travel_dude

On one hand, it makes sense. Zohorna plays more C than wing. On another hand, it's Sutter. VAN has some big hitters (Schenn) but is a speedy team. So, the argument falls apart when you need to use a slower big guy.

Yeah, not good. But unless they were making a real run, better to falter now. Pick up a top pick.

Wins against tough team and losses to middling teams. Doesn't really say much. Winning at home and losing on the road should raise a few flags. 10-5-1 is decent. 3-6-4 is not. OTL is killing us for that 2nd point, even shootouts (1-2). 3 games that I can remember getting a penalty in OT. 2 were immediate OTL, and one lost in the shootout IIRC. So, the "easier" schedule needs to be taken advantage of. 4 games on the road in California. Critical to our placement in the standings. Not all truly 4 point games, since only LA is really in the running. Funny, but we haven't played a West team on the road yet. All of the losses on the road are in the Eastern time zone. Maybe we match up better on the road against the West. Anyway, the team has a chance to play teams that are below them in the standings (most of them). Not only do the lines need to play better, but the line matching needs to be better managed. I don't fault Sutter for the way a line plays, but I do fault him for simply rolling 4. Some times a line simply can't handle the competition. If that's the case, then shorten the bench.

Smaller players take cheap shots because of their size. I don't know that the hit on Kadri was intentional or not, more like a combo of hits. Bounces off one check into Suzuki. Same thing happened to Tkachuk against Dallas couple years back. The slapper? Don't know if he targeting his head. Think he was aiming at the net.

Last year we were close to the least man games lost in the NHL, had a team full of players exceeding expectations, and managed to win the division. This year, we lose a top 4 D, games lost to our #1 and #2 D, losing our #1C and other minor stuff. Shows how fragile a winning season can become with injuries. At least DET has young guns ready to step in with the young guns out. Ready, well that is really just opportunity. Imagine EDM with a single injury to McD. Instant lotto team.

Missing that zone entry guy (JG). Kadri doesn't use his wings because he knows what they do with it. Mangiapane and Dube are crafty on the boards once they enter but are not good at entries unless on the rush. Hubey will be fine as long as you get him the right guy in the middle. Toffoli is good on quick shots. Kadri is drive the net. Lindholm is quiet area shots and defensive. Ruzicka is pretty good at driving play. Coleman is all around player. Backlund good zone entry player. Balance the lines in a practice and go with it.

I was being funny. They booed him in the shootout until he scored. They didn't like anyone in red last night. We killed Caufield. What are we, the plague team. We come and play, you lose a player? Almost every game we play, someone from another team is injured.

Really. we have 4 players in the top 6 that are top 6 players. Dube and Mange are fine players, but I don't see them being used right. Together, they are small on th boards. Kadri played with a big winger last year and looked great. Any time he passes to the wongs, they tend to lose it with any pressure. Both are sneaky players, not the ones that win battles. So, we do need to find the balamce and identify who is suited to play with a C. We have Dube sized prospects, but nobody that really is a power F. And we have 2 that size in the NHL. Need to split them up. They have been good in stretches. Maybe them playing with Backlund solves it. Or we drop Dube to 4C. Just don't have the top 6 to compete against all teams.

Even though this team is frustrating to watch, I have to start posting more positive thoughts. They are just not there yet, but I suspect that is coming soon. Seems like they just haven't found a rhythm. Go FLames Go. Let's start winning in the soft part of the schedule.

Overall the team has good pieces. Just can't seem to bake a cake with what we have. Either we drop shells in the batter or we drop the cake coming out of the oven. It seems like the ingredients may be right, but the order or amounts are off. Get a fudge brownie instead of a chocolate cake. A brownie with wallnuts.

Good to have you back.

Blockchaining special Bettman Blockchaining crap way to decide a game

Damn

Crowd was chanting Hoooob

What a PK. Backlund with the empty net and he looks away from the puck

Double to boot

And there it is

Even money on FLames taking a penalty.

82 games we might get 82 points at this rate

2nd line looks like crap tonight

Set play almost worked

Imagine what an actual skilled line could do. I digress.

Put out the 4th line again?

Lots of possession but no point shots for a rebound

Let's take a penalty to set up a shorty.