Why on earth would you want one of your star players to ‘let it go’ when the opposition does something so blatantly unsportsmanlike? That would be an embarrassment, and anyone who thinks that was ‘textbook Tkachuk’ is caught up in headlines.
It wasn’t just classless, it was unsportsmanlike as all hell. Fitting for that team.
He should have let it go, they wanted to get under his skin like he does to other players. It would have made Toronto look bad if he had just let it go!
Yet the game was tied in the third period. It was a brand new ballgame and the Flames had the momentum on their side. It was their game to lose, and the Flames coach made an atrocious line matchup on back to back shifts, resulting in the winning goal against. What moron puts your weakest defensive pair with your weakest skating line out against the oppositions best and most mobile line? Geoff Ward. Twice in the third period after the Flames had fought back to tie the game. The was AWFUL. If you'd done that timbit, you'd hang your head in shame and admit your mistake. Just horrible management of the bench.
IMO that line match was not THE problem. The way CGY stopped playing after tying it up was the problem. When they got back into the game it was simple, direct hockey to get into offensive zone.
As soon as they tied it they were doing regroups and trying these long passes and just gave TOR chances to come back at them.
They just totally stopped playing the successful way they had from the start of period two. Backlund did not have a good game and I'm not going to defend that line's play on the go ahead goal but the bad hockey came immediately after tying it up. Mangiapane was noticeably bad.
Keep playing the same way don't become one man shows and trying these stupid passes. Keep it simple and play direct. That had worked! I just don't get why you stop. So frustrating to watch.
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If he panned out, or if they took any of so many other good players chosen after. I know it seemed like a slam dunk at the time though.
He has some skill, it's just so choppy and violent. There's nothing smooth about how he handles the puck. EVER.
Yeah, in the regular season he cannot adapt his game and will take penalties if tries to play like he does in the playoffs. I am not sure if it is hockey IQ or what but he is not good during the regular season.
Not the result I was hoping for, but there were enough good signs there. I'm not too worried.
Markstrom looked good, Johnny looks good. I think this team has the potential to go on a big run this season.
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