GDT: Flames @ Canucks - 8pm MST

[turnagainoutlaw]

Because we can't have nice things.

I've been pretty disappointed with Tkachuk so far this year.

Yeah he hasn't been good. I thought Giordano looked pretty decent tonight though.

 

[Mazatt]

I think all of the Flames D had moments of looking solid tonight outside of Andersson who's been kind of floating by and not excelling at anything this year. Hasn't brought the moves on the rush we saw last year, has been a bit behind on coverage (he and Giordano have blown the zone WAY too many times for my comfort) as well as breaking up the rush, and his offensive play from the point isn't spectacular. He's been solid but for someone we hoped was a top pairing D I'd have hoped he would've been better. Same with Tkachuk, who just looks slow and has no way to get around defensemen other than throwing it back on em

 

[Rubi]

Well played 15 minutes boys.

 

[User1996]

I think these mini series should be treated more like playoffs in that fresh guys should be inserted more often. I feel like the Flames probably play with their 4th line less than many other teams.

I’d go:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Bennett
Lucic - Backlund - Mangiapane
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube
Simon - Gawdin - Leivo

Keeping some form of competition on that 4th line is part of the reason I think we looked so good for 40 minutes against the Oilers and then against the Jets.

 

[DFF]

I think these mini series should be treated more like playoffs in that fresh guys should be inserted more often. I feel like the Flames probably play with their 4th line less than many other teams.

I’d go:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Bennett
Lucic - Backlund - Mangiapane
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube
Simon - Gawdin - Leivo

Keeping some form of competition on that 4th line is part of the reason I think we looked so good for 40 minutes against the Oilers and then against the Jets.

Like him or not, Nordstrom is needed for PK....can swap Simon for Freose or Leivo

 

[User1996]

Like him or not, Nordstrom is needed for PK....can swap Simon for Freose or Leivo

This is way overblown. Backlund, Lindholm, Mangiapane, Dube, Bennett, Gawain could all kill.

I’m not exactly going to shy away from changes on the PK. It hasn’t exactly been good anyways.

 

[Kranix]

Myers is brutal

 

[Mazatt]

This is way overblown. Backlund, Lindholm, Mangiapane, Dube, Bennett, Gawain could all kill.

I’m not exactly going to shy away from changes on the PK. It hasn’t exactly been good anyways.

Those guys can all kill but Nordstrom gets double shifted on the penalty kill and currently leads ALL forwards for average shorthanded time on ice. I'd rather see him throwing his body on the line than seeing Dube, Bennett, or Mangiapane going for the big blocks.

Right now the Flames run

Lindholm - Nordstrom
Backlund - Mangiapane
Froese - Bennett (very sparingly)

removing Nordstrom from the lineup would be... very meh. I think he provides energy 5v5 with how he plays (fitting in with what we'd want from a 4th line) which is something we need in the slower games like yesterday, and until Ryan is back there's not someone who can eat even close to the minutes he puts up on the PK.

 

[User1996]

Those guys can all kill but Nordstrom gets double shifted on the penalty kill and currently leads ALL forwards for average shorthanded time on ice. I'd rather see him throwing his body on the line than seeing Dube, Bennett, or Mangiapane going for the big blocks.

Right now the Flames run

Lindholm - Nordstrom
Backlund - Mangiapane
Froese - Bennett (very sparingly)

removing Nordstrom from the lineup would be... very meh. I think he provides energy 5v5 with how he plays (fitting in with what we'd want from a 4th line) which is something we need in the slower games like yesterday, and until Ryan is back there's not someone who can eat even close to the minutes he puts up on the PK.

Well I’m not proposing he’s a 13th forward or anything. It’s about keeping things fresh and competitive by inserting other guys for a game or two. If we miss one 4th line PK specialist that much we have bigger issues.

I don’t agree that we get much energy at all from our 4th line shifts currently. They haven’t had much sustained OZ cycling time or forechecks since Lucic has been moved up. A hungry 4th line would provide more energy than anything the current rendition does. Things seem stale down there

 

[Mazatt]

Well I’m not proposing he’s a 13th forward or anything. It’s about keeping things fresh and competitive by inserting other guys for a game or two. If we miss one 4th line PK specialist that much we have bigger issues.

