GDT: Flames @ Pittsburgh

[Dertell]

Yeah, best road trip ever

we outscored the other teams 21-7 whereas the blues went 16-3 and the blackhawks 23-5. clearly this proves we still have goaltending issues to address ASAP

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

Were the Flames good or just Markstrom?

I was not able to catch any of this one?

Flames weren't great, but Sutter had some weird D pairs out there so each pair had a bit of an anchor:

Andersson-Tanev - Andersson really struggled, playing the left side is not his forte. Markstrom had to make some big saves.

Valimaki-Gudbranson - I thought that was Guddy's worst game of the year. He struggled with the elevated role. They definitely benefitted from Markstrom.

Kylington-Stone - Stone looked like a #7D playing his first game of the year. Kylington did his best to make lemonade out of it and ended up with the third star, but they definitely benefitted from Markstrom.

 

[Darth Vladar]

Yeah, best road trip ever

Our competition was spotty, but this still makes me feel so good. Markstrom is 3-0, 0.33 and .991 in his last three games, that's just insane.

 

[Mazatt]

I will also say it's genuinely nice that, under Sutter, there's a much clearer picture of what players are. Under coaches prior there could always be this air of "mismanagement" that made it hard to get a good read on what a player is. Is Bennett bad or are his linemates awful? Is Gaudreau burnt or is he getting run with Monahan too much? Is Kylington actually good or bad when he gets to play?

Of course some questions remain (or more thoughts) as far as "Is Andersson bad or is he above his head/not meant for the top PP unit?" but it is so refreshing that players are seemingly getting a fair shake to show what they can do in proper spots without the overbearing lack of direction form coaches on a masssive scale. Even Dube who struggled early at C is getting an extended look that some guys would never get in previous years (Sutter specifically mentioning speed down the middle down important reminds me of someone here lmao).

 

[Darth Vladar]

Well let's enjoy this one boys. For the time being, we are officially numero uno in the conference, only behind the two still-perfect teams in league standings. How many of us would've predicted that? Let's just hope the Flames can keep this magic going at home.

 

[Mobiandi]

This is the least confident I've ever been about our depth but Sutter's making us look the best we ever have. Coaching, huh

 

[Anglesmith]

This is the least confident I've ever been about our depth but Sutter's making us look the best we ever have. Coaching, huh

I'm surprised that you would see our depth as poor of all things this year. We have effective players on every line, really.

You could certainly argue that we have the least convincing second line that we've had in recent memory (whether that is the Backlund line or the Dube line), but we don't really have liabilities filling out our roster like in most years. Pretty much twelve reliable forwards who can generally be relied on to make the right play and not cost us.

 

[BigRangy]

I'm surprised that you would see our depth as poor of all things this year. We have effective players on every line, really.

You could certainly argue that we have the least convincing second line that we've had in recent memory (whether that is the Backlund line or the Dube line), but we don't really have liabilities filling out our roster like in most years. Pretty much twelve reliable forwards who can generally be relied on to make the right play and not cost us.

the flames are winning right now and playing great but Ritchie, Lucic, Gudbranson, and probably even Valimaki will be liabilities at some point this season. There is definitely some room for improvement at the bottom of the lineup. But they're doing their jobs for now.

 

[Khrox]

Like Gulutzan was the smartest guy when it comes to all these tactics and

and then

Versteeg-Bennett-Brouwer wtf

Like, I actually get that line in theory. Versteeg has always been a decent playmaker. Brouwer is a crash-and-bang guy with netfront abilities (you know, until he came to Calgary). And Bennett is a shooter who can crash and bang as well. Brouwer can kind of do more of the physical stuff to let Benny focus on playing C, and Steeger can set him up for shots.

Unfortunately it just didn't work out (I still remember Versteeg being decent when he wasn't injured, and one of those injuries was Brouwer taking him out too). Which went back to being fourth line winger Bennett.

 

[joescores]

Marky the Octopus.

I wasn't expecting this, Coleman is also sneaking into the "good soldier" debate.

Let's play like this at home fellas

 

[DFF]

I'm surprised that you would see our depth as poor of all things this year. We have effective players on every line, really.

