Todd Cordell: Flames lay an egg, fall to struggling Sabres in overtime

Stupid penalty by Backlund, and a very stupid decision by the coach to leave Brouwer in there (especially for that long).

Smith stole a point for us... embarassing effort

That being said, Wednesday nights game is going to be HUGE!

Pathetic. No killer instinct against a crappy team. So glad we can be team #12 to allow the Sabres a win. We...are...awesome👍

love tkachuk.....wish he would have fallen to us at the 8 spot in the draft great player....that being said as bad as the sabres have been there is still some talent on the roster...played full 60 min to get to ot and deserved the win go sabres and go flames hope you guys make it to the cup this season!!

oh man...I'm not a GG hater
but this was beyond comprehension

That decision was indefensible!!
I can't believe the media didn't let GG hear it post-game
the 1 question was deflected as "I asked the players and they said they were ok, they did a good job with the whistles, pucks over the boards and so yea, they said they were fresh, that's not the reason the puck went in on that play" (something along those lines)

the next question should have been, "if it wasn't fatigue do you think it was maybe losing a crucial draw by having Brouwer lose 3 straight faceoffs as a player that doesn't win very many? In hindsight, was that a mistake?"

and then followed by
"was Monahan being sent a message by intentionally keeping him on the bench for that faceoff?"
"can you explain your thought process on that decision then?"

I would LOVE to hear Gully's thinking
if he owns up and says it was a mistake, I can at least have some peace that he's learning from it
It's as if he still doesn't have a clue that he made a huge mistake in OT

The coach should prepare the team for the game both emotionally and technically, when a team is not ready it is coaching.

The coach sets the standard for team performance and rewards the behavior he wants with increased ice time, when Brouwer gets more than 18 minutes every game the message is "our team plays a slow game conform or sit".

The coach should try to put the best players on the ice for every situation, the league average per shift is 45 seconds because players get tired and fresh players outperform tired players. It is inconceivable that anyone other than Gulutzan thought that Giordano, Stone and Brouwer after 1 minute 24 seconds on the ice were the best option. When Smith managed to catch and hold the puck to get the first whistle of overtime anyone wanting the Flames to win thought "great they can change players because those guys are beat". Not changing the guys on the ice has only two possible explanations. Either Gulutzan was incapable of making the decision to change or he did not want the Flames to win.What possible impairment would result in him not being able to make the decision is unknown but whatever it is it should disqualify him from being behind the bench and obviously the second option should result in his firing.
So bad preparation, bad evaluation and use of resources and bad decision making at critical times. Unless he is working for a government , how does he keep his job?

The coach should prepare the team for the game both emotionally and technically, when a team is not ready it is coaching.

The coach sets the standard for team performance and rewards the behavior he wants with increased ice time, when Brouwer gets more than 18 minutes every game the message is "our team plays a slow game conform or sit".

The coach should try to put the best players on the ice for every situation, the league average per shift is 45 seconds because players get tired and fresh players outperform tired players. It is inconceivable that anyone other than Gulutzan thought that Giordano, Stone and Brouwer after 1 minute 24 seconds on the ice were the best option. When Smith managed to catch and hold the puck to get the first whistle of overtime anyone wanting the Flames to win thought "great they can change players because those guys are beat". Not changing the guys on the ice has only two possible explanations. Either Gulutzan was incapable of making the decision to change or he did not want the Flames to win.What possible impairment would result in him not being able to make the decision is unknown but whatever it is it should disqualify him from being behind the bench and obviously the second option should result in his firing.
So bad preparation, bad evaluation and use of resources and bad decision making at critical times. Unless he is working for a government , how does he keep his job?
- Chucky

Bud you are off your rocker. So all the players have to do is come to the rink? Gimme a (frank)ing break! 95% if it is on the players. They are big boys, if they aren't ready it's their own fckin fault!!!

I guess those inspirational pep talks before big games only happened in my mind and not the rest of the team.

GG getting outcoached again. Typical.

I guess those inspirational pep talks before big games only happened in my mind and not the rest of the team.
- Chucky

Ohhh....sorry....I didn't realize you are actually Matthew Tkachuk!! Please explain to us all how poopty Gully's pep talks are so we can understand what you have to deal with. I also really would like to apologize that you don't get the motivation you need to perform! I feel so sorry for you! You're just so hard done by it makes me want to cry.

Smith made some unreal saves, not since Kipper have I seen such performances. He is literally stealing points.

Smith made some unreal saves, not since Kipper have I seen such performances. He is literally stealing points.
- bsimms

The issue is we (should) have the team that doesn't require it... (night in and night out)

The Flames' fans on here really are clueless about how the game of hockey is played. They always just want to focus on the silliest thing to scapegoat all the team's problems. There were at least ten bigger issues last night that could have won the Flames the game, but somehow all people want to talk about is Brouwer again? Brouwer has been the Flames' best penalty killer for a while now. If Backlund's not on the ice for a 4-3, Brouwer's the next best choice. There's a lot more to penalty killing than just the faceoff.

The Flames' fans on here really are clueless about how the game of hockey is played. They always just want to focus on the silliest thing to scapegoat all the team's problems. There were at least ten bigger issues last night that could have won the Flames the game, but somehow all people want to talk about is Brouwer again? Brouwer has been the Flames' best penalty killer for a while now. If Backlund's not on the ice for a 4-3, Brouwer's the next best choice. There's a lot more to penalty killing than just the faceoff.
- Hunkulese

We bow to your infinite wisdom...
Your insight of the game is second to none and its so refreshing you remind us "peasant-fans" of that each and every post!

