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You can’t blame Calgary Flames fans if they start to feel a little deja vu. In fact, the performance we saw on Monday night in Chicago looked all too similar to the team we bemoaned at times last season. You can make it 9 straight losses to the Hawks in Chicago and you can make it 2 straight losses for the Flames heading into a Tuesday night game in Columbus.
Look it, it’s fair to say that it’s tough to play with a big lead and it’s tough to carry over the type of intensity Calgary had to open the contest throughout a 60 minute game. But as Mike Rogers said in our postgame show…good teams figure out a way to win. Give all the credit in the world to Chicago, they just kept coming…but you can’t get out to a start like the Flames did and lose the way they did.
The problem for me is Calgary positionally when they have it in their own zone. The shot blocking has been great, Eric Nystrom was outstanding in that category today. But you can block all the shots that you want and it won’t erase the fact that the Hawks had the puck FAR too much in the offensive zone. It seemed like there was no support or pursuit in that area for Calgary, and it made for stunted and jilted for the final 40 minutes of the game. Calgary had a lot of trouble exiting their zone, and the Hawks took advantage as a result.
The line of Langkow-Dawes-Bourque was a combined -8, and I thought that was a very accurate stat. As much as they’ve been the most consistent line in the offensive zone, it hasn’t been as good defensively, and it showed tonight.
What I liked from Calgary in the first 4 games of the season was their push back. When teams started to turn the tide of the game in those first 4 contests, Calgary was able to push back and get things going the way they wanted. I understand the Blackhawks were going to get on a roll in this game…they were down 5, and they were throwing everything at the Flames. But it’s on Calgary to make sure that’s only a temporary thing, and they didn’t do that on Monday.
Good thing or bad thing that Calgary gets back on the horse tomorrow in Columbus? I think it’s a good thing after a game like this, but it’s on Calgary to make sure that’s the case. After 4 games, Calgary had been getting better in each and every game. That’s been the opposite in the following 2. Too early to REALLY evaluate, but not a good feeling for the Flames after Monday night.
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I thought the Flames only played one period tonight. In the new NHL, teams have to play all three periods in order to win. I thought under this new system the Flames would be better defensivley. I know that you can’t blame all six goals on Kipper, but i’m getting tired of making exucuses for him.
PS: No question the Flames only played 1 period tonight, but look…a couple things. I think the Flames WILL be better defensively eventually, but at this time, I don’t know if it’s fair to compare them to last year. They’re a different team and 6 games isn’t enough to evaluate whether the things that plagued them last year have carried over to this year. On Kiprusoff, I don’t know if we’re making excuses for him…no one was good last night, but it certainly doesn’t fall on him.
- JevOuch. But hey, on the upside of things we scored 5 goals in the first period!!! At least it wasnt 6-1 Chicago. I’m not too worried… As someone who has played hockey their entire life, I know just how tough it is to change over to a completely new style… Hopefully we make the change quickly. Go Flames Go
PS: Bad habits are tough to break Rob, I get that, and that’s why I’m willing to give it a LITTLE more than 6 games before I start saying it’s the “same old Flames”. Problem is, eventually the “it’s early” excuse is going to be BS.
- RobI can’t think of anything more to say than that for the first time since I can remember, I was embarrassed to be a Flames & Stampeders fan yesterday.
I, and all fans, can guess, debate and argue as to what is currently wrong with these 2 teams until we’re blue inthe face. Whatever positives the Stamps had last year…they’ve lost it. Whatever negative the Flames had last year…they’ve carried over to now.
I’ve head from both Huf and Brent and they’re saying the exact same thing is wrong with both teams…their mentality. Not sure how to change it, but I hope they figure out how soon.
PS: Luckily the Flames have 76 more games to do it…the Stamps don’t have that luxury Bob. On the Flames, I still think it’s coming, and I don’t believe it’s fair to say that the negative from last year has carried over. It’s only 6 games into a new season with a new team, so I don’t think it’s a fair sample size to make a judgement that this is the same team as last year. If this stuff keeps happening, then yeah, then you can start to think that way, at least in my opinion.
- Bob in the AbbeyBottom line – somewhere in that rooms lurks a cancer and as long as it’s there this team will remain uncoachable. The big 4 (Reggie, Kipper, Iggy, Phaneuf) do not compare to other teams that are supposed to be in the same category as the Flames in terms of on-ice value. I can’t be the only one that sees Phaneuf (aka Jovo) reading his own press clippings??? You’re not that good – case in point, Jbo; a real number one d-man and even he’s feeling the affects of an overrated d-core because he’s completely overcompensating. Get rid of Phaneuf while he’s still “kinda-sorta” worth something a get a legite first line centre that brings a fresh, winning attitude. Gio – you’re number 2, case closed.
PS: Man, I just don’t know if it’s fair at this point to start saying “it’s the core, trade one of them” on this team. We’re 6 games in…maybe, just maybe, what happened in Chicago will be a one-off and never happen again. I believe that this team is NOT the same as last year’s team…or at the very least, I believe it’s too early to give an answer either way. Eventually though, we’re going to know.
- Jdaddy