Game No. 46: I approve
Ryan Lambert
January 19 2011 05:52PM
Now THIS is how you tank properly.
After being rather disappointed to see how the team handled its personnel decisions (too well) on this recent road trip, it's good to see Brent Sutter go back to what brought the Flames to the basement: insane line combinations.
Brendan Morrison centering Iginla and Tanguay? Check. Olli Jokinen anchoring the Bourque-Kotalik group? Check. Moving David Moss off the ultra-effective fourth line, which is one of the few that's been producing with regularity of late? Check and mate.
Hell, they're even letting Kipper have this one after giving him the ol' hook in his last two starts due to their general terribleness. AND Cory Sarich returns to fill the much-needed role of defenseman who turns it over at the blue line. The Flames haven't had that for a while.
Finally, we're back to blowing it up good and proper, and against a team that Calgary has trouble with, backed by a goalie it can't solve. What could possibly go wrong?
Interestingly, and a bit counterintuitively, Minnesota has been playing pretty well of late. It has done so by getting strong performances out of their few good players and excelling at special teams. Overall, as Kent pointed out this morning, that is the opposite of what Calgary does, and that, too, bodes well for a loss.
Am I being too negative? Probably. As I've said before, I advocate blowing this team up, from orbit, if necessary. It deserves nothing less, and the more losses that are assured, the better position this team will be in to move forward. I'm kind of surprised no one's advocating this more vociferously, but then there's a little less than half a season to go yet and that's not the best way to ingratiate oneself to a fanbase.
Plus, in advocating a fire sale and supreme tank-job, I have to recognize that Calgary wouldn't even have a real reason to fully commit without first trading for some borderline NHL-level prospects. Who would play out the string otherwise?
It's a tough situation, I know. But it's one that needs to be done. This lineup sheet could be a hell of a good start.
I cant say I disagree with much of this. We need to nuke the team from orbit - it's the only way to be sure ;)
Hoping that this game bucks the trend of amazingly boring hockey these two teams usually end up playing.
I am also on board for a blowup.
I'll be a bit late with the chances tonight, but rest assured they'll get done. Going out for a bit and PVRing the affair.
What are the odds the Wild score midway thru the first, then trap the rest of the game? 100 %
What are the odds the Wild score midway thru the first, then trap the rest of the game? 100 %
Well, it's going to be a long night. Butter can scream until he's blue in the face, CONTAIN HAVLAT, CONTAIN HAVLAT, and we still refuse to do it.
Havlat scores, Wild up 1-0 almost 3.5 minutes in...
Letting Havlat AND Koivu score within the first 8 minutes of the game, now THAT'S how you tank a game and begin the complete unraveling of your season.
Corsi.
CGY +6, EV shots 9-8 CGY, but I'm hard pressed to remember a decent Flames chance.
the season began to unravel when the puck dropped vs. Edmonton - game 1
Stoner stopped up way early - I think he caught Glencross by surprise. Bad penalty to take, but a little unfortunate too.
Here comes a glencross suspension, 5 games this time??
I still think we have some time before we decide whether to blow it up or not, seeing as how we are about 8th (in the the race for 1st overall) if we maintain this pace close to the trade deadline, having a fire sale at that time should almost gaurantee that would could move "up" to the number 5 spot. Which would be adequate i think.
@icedawg_42
For me the season ended on game 3 against Florida...
Most likely, very dangerous and stupid play. Luckily Stoner isnt paralyzed.
Thats okay, soon we will have staios and koustopulous back....
Come to think of it, isn't it about time Olli smoked someone in the head with his stick??
Edit: Or maybe our goalie coach can come out and hack someone for old times?
Well it looks the sarich is trying to tank the season, that was excellent defense, leaving the guy open in front of the net. (He may have just got lucky, as on most teams, the forward would have picked that guy up... just note in Calgary)
Well...things seem well in hand, and we're 1 game closer to "Plan B". 'night all! Take care.
Corsi.
CGY +10, EV shots 14-14. Lots of stuff from the outside, not much in the good ice.
I just don't see the Flames ownership group letting Feaster do anything drastic with regards to trading away of anything of value. If he get's the "acting" GM tag taken away then maybe something will happen. This is just brutal hockey to watch. The Flames have no speed what-so-ever. The Flames team of 3rd and 4th liners are getting schooled by another team with younger, quicker 3rd and 4th liners (except Havlat and Koivo of course).
Is Nabokov still looking for work?
That's right Kipper, you stay in there, and you TAKE IT. TAKE IT GOOD!
That's the end of the season.
These games are so much easier to watch now that I want the team to tank. I'd still like it if one or two guys would actually play occasionally, but at least I'm not filled with disgustahate like I used to be.
Corsi.
CGY +30, EV shots 29-19. I don't really want to pin this one on Kipper, even if I think they could have used a save or two, because the skaters spent most of the night playing out on the edges.
I could stand watching blowouts like this if the Flames were a young team, learning to play an NHL style game. But the Flames are old, slow, and boring, with no future as of right now.
No, not that early... Come on... It wasn't until Eberle scored his short handed goal!
Starting to think that Butter lost Kippa when he publicly slapped his face after the nucks game. Kipper hasnt played well since, and is looking like he just doesnt care anymore. i could be wrong, but his body language suggests he may be finished no pun intended in cowtown.
Am I delusional just because I believe? Tonight it just became official that this season is done. No, I tell a lie...the October 28th loss to Colorado. I just want a change. What's the use of maybe stumbling into the playoffs to lose in the first round? FACT: This current edition of the Flames doesn't win playoff series. FACT: Other teams win playoff series. Let's make the Flames another team but keep the name (I like it).
Who would be in the market for Regehr or Sarich assuming they would waive their clauses? Am I crazy to think we should hold onto Stajan and Hagman unless we got a really good offer? I think we should hold onto Bourque regardless (he'll eventually score 35 for us and the unfortunate reality is that you have to pay around 3.5 - 5 mil for 35 goals).
Regher to SJ.
Noone will take Sarich unless we're taking an equally bad contract back.
Beg someone to take Stajan back. Maybe the Blues?
It just has to be blown up and the trade deadline is the time. Playoff contenders will over pay .... much more so than in the summer. Everybody on the 2nd and 3rd lines for any picks that can be had. Regher and Iginla for their sake (they deserve to play on a winner) .... and I believe these two get combined get 2 first round picks and a top prospect. This will allow the Flames to drop much lower in the standings and get a great prospect with their own #1 pick.
Hanging on to the current roster just delays the inevitable and makes the rebuild that much harder. Do we really want to just make the playoff and get blown out in 4 games by Vancouver ?????