travel_dude

First off, he hasn't yet been inked to a ELC. Secondly, you can have a team of just prospects and expect them to progress. Guys like Froese show them what it takes. Francis and Poirier are together for the rest of the year. Already, Francis had 1g 1a in a game and Poirier had 2 apples. Let them learn winning attitudes, much like Pelletier did in the Q.

The thing about Flames radio I don't like is they have biases and make their comments to support those. In other words, they get a hate on for a player and find every example to back it up. We all do that a bit, but a radio broadcast doesn't give you the chance to form your own opinions. I have watched every game, some closer than others, but I have never felt we were outplayed. Shutout or not, I don't think we lose any of those games.

Well, getting a penalty followed by a double minor or an extended 5-3 does tilt the ice a bit. They bent but never broke. Props to Marky for sure. The D did what they needed to do to give him clear looks. Our PK is becoming elite. Not sure why; G has a lot to do with it, but keeping opponents outside is key. Whenever your goalie makes 45 stops in a shutout, you can say they stole it. But, we have done that and lost. The loss to Oilers was not Smith stealing it, it was lack of quality and high danger chances. We did enough to get a win half the time, but letting in 5 is tough to come back from.

I'm not sure we had no business winning any games. I think this team has been pretty solid, with only minor letdowns in some games. Yes, you need your goalie to perform. He needs to be a great PK goalie too. The one thing I think some of the analysts pointed out was that the D is giving the shooter to the goalie on odd man rushes. We have seen before where we try to cover both and end up covering nobody or screening the goalie. Of all the goals scored on Marky, only a few have been bad goals that he saw. That is huge.

Worry about it when there is a reason to do so. There has been nothing out of him that he doesn't want to be in the NHL ASAP. Only two ways for that to happen - say you have no itention of playing for the Flames and hope they can trade you to the team you want or sign with the Flames when ready. Latter is easier and probably a good chance to start in the NHL. Do yourself a favor and win the Hobey Baker trophy. We will fly to the ceremony and sign him on the spot.

Was miffed that he showed up late for camp, so to speak. He's looking like a top player in the AHL, so what is stopping him from getting here? Sorry, but we don't need another 4th line C right now. Limited results there showed he plays down to the level of the line. Get one game between the two speedsters and light it up.

The good thing is that in the NHL, the backup has provided a winning record. How nice is that. We have Sutter who believes in riding the starter, but he's already shown he will trust the backup. Huge. Managing starts has always been my beef with the team. Gully was a fool and Wardo fell into the same traps. We may see a high wokload for Marky, but Sutter wants him in the playoffs, so nothing crazy. Wolfie is the #1 goalie prospect, but it's nice to have a decent AHL goalie there to develop as well. Not gaudy numbers, but a solid low 900 AHL career. Wolfie already settling in and showing why he was the best goalie out of the WHL in years.

While Ritchie adds some jam to Dube's line, he just doesn't fit the skills. It works some shifts, but it kills offnse others. Monahan is looking better, so it may just be a question of not having a 4th C. If Richardson comes back, then we might have that 4th C and move up Monahan. Let's face it, he was rusty. I don't feel that a connected Monahan would be anything other than a boost for Dube and Mange. Haven't seen enough of Richardson to say he would be a good fit. Who do we even take out to insert him? About the least effective player out there is Ritchie. But a 4th line Ritchie is not the worst thing I can think of.

Oilers with an easy out this coming week. Sunday - NYR @ Seattle Monday - Seattle @ EDM Tuesday - Nash @ CGY Wednesday - Nash @ EDM Friday - NYR @ EDM Saturday - NYR @ CGY 3 games in one week against teams that hev to play B2B, and only one of them they play the 1st night.

Mr. Vezna looking good so far.

Damn, Coleman took one off the foot.

Well, I think Jennifer B has a much more even analysis. And Giadreau gets greedy and snipes one.

I'm not going there. She's smart, but every once in awhile gets it completely wrong.

Cassie it was a penalty. It wasn;t a clean check, it was a loss of possession that created a chance for Tkachuk to go down the ice.

So we get the penalty for an interference on Tkachuk?

Pitlick is a great pickup for a 3rd liner. Defensive player first.

Kylington made a bad sweeping pass, but didn;t give up on it. Not much came of it.

It looked overpass, but Hart was set for Lindholm

Bang bang bang Tkacuk.

Lucic has had some looks. Expect a Mangiapane goal myself.

Kylington having another good game.

Zadorov with the slow movement of the puck. Not a great look to have him and Slowbranson out there together. Frustrated fan obviously. He's not that bad, but he has his moments.

Give up a shot and a weak penalty. Come on Zaddy, stop taking penalties.

2nd highest scoring 1st period team. 4 shots in 1st, none in 2nd at this point.

Reverse logic. Monkey off back.