travel_dude

Compared to December, this is mild. In EDM, we were minus 40 for a couple of weeks. Thankfully, I was back East and it was pretty mild. Got back here and it was still minus 38.

Lindy was 1st star of the week by the NHL.

Darryl trying to freak out fans with his bluffing on lines. Yes, Dube is decent player and using him on the 4th line isn't a big deal. Toffoli needs a look with other players to see where he best meshes. Lucic is a decent enough passer, so Toffee will get looks. Dube with Ruzie is not a bad idea. Both have speed. Both are smart.

You were on a date? Man, get your priorities straight. Personally, I can't follow threads on amobile device. I'm old school and look at the entire thread's recent posts and ones that I missed. We don't have an unlimited cap. We can only really add a depth piece. That doesn't really help. To get a decent piece, we have to send out salary. If you want to trade Monahan and/or Dube, fine. As long as we get the replacement to top 9, not a depth piece.

I agree that the farm is the farm. No problem with leaving Valimaki and Mackey there. They weren't ready las year or even this year. That was pretty obvious. I think the best players on F in Stockton will only be here if there is a top 9 spot opening up. No point bringing in Phillips or Pelts to play on a 4th line. We aren't built that way.

No way Sutter is bringing in Valimaki right now. I think he wants Valimaki to play the year in Stockton. Much like the rest of the farm hands, he doesn't think they are ready. He's seen both Mackey and Valimaki and has his opinion. As far as pumping up Ritchie? Sutter doesn't play that way. And pumping up Ritchie means yu keep him hidden so that a team doesn;t see how bad he really is. He's a body to use as a last resort for the 4th line, in case they are getting beaten up and Lucic/Guddy don't want to fight on a given game day. I'm yet to find any usefull play he provides.

A little concerned that in the middle of a winning streak, Sutter starts messing with line. I have no issue with sitting Dube for a game if he looked off the previous game. But, I don't think sitting him at this point makes sense where he was actually playing better. You want to try different looks? Sure, try Toffoli with Lucic. That means you move Dube down, not out. I find it interesting that he mentions Richardson subbing in on Ruzicka line. Don't know if that was replacing Ruzie or playing on the wing. We have seen a Lewis-Ruzie-Ritchie line play. The result was 2 goals against (STL). Sutter absolved Ruzie on those goals. Makes no sense to go back there.

It's hard to tell sometimes what people are really saying. All we can hope for is a long and hard fought playoffs. I just see the team as not having the questions previous Flames teams have had. Puck possessioon by itself doesn't win a game; Sutter mentioned that we can't pass the puck into the net. Previous versions didn't have the same things we are seeing; identity, checking, improved passing, playing as a unit....

Autter's game is preducated on the bolded. You lose possession, you check to get it back. Nothing magical, just that it's hard for the other team to score when you have the puck. What we are seeing is a different team, playing as a unit of 5. Don't just dump and chase, but use that and get the puck back if needed. You rarely see us lose possession on a controlled entry. If the exit is not opening up space, then pass backwards to disrupt. If the other team is clogging up the neutral zone, then reverse and extend. You know yourself how often we would just make long passes and not get anywhere. Sure, we are still getting one and done sets, but that happens. Win the one on one battles to get the puck back. We normally have 2 or so lines that do it well per game. When we have all 4, it's a blowout.

And I'm not even that concerned about the losses. As Sutter points out, you don't throw away the good things to get the goal back. There have only been a couple that really got away from us. And the reasons are not concerning. As far as pretenders.... Oilers. Coaching was to blame? New coach, 7-3 loss to a real team. Yeah, I get it. You tune out the coach when you lose the same way. Nothing has changed other than a coach calling a timeout after 3 goals in 3 minutes. Even up the ice a bit...as long as they are winning. Load it up when down.

I guess that Sutter wants to see if we can win in spite of having Ritchie in the lineup. Have two RHS on opposite wings. I've got no problem with moving Dube down a bit. He scored in 2 of 3, so demote him. In fact, take him out for a guy that has complete zeros on his card. I want to see Lucic with Monahan and Toffoli, but that isn't exactly a speedy line. Yeah, Sutter doesn't want to disturb the Backlund line, since Coles and Mange are fine. But, with Monahan struggling, I would prefer to move Colemane there. Johnny-Lindy-Tkachuk Mange-Backs-Toffoli Coleman-Monahan-Dube Lucic-Ruzie-Lewis What is wrong with that?

This isn't a suggestion, just the way the practice went Sunday: Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg · 1h A few tweaks Sunday at practice: Lucic-Monahan-Toffoli Lewis-Ruzicka-Ritchie Dube rotating on the Monahan line, Richardson rotating on the Ruzicka line. Everything else looked the same. We’ll see what things look like at warmup Monday afternoon vs. Winnipeg.

Gio started something at the end of the game. There was no reason for it. Ran Backlund after the horn. Tkachuk did a fly by hit to remind him. Gio went ballastic and made a dirty play on Tkachuk. Maybe deserved, but it seemed like Gio being a dick. Jarnkrok went to check on Backlund, which I thought was classy. This was a tough game, where the other team plays physical (have some big bodies). Kept us from getting a lot of chances in close. But Grubauer is the reason why they weren't outscored 5-1. Had a playoff feel to it. The winning streak wears on you. We won't win 40 in a row, so if and when we lose, get back on another streak.

A couple of analysts talked about it (TSN and SN). So far this season we have watched a team play playoff style hockey. We are built that way and play that way every night. A poor game doesn't define the way we play. Unlike the teams that only can win by getting a bunch of PP's, we win games in spite of them. That translates well to playoff hockey.

He played 54 games for us in 2018/19. 8 in 19/20. Hasn't played as a regulat since 18/19. NHL stats look weird, but he's only played 3 games this season. Can't go by last 5 gams played.

Backlund disease setting in. 3 mised open nets.

Stage 2 complete. Finally. Begin Stage 3.

The chances in close are well defended. Seattle is getting cleaner chances, but they are licky we brought an A game.

Too bad you aren't seeing the typical high scoring game. Save for the lone bad giveaway, we are controling the ice.

We have come up against a hot goalie. Kinda like the Nucks game. Put the hammer down and put Gru back in the bottom of the league.

Bend, but don't break.

I like how Guddy and Zaddy back each other up. If one is up, the other is back.

Good morning CF. Glad to have you up watching the game. How about them Flames, eh?

Phase 2 begins in 2nd period.