flames for life

Yup, this is definitely not Vezina type play!!

Yup. Lazy play by all, and ….goal.

So Tampa’s best opportunities have not been from great playmaking by them, but poor decision making by Calgary in their own zone! Calgary looks at times complacent and lazy with their puck movement.

Byron’s success did not come on trade, but in maturity. Once he started to put 2+2 together, he was able to slow a bit to get the shot on net.

If there’s a red flag item with Sutter, this is it. I contend he wants an aggressive tough checking team, but it comes at the cost of speed and quickness. We saw the same thing pan out when he was GM here before. We become a tough defensive team patterned to try to win one goal games. As the league sped up, the Flames struggled. it’s not a bad thing to have speedy guys that can dance in the hard areas. They also must play to there strengths, Dube in mind. His best game, imo, is when he is off the boards and can use his guickness in open areas. Dube reminds me of Byron to an extent. Dube seems to have better hand/eye coordination; Byron was so fast his hands could not catch up and he kept losing his play. Dube doesn’t seem to have that same problem.

10 games into the season is hardly to to declare Kylington is “done for the year”. It was stated he was away for personal family related issues, period. Management stated to respect privacy and as such, be patient. If, or when it will changes into more, I’m sure we will be told. in the meantime, I get to wish he was in the lineup, and look for bigger and better things to come from him!

It’s interesting that you would look at size and speed. Yes, bruiser’s are necessary in the game, and so is speed. Few taller players own that shifty, sneaky speed that gets players chasing him. McDavid, I begrudgingly accept, is one. But most of the speedier shifty players are smaller in stature, and that came out of necessity. Smaller players learn quickly to dodge and duck in order to not die from the next gigantic hit coming. Johnny was one such; Yamamoto, the same to a lesser degree. Matthew Phillips reminds me more of Yama, but with more ability to find open spots in the key. Fluery was probably the best example of small shifty player with big skills. He did not play like 5’6”, but more like 6’5. I still remember him getting slammed by McSorley, only to come back and do the exact same thing to him. His type are a rare and special player. Phillips is not that guy, but still needs an opportunity to show whether or not he can actually play in the NHL, as it’s very evident there is little left to prove at the AHL level.

Dube has been better this last game, as I see him working away from the boards a bit more. He tends to get shut down and squeezed out when running on the sides. Playing centre last night gave him more room to work with. Mangie’s goal last night came from exactly where I find he is most effective-in front of the net in the high danger zone! Expecting him to work as a playmaker takes his best work away from him. Imo, I look at Mangie as today’s version of Mike Cammalari. A sniper who has a great snap from the high markers, and from around the net. Mike was never expected to be the playmaker. He was expected to pot shots. Mangie should have the same expectations.

Agreed!

Calgary showing their age and slowing down. It’s allowing LA to create chances and gain penalties.

If there is one goal Margie should have, that was it!!

And yet he is in the tops of his league for points and shots on net! The players in the Ahl are just as big and just as tough as in the Nhl, with the only exception being they are a development league. His success is against big players. You’re right. He is not Johnny, or Mangie for that matter. And yet, he is still being successful. At one point, either with the Flames or not, Philips will be in the Nhl. He is too good a player to be ignored for long.

I’m also reading a lot about Matthew Phillips, and how well he is doing in the Ahl. At what point is it considered to try him on the Flames. His speed and shiftiness may be of value on the top 9.

I’m disappointed with Mang being moved down in the lineups, but totally understand why. He is not playing as he did last year. I think that last year his tenacity at getting open for shots on net were relevant, but right now he looks to be the playmaker, which is not his strength. He need to drive play forward to the corners. Too often this season I see him enter the zone, only to button-hook and try to set up someone else; and gets taken out almost every time. His best plays all seem to come from the slot, not the playmaking attempts from the sides. That’s Backlund’s domain.

Solid game all round! Happy to see Ruzie play so well in the line up. He gives us a lot more options for the top 9; specifically forces Lucic into the 4th line, to stay hopefully. Float Lewis and Richie as needed.

Game over. Have to say Calgary did not give up, and played a good game. Too many missed opportunities. It’s been said enough times that the team is just off sync a bit. I am starting to think that the way Calgary is putting in the effort, when they start to come together, they will be very dangerous!

I’m impressed with how well Toffoli is playing. It took a full season for him to adjust and look like he should. mom kind of thinking Huberdeau may need that same expectation.

Agreed. His slippery movement and tenacious attitude could be a boost to the team!

Yup. Them’s the ones he needs to stop. Have been pleasantly surprised by Gilbert’s presence. Playing pretty well.

Ok, so I’m ticked at this one! No way the Flames should have lost this one, but the loss was earned!! Any time a team is leading by 2 in the 3rd, the lead should be kept. I became concerned in the back half of the second when the Flames showed signs of slowing the play. They do best when they are aggressive and pushing the play. They sat back and then were put in the position of running around chasing the play. where I truly get frustrated is when the team (and I will point at everyone) accepts a standard far below what should be tolerated. That’s the same kind of play that showed complacency and apathy years ago. I would accept a loss if they left their “all” on the ice, but not this.

Play a simple game Z!! No fancy dancing, especially in your own zone!!

It’s definitely not Mackey’s night, but I’m noticing more then that. Last year our defensive pairs complimented each other in their play and their support. Tanev covered Kylington’s mistakes; Andersson, the same with Hanifin; so on and so forth. This year, the pairs are disjointed and at times mid-paired so they don’t support strengths and/weaknesses. This team needs to gel but quickly in order to compete against faster more agile teams like NJ.

Not too impressed with Mackey. Too many little mistakes to ignore!

Love the jump the team is showing; now if they could only pay attention to the game!!

Have to say the line changes are not working any better then when the season started. The absolute right now is A need for a right wing, Toffoli started well but life dies on his stick now. Top line need a speedy playmaker to take eyes off Hubie. Keep The DNA line together; it was effective and productive. what is the problem with the defense? One player change from last year more or less, and it totally collapses!! Right now, as I see it, the 2 most effective people are Kadri and Mangepane, and even they’re being shut down! Things gotta change!!