travel_dude

Another postie on a Mangiapane breakaway

Oh, and BTW, Markstrom scored on with the 2nd shot of Buffalo. Perfect shot, no doubt, but timing of the goal is everything.

Hanifin on a two on and high body shot. Probably a smart play, since Pelletier was barely open for a few seconds.

And so it begins....

And then the 4th line tales a penalty (Ritchie).

Ritchie is the only guy on the 4th line that looks like he belongs

As expected, Ruzicka pays the price for a useless 4th line effort against DET.

#Sabres vs. #Flames: Skinner-Thompson-Tuch Peterka-Cozens-Quinn Mittelstadt-Jost-Olofsson Girgensons-Krebs-Okposo Samuelsson-Dahlin Power-Jokiharju Bryson-Lyubushkin Luukkonen

#Flames lines vs. Sabres this afternoon. Dube-Lindholm-Toffoli Pelletier-Kadri-Huberdeau Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman Lucic-Lewis-Ritchie Hanifin-Tanev Zadorov-Weegar Gilbert-Stone Markstrom

Last year, we had a top line that played less of a Sutter game, but was excused because Tkachuk also got greasy goals. I don't think the top line is playing the same way now, they seem to be only getting chances when we dominate the O-zone. The Backlund line is basically the same. The Kadri line is I don't know what. Never sure what they are trying to do or what they are expected to do. No point in Huberdeau passing if Kadri is the only guy that will take a shot.

I could go either way. Prefer to keep Mange away from Toffoli; too many shooters. But any change would be better.

I'm beginning to think that Kadri is not a C. 29% last night. Average of 46% this season. Maybe it's time to try something else or at least put guys together that will shoot. And get Huberdeau back to LW. Huberdeau-Lindholm-Dube Pelletier-Kadri-Toffoli At least Huberdeau has someone to pass to that can shoot, and Lindholm wins draws. Pelletier becomes the passer for two shooters.

Yup, that about sums up what I saw on TV. The Mangiapane penalty looked unintentional, but the motive was to interrupt. Can't keep taking that many calls and expect to win. We defended well on the PK, but too many times we are looking to score and are out of position later. We should call the team the Calgary Mud Bugs. Slow to create, slow to react. Flip us over and we can't get back up. Something isn't right in the state of Denmark. About the only time we look dangerous is when Pelletier is looking to shoot, Backlund drives the net or Stone takes a shot. The little push pass is a turnover in the making. The passes on the PP happen until they run out of options, and none of them include driving the net. The NY game was a study in how to lose a game you should win. The DET game was a study of how not to create offense and think you will win based on serving up 3 dozen muffins. The analysts referred to the NY game as the best of the season. Really? It was a game that showed what losing your cool looks like. Sutter has turned the team from a skills based team with some identity to a no-skill team that just wants greasy goals but can't score them. The only time we look remotely like a NHL team is when we place emphasis on the rush. We used to be able to forecheck, but we only send in one guy or dump and chase with no speed entering. Sutter is right, we haven't played yet a perfect game. Because it doesn't exist with the way this team is lined up. Sutter doesn't believe in chemistry, he suggests that you play a guy according to his performance. Pretty hard to play Huberdeau 20+ minutes when him and the C can't even execute a pass. Kadri like to be the guy, so put him with people that can get him the puck in a HD situation. He reminds me of Bennet, when Bennett used to try to go through the entire team. Huberdeau may be an elite passer, but put him with guys that know when to shoot. Dube comes to mind. Ruzicka used to take a shot. Toffoli always manages to get decent shots off. Abandon the idea of a role-based 4th line. It makes no sense anymore. You can't roll that line if they are a constant threat to be scored on. Other teams use the 4th line for speed and tenacity, but less chance to score. Take the chains off the players. They need to find their way to win, not just sticking to the same plan. Let them get creative and use their skill, then add the little things they are lacking.

Really, it only about 10 teams that are basically out of it from December onward. Going 500 against the top 21 teams and less than 500 against the bottom teams us going to keep you out. I think we are > 500 in the first category. Under in the 2nd one. But hey, we beat the Sharks and Ducks.

Weak call

Done

Inept.

PP to end the game.

Dump and chase isn't going to cut it.

Flames killing Vladar's winning streak.

JFC, Lucic out there at the tail end of the PP? Transition is crucial after the PP ends. Get your Satoshi Nakamoto together Sutter

Lazy 4th line play. Ruzicka will pay the price.

Ugg, Lucic and the 3rd pairing