Flames Versus Predators Gamethread
by Kent Wilson on Dec 19, 2009 12:30 PM PST
104 comments
Nashville Predators at Calgary Flames, Dec 19, 2009 1:00 PM PST
Calgary's 5-0 victory over Nashville a couple of weeks ago was the high water mark of the season for the club so far. Since then, the two teams have gone in opposite directions: NSH is 6-1-2 in those nine games, scoring 38 goals. The Flames are, in contrast, went 3-4-1 with 15 GF to their name (yikes).
This afternoon will be an interesting test of coaching on either side. One of the primary reasons the Flames railroaded the Predators in Nashville was that Trotz stuck with his usual strategy of matching a line of pluggers against Calgary's "#1 line", freeing up his scorers to face ostensibly easier opposition. As a result, Iginla et al. faced the likes of Ward and Smithson while Langkow and Bourque took on Arnott and Dumoont. Unfortunately for Trotz, that strategy plays right into the Flames hands - as we've shown repeatedly around here, Langkow's line is far more capable of taking on the big boys this season.
Of course, this contest is in Calgary where Brent Sutter has often waffled between the PvP match-up and sending out Langkow against the heavy lifters (with predictable results from shift to shift), mostly preferring the former to the latter for whatever baffling reason.
So the question is - will both coaches ignore prior evidence to pursue favored strategies? Will Sutter send Iginla out against Arnott or will Trotz try to find a way to get Legwand and Smithson out against Jokinen? or will the bench bosses actually adhere to the object lesson they had in the previous meeting between the two clubs?
Stay tuned...
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Looks like Jason Arnott is out, as Sportsnet reports he wasn’t even out for warmups.
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 12:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Brophy just states it may come down to Shea Weber V. Dion Phaneuf for an Olympic spot. C’mon Mike, Weber is clearly a lock while Phaneuf a longshot IMO.
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 12:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Today marks Robyn Regher’s 700th NHL game.
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 12:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Fine. Get it over with in the first three minutes, and then the two can watch the game with the rest of us.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 1:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Why the afternoon game, by the way? Not too typical in Calgary, is that?
by maimster on Dec 19, 2009 1:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Good question. It doesn’t seem like it’s a building issue, and Nashville doesn’t play again until Tuesday in Vancouver, so it isn’t a travel issue. TV, maybe?
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 1:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Likely was scheduled for tonight initially, but not picked up by CBC with Ovechkin in eTown. Sportsnet and the Flames then likely bought the TV rights and rescheduled it as an afternooner. My best guess, anyway.
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 1:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Listed as a 5:00 start in my ticket book. They changed it so the game could be on TV.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:55 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Nashville lines, as per SBNation's Nashville rep On The Forcheck
Forwards
Sullivan – Arnott – Erat
Ward – Legwand – Smithson
Hornqvist – Goc – Dumont
Jones – Spaling – Belak
Defense
Suter – Weber
Hamhuis – Klein
Bouillon – Franson
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 1:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Right… I already posted that… and then missed it in the copy/paste.
Oooops.
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 1:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That goal is all on Phaneuf. H has to stop being so fucking lazy in those races for pucks.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 1:16 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Former Red Deer Rebel Martin Erat’s on quite the roll. Now has 8 goals in last 8 games.
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 1:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Ugh. The Flames don’t even care to try right now.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 1:21 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Nice kick save by Ellis on Bourque. Good effort from 17.
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 1:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
The hook to the hands helped. Bork still got a nice shot off though.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 1:28 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
And yet another night of biased officiating …
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 1:27 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Yup, and the ref put them up 2-0. Zebra #40 seems to have money on a Preds win.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 1:31 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t bitch about the refs, but was just nothing at all.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That play was nothing at all, that is.
And the Flames are in a hole. Reggie and JB were a bit lost.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 1:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Nice to se him make up for that first goal.
Moss is completely lost out there right now.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 1:35 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t really mind that call. It’s a bit on the “poor” side of the judgement scale but it’s at least partly defensible and not at all against the flow of the play.
The bigger news: the Flames top forwards are abandoning the zone with aplomb.
Wait, that’s not news!
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 1:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Jokinen’s had a couple nice defensive stick plays this game. But he and Iginla had some brain fart moments of abandoning their defense, compeltely..
