cross16

I quite like the game from the flames. Story is just similar that they arnt putting the puck in the net. skinner has been good but between posts and misses the flames need to do a better job of capitalizing

Czechs were good. I mean I think with better goaltending and some puck luck Canada wins but the Czechs still were right there. They didn’t have a weak link, forecheck really well and got in lanes. They’ll be a factor in this tournament I think. Canada really needs to refocus in a hurry.

I liked the first. Good jump, good pace and liked that Calgary is upping their pace. im not a big believer he flames need to turn every game into a slog fest to win. Obviously be aware of McDavid on the ice but outside of him the flames can skate with the oilers. You gotta put pressure on their d.

Merry Christmas all!

Phillips isn’t eligible for performance bonuses so his contract would not have any, be it at the NHl or AHL level it’s well worth his time financially to be at the nhl level vs AHL.

Lewis has been fantastic this season in his role. Not just 5 on 5, where’s he’s been one of their most consistent players, he’s a key player for them on the PK. Not to mention his 7 goals are tied for 5th on the team. I get the development argument and want Phillips to play too, but Lewis has earned the he role and trust he has.

I think there is a balance to be found that this team hasn’t found yet. You should be able to pinch or have dmen join the rush, get pucks to slot etc without playing “high risk”.

Good to get a point but it should have been 2. They slept for a min and the kings made them pay. Focusing on the OT record is noise, the flames have to find a way to stop having games get to OT. flames execution level was high in this one but I liked their game in 3rd more. For 2 periods they tried to slow the Kings down, clog the neutral zone and be patient. When they were pushing the pace and being more aggressive I think they were a better team. hopefully Sutter has the same takeaway.

God god Huberdeau. Shoot the freaking puck. Stupid stupid play and it costs his team a point.

There’s been things you don’t like but holy moly does this team ever battle.

Flames might have gotten lucky on that one. Way the Kings are buzzing I’m not sure I’d want to be on the PK for 2 mins

Well it was well executed for 2 periods. Feel asleep and now there gonna pay for it. This group still searching for a good 60 min effort.

It’s not their prettiest but this is a really solid effort from the flames. Pretty high level of execution tonight. gotta fine some more chances and offense here though.

I’ve actually liked how the flames have shown up so far. I get the shots are the shots but I don’t mind how they are playing. Especially defensively. LA is a really good neural zone team so flames appear to have a more patient game plan.

I don't think it's that simple as there is a luck/timing element to it as well. Most rebuilding teams don't actually finally reach their success by design it tends to be by accident. Colorado was supposed to be done rebuilding after they got Mackinnon/Rantannen etc. They were building/pushing forward until they had Roy leave them right before the season, had a terrible year and there was Makar sitting there for him. If Roy stays there's a good chance there is no Makar and maybe even no Byram (Duchene asked for a trade because of this season). Same thing with the Lightning. Had their core go the Eastern Conference Semis then crash out, finish 3rd, get Drouin, flip him for Sergachev and then voila. Oilers got their number 1s in what was a pretty weak cycle of drafts (McDavid excluded of course). Bit of a similar story to the Flames as 2013 and 14 were not strong drafts. So Flames bottomed out but didn't really get the caliber of player you'd normally expect. There is luck (and to some extent planning) involved. I think at the end of the day we make it seem like rebuilding is easy. You lose, you get good players you see success, it's such an easy equation. Yet there are so many variables that go into it that I don't think get enough attention. Regardless of my personal opinion (disappointed to say I am not currently a Calgary Flames owner) I can just understand that if i'm an owner getting pitched a rebuild idea it's not exactly illogical to not want to go ahead with it as there are plenty of uncontrolled variables that make it risky to a certain extent. Just don't think it means that mediocrity is ok. As i've said I would have been fine if they did it and 2 summers ago I was ready then too because last year's draft and this one are so good that the timing made sense. I think they'd have success with it but the owners felt differently and I just don't think it's fair or right to say it's because they are ok with mediocrity.

Stromgren not skating as a regular in Sweden's tune up game today

Found a way and that’s always a positive. Not a huge fan of how that played out especially in the 3rd. but against a bad team they got the the 4 pts they needed. Need to keep going now.

Nice job regaining the lead but this really isn’t a good period for the flames

Just an absolutely brutal 3rd period so far. Have gone away from everything that was getting them success in the first 2 periods

Terrible start. On their heels, poor passes on the breakouts. That tying goal was coming. Once again flames can’t play with a lead

The flames have been better with the lead tonight, just a few miscues but gotta put the sharks away here. Big step this group needs to take.

Need your goalie to be better there. Wasn’t a clean change sure, but not terrible, but Markstrom played it poorly.

Dube has teased us before but this is looking different. I think this is the breakout we’ve been waiting for. He’s doing great he little things with and without the puck that you weren’t seeing in previous years. very encouraging

Good shift and good goal. Still not sure how they don’t score on an open net but that’s their team right now. keep pressing and keep shooting

It’s not a bad period. Playing a little more loose with the lead (in a good way) is then in previous games. just wish they had that game and push to put a team away.