[PGT] Flames lose 11th consecutive season opener. 4-3 Jets (OT)

[djsFlames]

Re: Gio. Older vets need time to get up to speed, and that's always been pretty typical.

Proclaiming a massive drop off through the first 60 minutes of actual game play in months is premature to say the least.

We won't know a lot of things on an individual and group level until a few weeks in.

Coach said pre-game that he will feel better about the group after the week of practice following game 3. That tells you how much practice time is needed yet.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Do you insert Simon with Backs and bump Mangiapane with Monahan line?

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

At least we know this group's potential when they are clicking is high.

The problem is maintaining it through a damn intermission.

This is absolutely key. I realize there is ebb and flow to every game but when they bring their A-game they look great. Problem is this only come in spurts. They still need to learn how to keep the foot on gas, especially after extended break. This is on Ward to motivate, hope he really earns the promotion he got.

[VladtheImpaler]

I thought Valimaki looked slow. So did Giordano. Lucic was awful. Tanev looked like the Tanev I admired in Vancouver - hope he can stay healthy. Put Bennet with Backlund permanently. Nordstrom awful outside of PK, which is what the advanced stats told us. Nesterov was ok - good for a #6.

[SuperMatt18]

I know lots of people didn’t love their line tonight but I actually didn’t mind Monahans play.

Had a great effort to prevent a 2-1 and create a 2-1 on the one PP that Tkachuk messed up. Got back to get his stick on Laine’s to disrupt the initial OT shot and thought he made a bunch of little plays in the defensive zone.

His effort was there tonight but it feels like him and Gaudreau have just lost all confidence in the offensive zone, seem afraid to try to make a play.

[MisterJoji]

Who was on Lucic’s line in the play-in round? I think I remember Dube was one. He looked dynamite then.

[Classic_Sniper]

Fun game. Lot of fixable mistakes that lead to goals against. Jets made great adjustments. Just take the point and run. I think 65 points gets you into the playoffs, so 1 down, 64 to go.

Nice to have hockey back!

[P-DAZZLE]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Who was on Lucic’s line in the play-in round? I think I remember Dube was one. He looked dynamite then.

Dube and Bennett.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I know lots of people didn’t love their line tonight but I actually didn’t mind Monahans play.

Had a great effort to prevent a 2-1 and create a 2-1 on the one PP that Tkachuk messed up. Got back to get his stick on Laine’s to disrupt the initial OT shot and thought he made a bunch of little plays in the defensive zone.

His effort was there tonight but it feels like him and Gaudreau have just lost all confidence in the offensive zone, seem afraid to try to make a play.

His PP play isn't a concern at all in my eyes. On Johnny's goal, he sucked the Jets towards him and then made a smart pass to Lindy who they made a great pass to Johnny - it was beautiful.

...at even strength though? That line was a disaster. They generated nothing and were constantly driven back into their own zone.

[DJones]

Aside from the one PP goal I wouldn't have noticed if Monahan got benched.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

His PP play isn't a concern at all in my eyes. On Johnny's goal, he sucked the Jets towards him and then made a smart pass to Lindy who they made a great pass to Johnny - it was beautiful.

...at even strength though? That line was a disaster. They generated nothing and were constantly driven back into their own zone.

Personally I don’t like Leivo on their line. Feel like Dube would be a better fit there, his speed would help out Monahan and Gaudreau.

Next game I want to see:

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Leivo
Gaudreau - Monahan - Dube
Mangiapane - Backlund - Bennett
Nordstrom/Lucic - Ryan - Simon

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Personally I don’t like Leivo on their line. Feel like Dube would be a better fit there, his speed would help out Monahan and Gaudreau.

Next game I want to see:

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Leivo
Gaudreau - Monahan - Dube
Mangiapane - Backlund - Bennett
Lucic - Ryan - Simon

How about

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube
Gaudreau - Monahan - Dube
Lucic - Bennett - Dube
Mangiapane - Backlund - Dube

[djsFlames]

Simon looked to have chemistry with them, I don't understand why he wasn't penciled in that spot tonight tbqh.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Let’s get after this Dubois kid. Sounds like he’s good.

He's tenacious. Monahan+ 1st + prospect probably required. But getting someone back who at least will GAF is well worth it.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

How about

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube
Gaudreau - Monahan - Dube
Lucic - Bennett - Dube
Mangiapane - Backlund - Dube

I can live with that.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Simon looked to have chemistry with them, I don't understand why he wasn't penciled in that spot tonight tbqh.

Agreed. Nordstrom shouldn't have drawn into the game while Simon sat in the stands.

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube
Mangiapane - Backlund - Bennett
Gaudreau - Monahan - Simon
Lucic - Ryan - Leivo
Nordstrom

Just do what you have to do to get "there" as fast as possible from a line-up perspective and see if the bottom 6 can sort itself out. Start cutting Gaudreau and Monahan's minutes 5 on 5 and see if it doesn't get them to ratchet it up about 50 levels.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Ideally you'd like to see single digit scoring channces against and 2 or fewer GA every game without playing too tight so you can get offense.

In the first WPG was sitting back playing a 1-2-2 and CGY was able to generate. I think WPG wanted to play a counter game and it worked with the Laine goal.

But CGY has players who need to be on their toes and aggressive and not sit back - they need to go. But again they need to play harder and sharper - that was sloppy after the first.

It's on the coaches to find the lineup and better tactics. Up 3-1...

[The Boy Wonder]

Nice to see Bennett is coming into the year playing like he did in playoffs.

Pulling the boys into the game when no one else seemed to care.

[Calgary4LIfe]

First game of the season, and not much prep going into it. I won't take too much out of this game. You expect a game like this considering the prior points, especially with the roster turnover. Lots of passes that didn't connect, unforced zone exits, missed reads, etc. Everyone seemed a bit scatter-brained out there tonight.


Things that I did like, however:


The transition seemed quicker.
Backlund was great.
Nordstrom looks like he will be a good Frolik replacement.
Mangiapane - Backlund - Bennett seemed like a great line - keep them together.


Things i didn't like:
Leivo didn't look very great. I am sure he isn't a tweener, but he looked it tonight. Deserves the benefit of the doubt at the moment, however.
The top line couldn't dictate anything tonight - Gaudreau kept falling.
I don't like Giordano - Andersson as a pair.
I don't like Andersson on the top PP unit either - but hopefully he improves there.


Just a jittery game without the benefit of a real camp + preseason to get their timing back, learn the system (it seems to have changed, unless it was just a symptom of playing a bit jittery), and to develop chemistry with the new players (and figure out who they play with).


I am glad that the Flames get those 5 days off after the next two games - hopefully they can make the necessary tweaks.


I also thought that Winnipeg seemed to make really good changes to how they decided to play the Flames - not only which line to start against the 4th line, but they changed their forecheck and it seemed to give the Flames fits. Ward didn't seem to have an answer to that in the 3rd - but again, given the lack of practice, it is tough to read too much into anything after tonight's game.



Just move onto the next one.

[The Boy Wonder]

Nice to see Bennett is coming into the year playing like he did in playoffs.

Pulling the boys into the game when no one else seemed to care.