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 1:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I think the Preds may have had too many men on that Bourque rush.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 1:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
They definitely did.
Flames looked better as the period wore on. Hopefully they carry momentum into the second.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 1:57 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Glencross is the third different EV winger to play with Joker-Iggy in the period. You’re trying to answer the wrong question, Brent.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 1:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Like seriously! Either put iggy with Langkow, or since the Langkow line is playing so good, look to make 3 balanced lines – with Iginla and Jokinen split up.
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
+1. Brent has done everything right except that.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:00 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Ref 40 checks Boyd off the puck, he gets it back, gives up an awful turnover, and the D falls apart.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:04 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
That’s a couple of shaky shifts in a row.
And now we can all watch McG’s last shift of the night.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 2:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
If nothing else, McGrattan is an amazing fighter.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:06 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Only guy he looked overmatched against was the Boogeyman.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 2:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I could hear that one from here. Ping, and in it goes. Nice snipe.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 2:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
If nothing, Iginla still has his shot.
Still miss his propensity to do that form higher scoring areas though.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Ooh my bad. He skated into the dot there. Thought it was from farther out.
Very nice play by Iggy.
(now do it again!)
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Should I annoy some here by arguing that fight gave us momentum back, leading to the tying goal? ;)
Great shot by iggy.
And look, ref 40 still only sees one teams infractions!
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:11 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
This isn’t the best example, the Flames aren’t dominating or anything.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
My objection isn’t really even the fighting part, but the fact the the Flames spend most nights playing a forward short by design. The GlenX-Armstrong fight is the sort of thing I’m good with.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 2:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yah, I mean I like a good fight as much as anyone but a.) you can get a pretty cheap depth advantage by having your fighter be good at hockey too, and b.) that orchestrated “let’s drop the gloves to get the crowd in this” business is just not my style.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Heh, I know. Just having some fun with Kent’s disdain for that argument. Heh.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:16 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Christ the Flames can’t recover the damn puck ont he PK. Although they’re doing a fantastic job of protecting the front of the net there.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
So your telling me there was a fight? Sunuva!
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 2:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Missed a couple minutes and I missed the scrap. F-Me!
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 2:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Res, did the NSH defender touch the puck on that trip?
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Couldn’t tell from my angle. That was the safe cal by the ref… I just want hi. To see those both ways.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:22 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Two good shifts by non-Iggy/Jokinen units. Can we afford to let ourselves hope for a third consecutive shift of goodness, esp. when it starts in the OFF zone???
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Great effort, great pressure, terrible decision making.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:20 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Shame McG was on the business end of that chance.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 2:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
McGrattan doesn’t look pleased.
Wow, I let myself hope and I was not dissapointed!
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
JAAAAAAAA-RRRRROOOOOOOOOOME
IGINLAAAAA!!!
by RossCreek on Dec 19, 2009 2:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
God what a second effort by Iggy!
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:23 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
That’s an own goal, but if Iggy gets another afternoon hattie, we might see some schedule changes ;-)
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 2:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Own goal or not, the process was superb.
Who was on the ice against? I’m kind of only half watching the game, Peter L’s voice is a good indicaton of whether I should be looking up from my work or not.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Erat Legwand Sullivan on for Nashville.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 2:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Erat strikes me as the soft-minute scoring type, and Legwand the opposite, more of a Lanks/Horcoff underrated-but-better type. I dont’ know why, I don’t watch NSH that often.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Legwand is used like Horcoff by Trotz, but in all honesty, if Horc’s healthy, he’s better. Langkow has more finish than either one.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 2:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh yeah, I’m not saying Legwand is better than Langkow or Horcoff. But better than Erat I would imagine.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Trotz is one of the last guys that occasionally uses a checking line approach, rather than straight P v P. He’s not quite as doctrinaire about it as Randy Carlye circa 06/07, but he really tries to get skill guys out against softer comp. Sometimes that makes it harder to tell what his players are capable of. That said, Legwand had some chances along the way to get those sorts of favourable circumstances, and he didn’t do much with them.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 2:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Phaneuf listened to me! Faked that shot twice, got lower. Too bad he was forced outside the middle by Ward, if that’s in the high slot it’s a chance.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Well, Phaneaf looks good in the O-zone today.
by Parallex on Dec 19, 2009 2:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Not sure who the forwards were on that goal, but they hung the D out to dry.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:34 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Aka, the second line went off on an ill-advised line change?
