have happened in the last 10 years.

Young goaalies start games. Even in the playoffs. You know it as well as I do.

Also, the AHL isn't that different from the NHL. Sure , the game is faster and the shots are harder but the difference isn't that great. We're not talking about a child here - he's 23.

He isn't made of sugar. The sun would come up the next day, win or lose.

But let's all keep living in fear as Flames fans: "please Mr Treliving, don't put our pour kids in danger, they might skin their knee or something."

[tko]

Originally Posted by 2macinnis2

To those worried about shattering Gillies' confidence, ask yourself: are the Ducks really playing well enough right now to do that?

They're getting very few quality scoring chances and limited sustained pressure. Putting the rookie in (and I would make the official call as close to last minute as possible, to shield him from nerves etc etc) may even spark the Flames to be even more diligent in owning the play... or if nothing else motivate an effort that prevents an obvious turn around.

The Flames have played very well in this series. If Gillies put in a solid effort they're probably headed back for game 5. If not, oh well, it was 0-3 in the series anyways and there would be little shame in that (most of you are recognizing we need another goalie not on the roster for next year anyhow).

100% agree

[transplant99]

Elliott.

Im sorry but throwing a kid into a dumpster fire is Oiler-like stupidity. The Flames are a dumpster fire. So why would you chance wrecking Gillies future in a game that simply doesnt matter?

Strangest sentiment from these boards...ever.

[Manhattanboy]

Elliott starts. I would be shocked to see Chad Johnson.

[8sPOT]

I voted Gillies but after a day to collect my thoughts I think it's gotta be Elliott.

Johnson has not played much lately and is coming off an injury. Also, as ####ty as it's been, several goals have been tips and weird bounces. Elliott knows he let the team down, why not see what he can do when we are all in?

If there's anyone on the team that will be focused and ready to go it's Elliott.