[PGT] Mike Smith... that is all. Game 1: Flames win 4-0. 1-0 series lead.

[tvp2003]

Something I noticed last night — with Lindholm on the PK (with Janko), it would often mean Neal would be deployed with Johnny/Mony for their next 5-on-5 shift. Can’t argue with the results (PK was perfect), and I’d rather have Lindholm playing those minutes instead of someone like Bennett or Frolik, but I think it’ll be interesting to track how that goes and if Neal can generate some offence when he gets those opportunities.

Credit to the other PK pair as well (Ryan and Hathaway) — the Avs are pretty good at moving the puck around once they gain the zone, but some of their zone entries are really slow to develop, especially early in the game.

[Caboose]

Originally Posted by redforever

That lift of the Avs stick by Ryan was pure gold.

I love that people are pointing Ryan's contribution on this play out! It was definitely a smart play and shows how much the fourth line is clicking right now. Plus, it's something I probably wouldn't have noticed, so props to the other posters for picking up on the little things these guys are doing well!

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Here’s a good clip

https://twitter.com/user/status/1116578987990327297

Damn onions

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Itse

I felt they had trouble establishing rhythm all through about the first half of the game, and I think it was in part deliberate from Colorado to try keep things kind of scrambly and scrappy, and preferably a bit on the boring side too. Seems like a smart thing to do, especially in Calgary. The pressure was after all much more on the Flames.

It seemed to me that once the messy start to the second period was over, Flames almost went "okay, that's enough of that", and really the first thing they did to start taking over was just calm things down and get all four lines going.

I liked what I noticed Peters do during the game, although to be fair he had kind of a cushy job A goalie that lets nothing in, a lineup with no major defensive faultlines and 3 lines that can score, plus the Jankowski line which could theoretically start scoring in the playoffs.

Agree with this. I feel a big reason for the tentative start may have to do with how they finished the season on cruise control. I think what's key is that while they didn't play very well, they didn't give up very much either. And now the hottest team in the NHL isn't that anymore.

[browna]

All teams have nerves, all teams know that regular season doesn't matter, and the pressure is on some more than others. My buddy st the game made a good point as we were leaving the Dome last night. Previously Flames playoff teams, even regular season teams, loose that game 3 to 1. Smith of course, Hamonic on the 2 on 1,and AVs messing up anothrr couple 2 on 1s. If the AVs score on that early second pp even, totally different game and the nervous looking top two lines squeeze the stick harder.
Even when the Flames has gotten into a groove in the lat half of the second, the AVs were still a shot away from tying.
But got goaltending and defense held until the forwards wore down the Avs.
But it was not inconceivable for that to be a tie game going into the third if the AVs got one.

But they didn't and the Flames can have confidence that the first shaky game is over and they still have a series lead...but need to be able to score, not just hold the run of play.

[Scrambler]

Is this the same guy who looked like Santa wearing a Flames Jersey in game 2 vs the Canucks who gave an FU in the celebration following the Flames goal (often GIF'ed in PGT after wins)?

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

Is this the same guy who looked like Santa wearing a Flames Jersey in game 2 vs the Canucks who gave an FU in the celebration following the Flames goal (often GIF'ed in PGT after wins)?

No that isn’t Reg.

[Scorch]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

No that isn’t Reg.

Reg has been replaced by another friend with glasses who won’t embarrass her on TV

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Here’s a good clip

https://twitter.com/user/status/1116578987990327297

All 6-7 of those Smitty chants last night were special moments at the 'Dome that night. Cheesy as it sounds, I'll remember that for a long time. You could see it in his demeanor how much it meant to him, and Smitty busted his ass off the entire game.

Kind of embarrassing how he mentioned in is interview that the Smitty chants sounded a lot better then the boos. Boo the game, boo the effort or the outcome. But to chastise a player when he makes a routine save after letting in a couple softies is a dick move on the fans' part. Imagine being humiliated in front of 18,000 people for not doing your job.

I'll admit I got goosebumps during those chants and I'm sure Smit did too. It couldn't have happened to a better guy at that moment.

Funny enough, last time I heard a goalie's name chant that loud was also vs the Avs in Kipper's last season.

[Zulu29]

Suuuuuper late to the thread, just wanna give a huge shout out to BC Chris for hosting the game lastnight. Great to meet scornfire as well! Have a great pic of Chris’s Avalanche jersey acting as a rug at his front door, just gotta figure out how to post it. Lots of Flames fans here in Kelowna!

[thefoss1957]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Hey! I predicted that Scorpion save in that GT, the way Smith was playing out of his head!

[djsFlames]

CP prays for Reg's return.

Must be fun to know you're going to be on TV every night. Reg took full advantage of this.

[---Hatrick---]

Originally Posted by Scorch

Reg has been replaced by another friend with glasses who won’t embarrass her on TV

#freereg

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Kind of embarrassing how he mentioned in is interview that the Smitty chants sounded a lot better then the boos. Boo the game, boo the effort or the outcome. But to chastise a player when he makes a routine save after letting in a couple softies is a dick move on the fans' part. Imagine being humiliated in front of 18,000 people for not doing your job. .

It’s no small feat to get the Saddledome fans to boo you at home, he almost single handily flushed a very special night down the drain with poor decisions and even weaker goaltending.

I agree 100% he was responsible for the game 1 playoff win and has played great the last month, but if you want to lay a huge egg the night the fans say goodbye to a legend be prepared for the fallout.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Yoho

It’s no small feet to get the Saddledome fans to boo you at home, he almost single handily flushed a very special night down the drain with poor decisions and even weaker goaltending.

I agree 100% he was responsible for the game 1 playoff win and has played great the last month, but if you want to lay a huge egg the night the fans say goodbye to a legend be prepared for the fallout.

I'm going to also point out that

1) The chants make for a much better story this way. As Cassie said during the game, if this is a made-for-TV movie, those jeers and cheers are the emotional low and high of that story, and you need that low point to make that high really mean something. I'm also sure it was much more emotional for Smith and the whole team, knowing there's nothing about that chant they can take for granted.

2) Things are great now, why wallow in past problems.

[Coach]

I believe Hartley once said something to the affect of “when I worked at the car factory, no one booed me if I did a bad job. Nobody cheered if I did a good job either.”

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Agree with this. I feel a big reason for the tentative start may have to do with how they finished the season on cruise control. I think what's key is that while they didn't play very well, they didn't give up very much either.

Absolutely.

I also always want to point out, there's two teams on the ice. If we just play the series straight, Colorado loses and they know it. They don't want us rolling those four lines and on paper making this a special teams competition evens the odds for them a lot.

It's why I love not just the win, but the way we won. Beating them solidly both 5-on-5 and with special teams, while winning the goalie battle, that's got to be discouraging.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

CP prays for Reg's return.

Must be fun to know you're going to be on TV every night. Reg took full advantage of this.

Clearly Reg and his wife are splitting the games and taking friends. I'm sure we'll be seeing Reg with an equally truculent friend in the future

[JohnnyBeGood]

Originally Posted by BigBrodieFan

Out of thanks, but this brought tears to my eyes.. the power of positivity can go very far for all of the players. I feel sick every time I see a negative thread about a player, because it makes the player's confidence plummet when he thinks the fans aren't behind him. Sooo good to see the support for Smith, and the fact that he recognizes it hopefully will make fans more cognizant of being more supportive if they want their team to win.

Totally agree - this is our job as fans, right? We Billieve!