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:42 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Other way around. Boyd was the only guy to get off the ice for the Iggy-Joker line before it went to shit.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 2:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Quikc poll: Regehr plays the toughest minutes on the D. Why is he +68 over the last 5 seasons?
My asnwer: playing a ton behind Iginla, and in front of really good goaltending in three of those five seasons.
Regehr’s good but a player in his role should probably be expected to find himself witha few minuses.
Damn, tie game.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Regehr is one of those guys who makes the goalie look better too. When he is on top of his game, Regehr can single-handedly cut the ice in half.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:45 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Hahaha Gio with the Warrener-style pass block. It never works my friend!
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Linesmen are having a terrible game. Oy.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 2:40 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Not a bad period, not perfect but I think we controlled most of the play at EV. And the result is fine, it’s a bit much to hope to be up now given the score going in and how goals go. So 3-3, if the Flames keep getting chances then they have a good shot at winning.
And Kipper, well he guessed wrong on the first and third goal but he’s also square to everything and not swimming 08/09 style. So he’s playing ok too.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 2:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I like how the Preds player acted like that was anything but a lucky bounce.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 3:03 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Curtis Glencross has been terrible tonight.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 3:06 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
C’mon, play with some urgency. Hustle damnit.
by Parallex on Dec 19, 2009 3:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Damn, glorious chance and an open net miss. Payback for the Weber open net in the first.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 3:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Flames deserve a much better fate than this.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 3:20 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
How many horseshoes does Ellis have up his ass right now?
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 3:22 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Pretty obvious stick hold. I guess the whistles are away.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 3:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Iginla, Jokinen, Bourque? That’s out of left field.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 3:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah now the refs are being idiotic. Some pretty obvious penalties that can be called along the flow of the play. It’s not dictating the pace of the game to give a team who’s dominating a PP, dipshits.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 3:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
That was bull shit. Nashville got a win they did not deserve. Kipper and Glencros were both awful, and both hurt us badly at key times.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 3:30 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
I blame Jokinen, because it’s convenient.
by jpg144 on Dec 19, 2009 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He set up a couple, so was better than usual.
Kipper just wasn’t focused tonight though. He was playing too deep in his crease all night, coughed up terrible rebounds, and as Robert noted, was guessing a lot. That was last year’s kipper in goal. I blame the stupid start time, myself.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 3:57 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Well, that’s unfortunate. It isn’t often that the Flames outplay a team and aren’t rewarded, unless they’ve played Colorado.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 19, 2009 3:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Well this one’s over, but the Flames played mostly well in my estimation. So the process is right, and while it’s best to have the points, if they keep playing like this the points will come.
The real kick in the nuts is that Vancouver has been benefitting from games gifted to them by officiating, so they have the opportunity to catch up.
by R O on Dec 19, 2009 3:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
With so many BC natives in the officiating ranks, Vancouver will always get the benefit of the officiating.
by Resolute on Dec 19, 2009 3:54 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Just finished catching up. Scoring Chances.
Game could have gone either way. Both teams benefited from some bounces. Iginla was outstanding and Jokinen got two of the easiest “assists” I’ve seen awhile. Langkow’s line wasn’t quite as good as we’ve been used to in the past, nor was Kipper. Thus, the loss.
by Kent Wilson on Dec 19, 2009 4:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I didn’t think anyone was terrible but no-one was great (Iggy played his best in a while, I guess, so that’s something). Kipper had one of those games where none of the goals were ‘bad’ but he’s been stopping many of those this year. Overall, better effort than most of the last 4 games, hate to lose it though.
by maimster on Dec 19, 2009 4:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Wow, that was really some Charlie Simmer analysis there…I’m in afternoon game form also!
by maimster on Dec 19, 2009 4:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
did anyone hear the organist play the swedish chef and the bork bork bork thing ? cause the organist commented on my site and said he would…. apparently it happened with two mins left in the third…. ? anyone anyone ? bueller ? bueller ?
by walkinvisible on Dec 19, 2009 5:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
The Dome organist reads blogs? Cool!
by Kent Wilson on Dec 19, 2009 8:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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