After getting home in time for the second period, and onwards, I'm forced to admit there was something missing from tonight's game.
No, it wasn't that Iggy and several others were quiet - they're entitled, especially with the two games on the weekend on the road. No, it wasn't Ritchie after he got hurt (though hasn't he been the nicest surprise this season)
And I touched on this in the pre-game post, when I talked about how we deal with teams that are weaker...
It's killer instinct. I've observed this a lot in the Eastern Conference this year particularly - where tons of teams can run the score up and keep on going. And squish down on the other guy's jugular. I've discussed this with friends over the last couple of seasons, and for whatever reason, we don't have it right now. Not every night, and not for every team.
To a certain extent, it's not even about coming out for a full sixty minutes every game (though that would be a bonus), but about making sure you don't blow any leads late in the game, particularly not via any mistakes of your own. (Right? I'm looking at you boys in the bin right now. Yes, you, Jeff Friesen, and you, Conroy).
Not that I need people to clear some room so I can fling myself off the bandwagon, but unless we can demonstrate that ability to finish off teams, (and any team, not just ones we're playing in four-point games or who we have a particular hate for), we're not going to get far enough...
Sigh.
TRAGEDY: Johnny Gaudreau, Brother Killed in Biking Accident
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The NHL and the Columbus Blue Jackets confirmed the tragic news early
Friday morning. Former Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother
Matthew ...
2 months ago
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Having had a night on it - I should be fair. Our record (till last night) with the lead after two periods has been good to date this season.
ReplyDeleteWhich only makes it more apparent there's no killer instinct the times it does happen.
bunch of hacks, i say.
ReplyDeleteand why oh why can't playfair see that mclennan needs to specialize in shootouts ? clearly kipper has given up the right to be the #1 shootout guy. i'm sure he'd love the idea anyways. simple: as soon as OT starts, mclennan starts warming up. done.
no?
A couple of things, I think, go into their refusal to use Noodles as a shootout specialist.
ReplyDelete1. No shootouts in playoffs, and the Flames' focus has always been do-whatever-you-need-to-win-postseason. Thus, no need to focus on excellence in the shootout.
2. While the rulebook (I think) doesn't specifically disallow goalie substitutons for a shootout, they definitely don't let the new guy get warmed up before he gets put in.
3. How else is Kipper ever going to improve at this, unless they give him more practice? Yes, the other boys can take potshots at him in practice, but he can read them all anyways. This is the only way to get him working against new shooters.
and why oh why can't playfair see that mclennan needs to specialize in shootouts ?
ReplyDeleteI was screaming at the bench to put Noodles in. No use...
1. No shootouts in playoffs, and the Flames' focus has always been do-whatever-you-need-to-win-postseason. Thus, no need to focus on excellence in the shootout.
ReplyDeletethis is bunk. with a division as tight as the NW, if the flames drop too many in OT/shootout, they won't MAKE the postseason.
2. ...they definitely don't let the new guy get warmed up before he gets put in.
right. which is why noodles starts to warm up as soon as the team goes to OT. not ideal, sure. but could be an extra point.
3. How else is Kipper ever going to improve at this, unless they give him more practice?
listen. kipper is not gonna improve. he is just not a one-on-one guy and i think with every shootout goal he lets in, his confidence lessens for the next one (this includes breakaways, which is scarier for post-season). kipps is a game goalie, and one of the best in the league. ultimately, in our expectations of him, shootouts don't matter. put noodles in. try to get the extra point. end of story.