[PGT] *Ting* Flames get blanked by the oil

[BigBrodieFan]

I wanted to apologize to everyone. The loss is entirely my fault. I fell asleep half way through the second and Rowdy did too. In my defense, I took some sleepy pain meds because of my tooth situation, but it's no excuse. First time Rowdy and I fell asleep during a game since the big 6-4 comeback prediction, and it's a loss.. with NO points. Coincidence? I think not! I am so ashamed.. It won't happen again.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

They can certainly be an effective line without putting up gaudy point totals and I wouldn't go as far as to say Bennett is neutering Tkachuk at all. The problem is that he's unable to capitalize on anything and is seemingly a non-factor in his ability to locate Tkachuk in open ice and help create more chances.

Your 6th best forward certainly needs to offer more to the group than the occasional point in the long run and I'm not sure what the answer is outside of potentially trying to get Neal going in that spot.

It appears to me that a healthy Frolik would offer more to that line than Bennett - I’m not so sure about Neal.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

They can certainly be an effective line without putting up gaudy point totals and I wouldn't go as far as to say Bennett is neutering Tkachuk at all.

The problem is that he's unable to capitalize on anything and is seemingly a non-factor in his ability to locate Tkachuk in open ice and help create more chances. Without Backlund it seems like it's just Tkachuk out there by himself in the offensive zone right now.

Everything you posted after saying he isn't neutering him at all is describing neutering.

[jayswin]

He's not neutering Tkachuk he's just failing to capitalize on anything and can't locate Tkachuk in open ice or help create more chances.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

I wonder if there is actually any psychology behind this process? It annoyed all of us at home, imagine for the players on the ice.

Maybe it has some Pavlonian effect of getting into the players' heads and impacting their play!!!

Or maybe he's just an idiot. Either or.

I can't speak for Koskinen, but I know when I played growing up, I would touch both posts just to centre myself in the net before I came out to challenge the play.

It might be something different for him, but that would be my guess.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I can't speak for Koskinen, but I know when I played growing up, I would touch both posts just to centre myself in the net before I came out to challenge the play.

It might be something different for him, but that would be my guess.

I would always tap the blocker side post with the top of my stick when the play came into my zone, to centre myself as you said. Every time.

Maybe the on ice mic was just really hot last night? Or Koskinen is Hulkish?

[Locke]

That was pretty much to script.

The Oilers had every advantage.

- No Gio
- No Backlund
- Just played 23 hours ago against the (previously) best team in the West
- On the road
- Lots of rookies playing

So Hitch clogged the place like a bad toilet and banked on McDavid and the best the Oilers could muster was a 'skin-of-their-teeth' 1-0.

The Flames just didnt have enough in the tank. C'est la vie.

When you're playing 3 games in 4 days you generally want to come away with 3 points overall to call it a success. We got 4. Sucks that we dropped one to the grease.

The Oilers can puff and pound their chests and slurp their gruel but the season plods along.

[midniteowl]

I didn't realize how much I hate Hitch's system, may be the Flames just didn't play enough against his old teams. God, last night game was a snoozer.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Production is production, and I certainly don't shy away from that.

I just don't see Bennett as hurting Tkachuk as some have pointed out.

At the end of the day you need a second line to do some scoring. I'd hope they analysis of a second line is deeper than just looking at goals scored in month time frame and look into scoring chances generated vs giving up.

But you need to produce ultimately.

The stats certainly don't support the notion that Bennett is neutering Tkachuk.

Bennett is a terrible passer, more so from his general reluctance to pass. I think that hurts Tkachuk because it creates turnovers and reduces cycling opportunities.

Whoever teaches Bennett to pass more and use his will to drive the net is going to be my hockey development hero.

[socalwingfan]

There was a goalie back in the late 80's or 90's that used to hit the posts 4-6 times like the Oiler's tool, can't remember who it was though

[Toonage]

Patrick Roy?

[getbak]

Hextall was known for banging his posts too.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Everything you posted after saying he isn't neutering him at all is describing neutering.

For me, that would be a case of Bennett actually causing harm to Tkachuk's game, and I don't think that's the case. He's just not helping make him a better player like Backlund does. There's a pretty big difference between helping, hurting and just being there, of which Bennett seems to be the latter most games.

[jayswin]

I guess so. It's a confusing explanation on your part. To say that he's not completing the chances Tkachuk is giving him, he doesn't have the vision to create anything and in general just isn't doing anything on the line, but then hammer out semantics on how that's not neutering Tkachuk it's just not helping him, is weird.

Not finishing chances and not helping a star player do anything offensively when you've been put in a second line role is the definition of neutering to me.


When given a second line role your objective isn't "don't harm the other players on your line, just be there" that's 4th line ****. If a second line star's production falters because you can't help him and contribute that is harming the second line.

Anyways, weird semantics debate as it seems that you and I actually agree on what Bennett is failing to do, just not sure why you wouldn't call a spade a spade.

[Racki]

May have been mentioned already but I notice that we’re going to be on the second half of back to back games and three in four nights next time we play the Oilers as well.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Racki

May have been mentioned already but I notice that we’re going to be on the second half of back to back games and three in four nights next time we play the Oilers as well.

But with Gio and hopefully Backlund.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Racki

May have been mentioned already but I notice that we’re going to be on the second half of back to back games and three in four nights next time we play the Oilers as well.

1/13 vs Arizona
1/16 vs Buffalo
1/18 vs Detroit
1/19 at Edmonton

Yeah, it's pretty silly

I expect Tkachuk, Monahan and Brodie will be suspended for something against Buffalo...

[GeoRock]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The team has been on a great run and given 3 games in 4 nights and no Gio or Backlund it's no surprise they didn't play well last night. I don't see why so many fans are panicking after this game of all games. Sure it sucks to lose to the Oilers but the cards were also stacked heavily in their favor and they still only barely won because of a coin flip goal reversal. They now have a few days rest and can get back to practicing as they probably haven't had much opportunities of late to get in quality practice time.

Seriously. We took 4/6 points over 4 days! Lost by a goal to a bad team in a back-to-back without our top D and our primary shutdown C. Gio, Backs, Frolik and Stone is like 15 million watching from the press box! Top teams will lose to weak teams from time to time. Law of averages. The way this flames team has been playing I'd take those losers in a 7 game series any day. Go Flames!

[GoinAllTheWay]

Apologies as I'm sure this has been discussed many times, just haven't seen it.

I know Stone is out with a blood clot but what's the deal with Valimaki and Frolik?

[calumniate]

Their d seemed to be hanging back like crazy. No rush opportunities presented themselves much. Dang!