You could certainly argue that we have the least convincing second line that we've had in recent memory (whether that is the Backlund line or the Dube line), but we don't really have liabilities filling out our roster like in most years. Pretty much twelve reliable forwards who can generally be relied on to make the right play and not cost us.

Depth is a little bit better than last year. Three good lines. The defense overall is not impressive, but we have 8. Two competent goalies.

The farm will get better as we have some real prospects ready soon instead of pretenders like Ruzicka and Phillips.

 

[DFF]

Marky the Octopus.

I wasn't expecting this, Coleman is also sneaking into the "good soldier" debate.

Let's play like this at home fellas

Markstrom stole the win tonight.

 

[Tofveve]

Nice to see us stringing some fun wins and top spot in the standings. I'm loving seeing Gaudreau unhooked from Monahan. This is fun Sutter hockey to watch . . . For now. 2-1 hockey seems to be the normal brand but they seem to be allowed to play offensively. So nice to see. A shutout is great too.

 

[Body Checker]

Markstrom was something else last night; just Mr. Cool, was in total control with his movements and his anticipation of plays was elite level last night.

 

[Mobiandi]

I'm surprised that you would see our depth as poor of all things this year. We have effective players on every line, really.

You could certainly argue that we have the least convincing second line that we've had in recent memory (whether that is the Backlund line or the Dube line), but we don't really have liabilities filling out our roster like in most years. Pretty much twelve reliable forwards who can generally be relied on to make the right play and not cost us.

I mean we were 5 games in and Mangiapane and Lindholm were responsible for almost all of our even strength goals.

I think we have a very defensively responsible group of forwards and I'm glad that the goals are starting to come for our Coleman etc but if you look at our bottom 6, there's few gunslingers or shorthanded speedster gods in there compared to years past.

 

[Yepthatsme]

the flames are winning right now and playing great but Ritchie, Lucic, Gudbranson, and probably even Valimaki will be liabilities at some point this season. There is definitely some room for improvement at the bottom of the lineup. But they're doing their jobs for now.

Lucic and Ritchie are our bottom two players in ice time on the entire roster, and the other two are a sheltered bottom pair.
There are maybe like two teams in the entire league with positive difference makers in these positions, and dare I’d say zero at both. You aren’t doing bad if those are your teams liabilities, and so far we haven’t had any others that we have had to play.

I mean we were 5 games in and Mangiapane and Lindholm were responsible for almost all of our even strength goals.

I think we have a very defensively responsible group of forwards and I'm glad that the goals are starting to come for our Coleman etc but if you look at our bottom 6, there's few gunslingers or shorthanded speedster gods in there compared to years past.

It’s been continuously pointed out that we are the most dangerous team in the league short handed, and bottom 6 gunslinger is pretty much code for creates offensive chances but gets caved in more than he produces. Also I know it doesn’t feel like it but Dube and Mangiapane are getting less time on ice than every other line this year and are our 3rd or 4th line any given night and they pretty much satisfy all those options.

 

[Mazatt]

I think we have a very defensively responsible group of forwards and I'm glad that the goals are starting to come for our Coleman etc but if you look at our bottom 6, there's few gunslingers or shorthanded speedster gods in there compared to years past.

Crazy that we 1. Didn't bring Rieder back, and 2. no one else has thought to bring Rieder along since his time in Buffalo. I can't imagine he's fallen off that hard, and he'd be a very solid 4th line add to any team to bring strong shorthanded play and legit speed w/strong forechecking... at least presuming that "shorthnaded speedster gods" is in reference to Rieder and fellas like Graber.

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

Crazy that we 1. Didn't bring Rieder back, and 2. no one else has thought to bring Rieder along since his time in Buffalo. I can't imagine he's fallen off that hard, and he'd be a very solid 4th line add to any team to bring strong shorthanded play and legit speed w/strong forechecking... at least presuming that "shorthnaded speedster gods" is in reference to Rieder and fellas like Graber.

Totally agree. I think Rieder would have been a good fit on the Pens, he’s seems like their kind of player. But I liked him here in his role.