travel_dude

I was just going to say how slick Zaddy was with the puck in the O-zone. Then he blows it in the D-zone.

Need to do something to fix that 2nd unit.

That's what the Oilers will see in their nightmares.

I have little problem with Looch in the O-zone. He creates havoc there. It's the D-zone play which cuases me to lose it. Simple plays. Just get it out. The IQ is there from before, but the hands aren't listening.

Two Flames reach 30 tonight. No other team has 4 over 30.

Lucic is the bigger issue than Monahan, but I digress. Need Lucic tomorrow. Not sure Mony comes back in after one game, but would like to see Carpenter in.

Tkachuk... Breakaway... Johnny #200. 30 for the year. Finally you slacker.

So glad we sat Monahan in favor of Ritchie. I know it needed to be done, but Ritchie?

Gaudreau looks too intense in his card pics.

Come on Gaudreau. Don't be such a slacker. Get #30 (200 career).

Lindy gets all the good ones. Stage 2 complete. Begin Stage 3

Oooh, Ras...Backlund disease.

Tkachuk bumped up to top line made a difference. Stage 1 complete. Begin stage 2.

I'm not really sure what the actual lineup is, other than the Mange and Lucic lines. That 2nd line is the old #2 from a year ago. How's about: Original top line Mangiapane-Backlund-Toffoli Dube-Jarnkrok-Coleman

According to Pat Steinberg... Coach Sutter says Monahan is in need of a reset to get his game back where it needs to be. Says he wants to give Carpenter a little more time before bringing him into the lineup.

Great job Rocket McDoc. Some question about whether Carpenter also sits. I do believe Markstrom is confirmed as the starter.

He's not running away with it in the scoring race. Even with an easy March schedule, they are just on pace to get 3rd in the Pacific. And McD put up 20 points in that space, but doesn't have a ton of separation. If McD can continue to put up 2 points per game for the remaining games, he stands a good chance of winning it.

Can't yet confirm the lines, but it seems both Monahan and Carpenter are out tonight. They are staying on the ice at practice late. Usually a sign. Gaudreau-Lindholm-Toffoli Tkachuk-Backlund-Dube Mangiapane-Jarnkrok-Coleman Lucic-Lewis-Ritchie Ritchie playing his brother tonight. Marky gets the start, so a good chance they throw Vladar to the dogs Saturday. Monahan may or may not draw back into that game.

They look at points for the Norris first. By rights Barrie could have won it on that alone last season, but he was trash otherwise. Now he is looking like buyout fodder. Gaudreau is never going to get the same attention that the big name C's get. He could win the scoring race and they would still talk about how his EN goals made the difference. Yet, he is leading the league in primary assists 5v5. 3rd in +/- with +44, only behind Devon Toews and Lindholm. The only other forwards in the top 10 are Tkachuk (+38) and Rantanen (+32). Not exactly a pond hockey scorer.

Considering the outrage he creates, I'm not exactly sure why SN continues to have him on. He says positive things when things are going right, but then turns to trashing the players when they aren't 100% perfect.

The bolded all day long. I expect that you will see Lucic with reduced minutes tonight, to keep him fresh for the BOA game tomorrow. Carpenter is Going to be there to take some of the minutes on the PK, so that Backlund or Lindholm or Mangiapane can be fresher. Carpenter lead the Hawks in PK time. I don't have a problem with our PK, in fact it has been great. Having another option is key, especially if Backlund takes a customary cheap penalty during the game. I was a little disappointed that we gave up cap flexibility to keep Ritchie on the roster. No option to bring up a D or use Ruzie in even a limited role. We have 3 extra RHS's now, but none of them are options for the 3rd line at C.

I would love to see Gaudreau go on a heather starting tonight, but would prefer he score goal 30 for the season and career goal; 200 against the Oilers. I like the current line with Toffee there, but only if it means we have two dangerous scoring lines. Having Dube with Tkachuk adds some speed to the line with a sluggish skater like Tkachuk there. Backlund helps by getting the puck in the zone, with Dube and Tkachuk able to finish. If only Toffee can discover the finish on the sublime passes that Gaudreau will get to him.

Sorta like the Gene Principe of Calgary hockey. Well, at least Gene has his stupid jokes. I would prefer to see Craig Button eat Eric for breakfast. He has a heaping helping of Mike Johnson on TSN.

Similar output to Gaudreau in his freshman year. And Kreider in his junior year. Same conference IIRC. I don't worry about the player at this point. Not really ready to start his pro career. May still be on the US team for the 2022 WJC. Don't see why he wouldn't be. Considering the timing of the tournament, it's a good start to next season.

No idea. Hailey Salvian is more knowledgeable and a less abrasive personality. She also writes for the Athletic besides reporting for SN. She covers the Flames. She seems to have the same access to coaches and players. Francis talks about certain Flames players with the same conviction that he did about Mike Smith being an All Star here. Smith (according to him) was a star and the reason why we were winning games in that season. His awesome passing allowed us to transition to the rush. Funny that this is the exact thing that Sutter warned about; stretching the ice out. And it's the thing that is killing the Oilers. Does he even respect the players here? It always sounds like he just says things to be different and get clicks. If Gaudreau has a bad playoffs, look to the rest of the top 6. He stirs the drink, but if the coffee is not hot, he won't make it taste any better.