GDT: Calgary Flames (13-10-3) @ Columbus Gaudreaus(8-15-2) (Let's face it he's the team basically O.o).

[OvermanKingGainer]

it's hard to root for a team that commits so hard to mediocrity. Even something as seemingly small as not playing Matty Phillips is a microchosm for how frustrating the Flames are

 

[Ace Rimmer]

From the time Markstrom picked himself up off his back from behind his own net, he was quite solid all things considered.

Disappointed there was no Matty P.

 

[super6646]

it's hard to root for a team that commits so hard to mediocrity. Even something as seemingly small as not playing Matty Phillips is a microchosm for how frustrating the Flames are

Size matters to him. He admits it straight up

 

[I3LI3]

Sucks we lost but I had fun at the game. Got to talk to some fellow Flames fans who traveled from Calgary

what did you think of our arena aside from the gameplay? hope it was a good experience despite the result for y’all.

 

[Kahvi]

From the time Markstrom picked himself up off his back from behind his own net, he was quite solid all things considered.

I'd say he was really good after that.

 

[BRobMint]

what did you think of our arena aside from the gameplay? hope it was a good experience despite the result for y’all.

The arena is nice! It wasn’t my first time at Nationwide (I went there in 2019 before the pandemic hit when I moved to Ohio) the Jackets fans I was sitting next too were friendly too.

 

[DFF]

It’s basically Johnny Gaudreau’s team

The new Johnny sucks…..so

Sutter is just there to rotate the lines and keep his buddies happy

 

[Kranix]

it's hard to root for a team that commits so hard to mediocrity. Even something as seemingly small as not playing Matty Phillips is a microchosm for how frustrating the Flames are

It's one game. Jettisoning Rooney, and calling up Phillips and Zohorna, who was fine, is a step in the direction everyone wants.

 

[Tofveve]

Got home after nightshift and watched the game.

Not good, obviously.

But I'd like to know why we played so much power play time with Toffoli on the right side and Huberdeau on the left side in their zone. Neither player could take a one-timer (they needed to be on their off wings). We had tons of puck possession and control but every time we'd have an opportunity for a one-timer the player (toffoli or Hubes) would have to set first before shooting allowing the goalie to get into position. I feel like I'm on crazy pills lol. Was this happening as much as I thought it was? If my eyes didn't deceive me it seems like some odd if not piss-poor coaching. No wonder Tyler wanted to break his stick on the bench but really no one could take one-timers except Andersson from the far reaches of their blue line with a sloppy few.

That's the only original thing I could think of. Otherwise pee poor and tonight will likely be worse against TO.

 

[Cant Kick On 1 Foot]

Flames need to figure out how to play a full 60 with the same intensity as the last 3 minutes of that game.

Markstrom was awesome.

 

[Vordus]

Really seems like the team doesn't even try anymore when Markstrom is given the start. What's the point of working your ass off to score goals when your trash goalie is just gonna let an easy one right back in? When Vladar starts this team suddenly looks like they're trying and believe they can win. Markstrom and idiot Sutter who keeps starting him cost us last year's and this year's playoffs.

 

[Anglesmith]

Really seems like the team doesn't even try anymore when Markstrom is given the start. What's the point of working your ass off to score goals when your trash goalie is just gonna let an easy one right back in? When Vladar starts this team suddenly looks like they're trying and believe they can win. Markstrom and idiot Sutter who keeps starting him cost us last year's and this year's playoffs.

Is this your way of blaming Markstrom in a game where he had above average stats?

Are you that against Markstrom that you are suggesting that players are justified in not trying to win?

 

[Vordus]

Is this your way of blaming Markstrom in a game where he had above average stats?

Are you that against Markstrom that you are suggesting that players are justified in not trying to win?

It's about more than one game. I blame Markstrom's recent bad play for affecting the morale of the team to the point where they seem less motivated or confident that they can win with him in net. It's not justified, but it's human nature. Players aren't robots. The team just has more confidence with Vladar in. I blame Sutter for not recognizing this early enough thus season (or last year in round 2).

 

[Mazatt]

It's one game. Jettisoning Rooney, and calling up Phillips and Zohorna, who was fine, is a step in the direction everyone wants.

Thats the whole point of the original post. It's one game but it is reflective of pretty consistent mismanagement. It's such an obvious choice to get Phillips and Zohorna in for Lucic and Rooney/Ritchie, but not doing so, and then benching Lucic after the 1st period is just nonsensical. It just begs the question: why? And a lot of the time it feels like the team can't answer why.

Especially because the why would show that they are operating against most notions that made them successful, and make other teams successful. The whole value proposition in the NHL is you overpay players like Huberdeau and Kadri because you have players like Zary, Pelletier, Coronato, and potentially Phillips coming to fill their whole, and make the cap value added across old, overpaid guys, and young, underpaid guys exceed their actual combined cap hits. But the Flames have failed to be aggressive, like aggressive teams in the Stars, Hurricanes, and even the Leafs that have prioritized fast-tracking capable youth to the NHL.

