flames for life

The Ruzie with Kadri and Toffoli is not a bad idea. All three can shoot, and two can set up plays. Mangie will get back to scoring, he’s too good not to. As I recall, I think he leads the team in goalposts and “so close” shots. Once that leans in his favour, he’ll be back. I like him with Backlund. They gel well together, along with Coleman. I think they are closer than we think.

Hubby and Weegar was a trade making the best of a bad situation, and at the time, everyone was jumping for joy! Kadri was a player the fans have wanted for years, which finally came to fruition! Were these bad moves….no! Will they work out? They are all showing signs of continual improvement and connection as a group. Fans need to keep in mind that JG and MK played together for a few years before producing like they did last year. In fact, a lot of building around and through players had to happen to get last year’s team. Are a couple of trades supposed to placate the skill level we lost and carry on as connected as they were? I consider that to be a pipe dream. what I do expect is that this team will continue to build the comfort ability with each other. When that happens, less goalposts and more goals will happen. Calgary will be in the playoffs. How far they go will be another conversation.

But that’s my great fear! Adding another overpriced, overages forward on the decline of a career, for the price of most of our future. no matter how I slice it, it just doesn’t make sense. It’s not a guarantee of a Stanley Cup, or even a round! The cost is way too much!

Wow, harsh!! Yes Calgary does not have the superstars of today’s game, but I won’t say they haven’t got the stones to overcome the Oilers. I actually thought I saw some of the best defensive playing by the back line from the season. The only penalties called on them were weak calls imo, and Calgary did not back down. the defense really does appear to be gelling more then I have seen all year. If we can do something about the boat anchor on Kadri’s line we might actually be heading in the right direction!

Too bad. Super entertaining game, albeit slanted horribly by ref calls. I can’t fault Markstrom, who played a great game. Skinner played crazy good. Calgary had some good shots that he was able to stop. Add a goon number of off the post shots, and Calgary controlled a lot of the play.

Merry Christmas to one and all!!!

I would like to try Kadri with Rozie and Phillips. It creates a fast line with skill. The downside is that Rozie is playing fairly well on the 4th, with Lewis and Richie. Putting Lucic back there puts an anchor on the line.

I would still like to see him given a fair amount of games to either make it, or break it. Not on the 4th line, but in a position that makes sense.

In the meantime, Phillips gets played like a pawn. He is brought up, played a couple of games, press box for most of the time, compromising his stats at the Ahl level, and possibly affecting any bonus monies he may have been working towards. All in all, pretty much a waste of his time. Not very respectful, in my book. The only gain was to practise with the team.

Calgary is being pretty complacent, allowing Anaheim to look better than they are!

The replay totally showed that there was no trip. Ducks got a gift with that one.

Those little push passes that go nowhere but the opposition sticks really annoy me!! I get the play was disrupted, but if you intend to pass the puck, then pass the puck, drab nab it!!!

Definitely not impressed with the officiating tonight! How many trips or clutch and grabs have LA gotten away with ?

I chuckled last game when one of the analysts state Lucic was good with Hubie because it gives him a chance to pass to the trailing winger (Lucic). No mention that the only reason Lucic was trailing was he can’t keep up with the play!

One can hope, but I’m not confident, as that is not Sutter’s pattern. Neither Richie, or for that matter Lewis, have been THAT impactful. Frankly, Calgary needs speed on the bottom line, as well as size and grit. Phillips does not have size, but he does have grit, and a positive possession ability. He generates offensive zone face offs. I’m sure using him on the 4th would not “hurt” his development or growth.

Ok, so based on tonight’s lineup, my concerns about Phillips are being realized. He was called up due to his success on the Wrangler’s, he played a couple of games, and now sits in obscurity! So not only is he being sat here, his successful campaign in the Ahl is being ground to a halt! can he not be called up and used, and then be returned for the times he isn’t going to play? I thought that would be the benefit of having your development team in the same city?

Agreed, but I’m surprised they would use him when not 100%. That’s how we got into trouble last year at playoffs!

I accept the win, but way too many mistakes that need to be addressed. Their puck awareness and neutral zone passes definitely need to be sharper!!

That penalty was absolutely less than the grab on Kadri! The player was falling away from Lucic! Such BS!

A lot went wrong on that play, from the line change on up. Calgary had a number of chances there to clear the puck, but we seem to be losing the puck in our feet way too much!! Yes Markstrom committed himself to a shot that didn’t get through, but you’re right. He had no second effort at all.

I’m noticing that Zaddy is not putting anything into his shots, and is basically passing to someone who can shoot.

Overall, so far not a bad game, but if I had a criticism; this is a goalie where it’s better to blast away and look for the rebounds, especially on the PP!

Rule #1. Make sure your defensive partner knows what the heck you’re doing, Stone!!!

Wow!!! Did we re-title this “How much I hate BT?!?”

I say Toffoli! Seems to be his thing!