I don’t agree that we get much energy at all from our 4th line shifts currently. They haven’t had much sustained OZ cycling time or forechecks since Lucic has been moved up. A hungry 4th line would provide more energy than anything the current rendition does. Things seem stale down there

I'd also want to keep things fresh but it just comes down to the fact that the Flames have 4 really good penalty killing forwards but with one out to injury, removing a 2nd one from that when a lot of powerplays in the North is hot seems risky. I'd support Gawdin in over Froese to at least confirm our thoughts that he's a great PKer and could replace part of nordstrom's ice time before getting Simon in there.

Last night the 4th line didn't have the sustained pressure but against Winnipeg they threw the body around and worked the boards, but now that I think about it that was mostly Leivo, so swapping Froese for Gawdin seems like a start, and then if he's good, Nordstrom can sit a game or two to get Simon back in. Tbh if there's a team to mess up the 4th line against it'd be Ottawa. Their PP isn't scary so Nordstrom's necessity there would be limited, and having guys who match their bite/drive would be huge

 

[User1996]

I'd also want to keep things fresh but it just comes down to the fact that the Flames have 4 really good penalty killing forwards but with one out to injury, removing a 2nd one from that when a lot of powerplays in the North is hot seems risky. I'd support Gawdin in over Froese to at least confirm our thoughts that he's a great PKer and could replace part of nordstrom's ice time before getting Simon in there.

Last night the 4th line didn't have the sustained pressure but against Winnipeg they threw the body around and worked the boards, but now that I think about it that was mostly Leivo, so swapping Froese for Gawdin seems like a start, and then if he's good, Nordstrom can sit a game or two to get Simon back in. Tbh if there's a team to mess up the 4th line against it'd be Ottawa. Their PP isn't scary so Nordstrom's necessity there would be limited, and having guys who match their bite/drive would be huge

I could get behind that. I want to see what Gawdin can do and I think he’s be a very good guy to insert. He’s the main one I think they should get in anyways, Simon hasn’t done much

 

[TheHudlinator]

I'm fine taking Nordstrom out for a game here and there but I think we need to replace him with someone that can pk effectively as I don't want top 6 players killing any more time than they already do. Simon and Leivo didn't kill penalties on their old teams, if we aren't using Kylington id look to move him for a 4th line pk specialist such as Motte in Vancouver.

 

[Szechwan]

I'm fine taking Nordstrom out for a game here and there but I think we need to replace him with someone that can pk effectively as I don't want top 6 players killing any more time than they already do. Simon and Leivo didn't kill penalties on their old teams, if we aren't using Kylington id look to move him for a 4th line pk specialist such as Motte in Vancouver.

Zero chance Vancouver moves Motte.

 

[TheHudlinator]

Zero chance Vancouver moves Motte.

How can you honestly say that when you have Benning as GM? If a team offers an upgrade at defense there is no way to know who Benning won't move.

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

Markstrom is hands down a top 5 goalie, he is elite no doubt about it. He won the game for us last night, I have not seen this level of goaltending since Kipper, feels good to finally have that back.

He is our best player AINEC.

 

[Szechwan]

How can you honestly say that when you have Benning as GM? If a team offers an upgrade at defense there is no way to know who Benning won't move.

If there is one thing Benning values, it's reliable bottom 6 players with a motor. For better or worse, Motte is literally the perfect player in the eyes of Benning and Green, they f***in love him.

He's also our only good PKer, so just not gonna happen sorry. Kylington doesn't bring anything we don't have, we have Rathbone and Rafferty waiting to step into that role if we need it.

 

[TheHudlinator]

If there is one thing Benning values, it's reliable bottom 6 players with a motor. For better or worse, Motte is literally the perfect player in the eyes of Benning and Green, they f***in love him.

He's also our only good PKer, so again. Not gonna happen sorry, Kylington doesn't bring anything we don't have.

I mean he can turn unlike Juolevi. Kylington might not be what it takes but there is no way Motte is untouchable. It doesn't matter anyway Motte was just an example of a good 4th line pker we should be trying to bring in.

 

[Deen]

#MarkstromBlessed

 

[DFF]

If there is one thing Benning values, it's reliable bottom 6 players with a motor. For better or worse, Motte is literally the perfect player in the eyes of Benning and Green, they f***in love him.

He's also our only good PKer, so just not gonna happen sorry. Kylington doesn't bring anything we don't have, we have Rathbone and Rafferty waiting to step into that role if we need it.

Benning loves Flames castoff. Kylington maybe in Vancouver before you know it

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

I want Juolevi.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Was this Mangiapane’s best game ever? He was insane