And the thing is, the Flames were successful over the past 3 years on the back of good, young talent like Andersson and Mangiapane that they gave opportunities to. But at the same time they wouldn't play Kylington, benched Ruzicka, forced Dube and Bennett to play out of position, killed Valimaki's confidence, etc. It's an organization that should understand the value in young players but instead they keep filling holes with useless vets, and generally twiddling their thumbs with prospects despite the fact their success has been built on young players. It's a contradictory mindset that routinely shows itself in the teams inability to make the right decision in even the smallest moments, like playing Phillips over Lucic last night.

 

[Anglesmith]

It's about more than one game. I blame Markstrom's recent bad play for affecting the morale of the team to the point where they seem less motivated or confident that they can win with him in net. It's not justified, but it's human nature. Players aren't robots. The team just has more confidence with Vladar in. I blame Sutter for not recognizing this early enough thus season (or last year in round 2).

The excuse making is next level honestly.

It's incorrect to say that the Flames have been effective with Vladar in net. We haven't had a single stretch of hockey that comes close to what we were doing last year.

Last year, the hallmark of this team was allowing nothing easy. We racked up shutouts without even needing our goalies to play that well.

Since the Edmonton series that solid disciplined play has just gone out the window, and we've gotten used to allowing multiple odd-man rushes every single game, continuing into this year. And while sometimes the opposition gives up as much as we do, we currently are entirely realiant on that being the case in order to win.

Both goalies are a game above .500. While it's comforting to try to imagine that one guy can be blamed for everything, the real issues lie with the players not understanding, executing or wanting the system at the moment.

If it's the last one, we need a coaching change.

 

[MM917]

If the answer is playing crap like Phillips and Zohorna two guys who are at best tweeners and in reality much more likely to be good AHLers than the problem is either too big to fix this year or not really a problem at all.

I get that people always want to think that the new shiny toys on the farm are much better than they are and are secret solutions but playing Phillips/Zohorna changes nothing at all. If we are making changes to the line-up it should be for actual quality.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

The excuse making is next level honestly.

It's incorrect to say that the Flames have been effective with Vladar in net. We haven't had a single stretch of hockey that comes close to what we were doing last year.

Last year, the hallmark of this team was allowing nothing easy. We racked up shutouts without even needing our goalies to play that well.

Since the Edmonton series that solid disciplined play has just gone out the window, and we've gotten used to allowing multiple odd-man rushes every single game, continuing into this year. And while sometimes the opposition gives up as much as we do, we currently are entirely realiant on that being the case in order to win.

Both goalies are a game above .500. While it's comforting to try to imagine that one guy can be blamed for everything, the real issues lie with the players not understanding, executing or wanting the system at the moment.

If it's the last one, we need a coaching change.

While the save percentage isn't great, in Markstrom's last 3 starts, he has a 2.44 GAA and .899 SV% and the Flames only scored 2 goals in those 3 games. Even if Markstrom wasn't the best, the fact the offense didn't score in those games is definitely a problem.

And last night, Markstrom was basically the main guy keeping the Flames in the game, especially considering how many breakaways or odd-man rushes they allowed.

 

[23Monahan]

Markstrom has been bad this year. Bad goals at horrible times, playing deeper in his net, reacting more when he gets scored on, and even he admits he is off of his game. 6 goals on the first shot of the game, which is the only goalie to do that this season. 891 save% and 2.93 GAA, the worst stats he has ever posted in a season that he has played 15 or more games. Vladar has been much more solid and looks more confident, he is moving smoother, playing bigger, and plays the puck much better.

With that being said, Markstrom was outstanding last night. Neither of the goals were his fault at all, and he made some huge saves to give us a chance to get back into the game. That game is on the team 100% and we lose that game either way with markstrom or vladar if we play like that infront of them.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

The excuse making is next level honestly.

It's incorrect to say that the Flames have been effective with Vladar in net. We haven't had a single stretch of hockey that comes close to what we were doing last year.

Last year, the hallmark of this team was allowing nothing easy. We racked up shutouts without even needing our goalies to play that well.

Since the Edmonton series that solid disciplined play has just gone out the window, and we've gotten used to allowing multiple odd-man rushes every single game, continuing into this year. And while sometimes the opposition gives up as much as we do, we currently are entirely realiant on that being the case in order to win.

Both goalies are a game above .500. While it's comforting to try to imagine that one guy can be blamed for everything, the real issues lie with the players not understanding, executing or wanting the system at the moment.

If it's the last one, we need a coaching change.

Last year our top pair was Kylington - Tanev
This year our top pair is Hanifin - Andersson

That is the difference

 

[MM917]

Last year our top pair was Kylington - Tanev
This year our top pair is Hanifin - Andersson

That is the difference

Tanev better than either Hanifin or Andersson but Hanifin and Andersson much better than Kylignton so not much of a difference.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

Tanev better than either Hanifin or Andersson but Hanifin and Andersson much better than Kylignton so not much of a difference.

Hanifin is the sixth best defenseman on the Flames lol

Kylington is #1
Tanev / Andersson is a wash

 

[MM917]

Hanifin is the sixth best defenseman on the Flames lol

He is not great but better than a useless player like Kylington.

I don't think he is 6th best though better than Stone, Kylington, Zadorov and any of the crap we bring in to fill in like Mackey. But behind Tanev, Andersson and Weegar.