Thursday, November 29, 2007

 

Flames Game Night: Stoppable Force meets Movable Object

Ducks @ Flames, 7PM MT, RSN West

Here is how I would describe how the Flames' season has gone so far, as distinct from explaining why:

They have lost games when they were the better team, but haven't won any when they were the lesser team. They have lost games because of outstanding goaltending at the other end, but haven't won any because of outstanding goaltending in their own end. They have lost games because they were killed on special teams, but haven't won any because they dominated in odd-man situations.

The Flames have problems, but they have also had some craptastic puck luck. I keep thinking back to the Wings game on Tuesday (where I'll grant they were probably outplayed, though marginally). I have plenty of respect for Datsyuk and his line -- and his two goals qualify as mistakes by Sarich, especially the first one -- but cripes: going into that game he had 5 goals and a 6.0% shooting percentage. What are the odds that he zings two in right below the crossbar?

Also, when I say the Flames have problems... the goaltending has been the biggest one. There's no way to hem and haw around it.
I hear radio callers wondering if maybe they're giving up fewer shots but better scoring chances, but in the absence of a really good explanation for how and why, I'm sticking with Occam's Razor.

As for tonight's game, the Ducks have some similar problems to the Flames. Both teams have abysmal PP%+PK%, which they then make worse by playing in penalty-filled games and taking more penalties (ANA 1st, CGY 2nd) than any other teams in the league. The only real difference so far is that the Ducks have made it through regulation more, and won some shootouts.

Earl is predicting a 24-2 Calgary victory. If only... I'll go for Calgary 3 (Boyd, Iginla, Phaneuf) Anaheim 0. Go Flames.

Comments:

Half-way through the game and Kipper's given up 3 on 12 shots.

Looks like the slide's going to continue.
 


That 3rd goal has got to be rock-bottom for the Flames... got to. Not only did it put them 2 down, mean they're probably going to lose and fall further out of a playoff spot, etc., but:

The fucking puck was in the exact same position as on Gelinas' (whoops) Cup-winning goal in '04. Overhead, looks like it's probably but you can't see it definitively; from the front, looks like the puck is on edge, and you can clearly see some white between the puck and the line.

Good times.
 


Time to cheer for a new team so we have a reason to care. I vote for the Blackhawks.

Who's with me? Drip (does anyone other than me call the Oilers the drip?) fans are invited as well.
 


haha...man is this ever ugly. It's actually getting funny now.
 


mclea"Time to cheer for a new team so we have a reason to care. I vote for the Blackhawks.

Who's with me? Drip (does anyone other than me call the Oilers the drip?) fans are invited as well."


I'd be surprised if any Drip fans take you up on that offer. Hell, even the most optomistic of Oiler fans weren't expecting us to make the playoffs this year. 10th place would be fine with me.

But back to my reason for posting. Us Oiler fans may not have many reasons to cheer this year, but we've got some good young talent worth cheering for, both now and in the future. Gilbert, Cogliano, Gagner, Brodziak, Smid, and a little bit further down the line, Chorney, Petry, and Nash. And I have to add Schremp, the kids still only 21.

Goilers!
 


Ya, we have fucking nothing. We're old AND shitty. We have absolutely nothing to look forward to. God bless you Sutter.

My loyalty to the city of Calgary and the Republic of Alberta runs as deep as the Nile. As for local team X? Not so much. I hate everything about this goddamn team. I'm I really obligated to cheer for them? Really? Can I be an Alberta honk without cheering for the Flames? Can I compensate for my lack of Flames fanhood by buying a gun, going to church a little more often, and pushing a liberal in front of bus?

If you're reading this Ralph Klein, know that I haven't lost faith in the state, only its mercenaries.

Per unitatem vis
 


We're old AND shitty

And expensive.

Sigh.
 


I had posted when Kipprusoft signed that massive contract, that he was looking out for himself and it wasn't really a hometown discount.

He started poor, so he took the guaranteed money when he had the chance. That guaranteed money certainly wouldn't be around as his current rate.

The guy is getting paid 8M,8M,8M,6M,3.5M over the first 5 years, effectively giving a PV of 35M/5 years. He'll likely retire after that and forgo the 1.5M he has left to be paid. That for a guy who will be 32 when the contract kicks in. Not to discount the rumoured hip problems.

He's just not a goalie who is playing elite hockey. His numbers have fell over the years, and this could possibly be one contract the Flames end up regretting. While the cap hit is ''only 5.833,'' you can't tell me the Flames owners will be happy paying 8M in real salary over the next 3 years.

He's 37th out of 40th in the NHL with regards to SV%, at .886. 25 is getting close to the n=30 mark.

Is he another Turek or Tommy Salo?

As for the Flames prospect, I always get a chuckle reading CP, on how guys massively overrate their own prospects. Wow. Yet, some still argue that Flames prospects > Oilers prospects. Guess that should be expected.
 


The Calgary Flames are now 0-7-0 this season when Rhett Warrener is out of the lineup. When he plays, they're 10-6-3. Include last season, and the Flames are (approximately) 5-17-2 when Rhett doesn't play.

Draw your own conclusions.
 


An Oilers' fan accusing Flames fans of overrating their prospects... this really is rock-bottom.
 


I can't bear to watch the games right now as I just get pissed off and it ruins my whole night. So I just have one question, the Flames outshot the Ducks 38-22, is that an accurate reflection of the balance of play?
 


what's that move that Phaneuf made on the Getzlaf rush called, a Pirouette, or a Piqué?
 


I was at the game and I haven't seen a game that bad in a long time. There was a stretch in the second period they looked like a Pee-Wee team. I don't think they had a pass on the tape in the neutral zone all night long, it seems like they practice passing at each others' skates. The defence was absolutely brutal, fine Aucoin and Warrner were out but Keenan only played the four regulars anyway. As things stand Bronco will not have to worry about Red Mile getting out of hand this season.

The only highlight of the night was #16 Parson for the Ducks(the guy who fought Goddard), man he looks like he just appeared from the 70s.
 


subversive: short answer is No. The shot count reflects the Flames huge advantage in PP time, and probably a bit of zone time advantage, but not scoring chances. The Ducks' first 2 goals were one-timers on the doorstep, which are, uh, pretty high percentage shots. Oh, and they had 3 breakaways.
 


An Oilers' fan accusing Flames fans of overrating their prospects... this really is rock-bottom.

The exact same thought occurred to me.
 


The Calgary Flames are now 0-7-0 this season when Rhett Warrener is out of the lineup. When he plays, they're 10-6-3. Include last season, and the Flames are (approximately) 5-17-2 when Rhett doesn't play.

A classic case of correlation does not equal causation.
 


I only got to catch the game really late night on the DVR (and fell asleep before the 3rd).

That 3rd ANA goal was pretty crappy, but damn--the 2nd goal makes me very happy about the Getzlaf deal.

Don't have much more to offer than that; great post title, though.
 


The sadest part might be that I actually prefer watching the Oilers play. Both teams are terrible, but at least the Oilers are entertaining.
 

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