We are talking about Brouwer because our blogger highlighted that. Defensive zone play was atrocious, fore check was non-existent, gap-control didn't happen...

oh man...I'm not a GG hater
but this was beyond comprehension

That decision was indefensible!!
I can't believe the media didn't let GG hear it post-game
the 1 question was deflected as "I asked the players and they said they were ok, they did a good job with the whistles, pucks over the boards and so yea, they said they were fresh, that's not the reason the puck went in on that play" (something along those lines)

the next question should have been, "if it wasn't fatigue do you think it was maybe losing a crucial draw by having Brouwer lose 3 straight faceoffs as a player that doesn't win very many? In hindsight, was that a mistake?"

and then followed by
"was Monahan being sent a message by intentionally keeping him on the bench for that faceoff?"
"can you explain your thought process on that decision then?"

I would LOVE to hear Gully's thinking
if he owns up and says it was a mistake, I can at least have some peace that he's learning from it
It's as if he still doesn't have a clue that he made a huge mistake in OT
- cpltanto

I’m with you on this man. Just a complete joke of a coaching job that cost them a game.

Ohhh....sorry....I didn't realize you are actually Matthew Tkachuk!! Please explain to us all how poopty Gully's pep talks are so we can understand what you have to deal with. I also really would like to apologize that you don't get the motivation you need to perform! I feel so sorry for you! You're just so hard done by it makes me want to cry.
- The-O-G

Dude, I'm with you, I'm not getting overly bent out of shape but........objectively, I think it was a poor coaching decision to leave a penalty kill group out on a 4 on 3 for over a minute & half when you had the chance to put a fresh group out there. I don't give a f*@k if Brouwer was the best penalty killer all game. You are about to successfully kill a penalty in O/T & need a big face-off win, so I would think you put the centre man with the best at face-offs this game. Not a winger. Just saying. My position hasn't changed, I have enjoyed this winning streak as much as anyone but I don't think this is the coach that will get us deep in the playoffs. Not liking decisions made at crucial times of the game & yes, no coach is perfect but my confidence level is not that high on our current coach. Here's the thing, if we don't beat the fcking Oilers coming up, I will lose it. Not ever beating the Oilers as a head coach here in Calgary is grounds for termination.

Bud you are off your rocker. So all the players have to do is come to the rink? Gimme a (frank)ing break! 95% if it is on the players. They are big boys, if they aren't ready it's their own fckin fault!!!
- The-O-G

Wow used to think you were a some what intelligent poster. Obviously you've never coached or maybe even played sports higher than rec. if it's not the coaches job to motivate the players than whose is it?
Just watching Glens post game interview, to me he looks frustrated, unsure, very much like this team. Coaches aren't perfect by no means, but when decisions are made that even the average fan knows are wrong, then changes have to be made. Nothing's happening this year, but I would hope as a management group they will all sit down and talk about it.

We bow to your infinite wisdom...
Your insight of the game is second to none and its so refreshing you remind us "peasant-fans" of that each and every post!

We are talking about Brouwer because our blogger highlighted that. Defensive zone play was atrocious, fore check was non-existent, gap-control didn't happen...
- geta02it

Dude, I'm with you, I'm not getting overly bent out of shape but........objectively, I think it was a poor coaching decision to leave a penalty kill group out on a 4 on 3 for over a minute & half when you had the chance to put a fresh group out there. I don't give a f*@k if Brouwer was the best penalty killer all game. You are about to successfully kill a penalty in O/T & need a big face-off win, so I would think you put the centre man with the best at face-offs this game. Not a winger. Just saying. My position hasn't changed, I have enjoyed this winning streak as much as anyone but I don't think this is the coach that will get us deep in the playoffs. Not liking decisions made at crucial times of the game & yes, no coach is perfect but my confidence level is not that high on our current coach. Here's the thing, if we don't beat the fcking Oilers coming up, I will lose it. Not ever beating the Oilers as a head coach here in Calgary is grounds for termination.
- Kevin R

Well said!

I've always tried to defend Gully and he seemed like he was turning it around for good by playing some younger guys but I can absolutely not (even for the smallest reason possible) understand why in the frank he not only put Brouwer out as the lone PK forward but also why he left him on 1:30(!!!) into the kill

What kind of NHL coach would think that's a good idea in regulation, let alone in overtime?

Quite heated still

I've always tried to defend Gully and he seemed like he was turning it around for good by playing some younger guys but I can absolutely not (even for the smallest reason possible) understand why in the frank he not only put Brouwer out as the lone PK forward but also why he left him on 1:30(!!!) into the kill

What kind of NHL coach would think that's a good idea in regulation, let alone in overtime?

Quite heated still
- LittleBroDougie

I hope a Flames player threw a stick in anger in the locker room after the game was over.

The Flames' fans on here really are clueless about how the game of hockey is played. They always just want to focus on the silliest thing to scapegoat all the team's problems. There were at least ten bigger issues last night that could have won the Flames the game, but somehow all people want to talk about is Brouwer again? Brouwer has been the Flames' best penalty killer for a while now. If Backlund's not on the ice for a 4-3, Brouwer's the next best choice. There's a lot more to penalty killing than just the faceoff.
- Hunkulese

I think there's less hate on Brouw than there is for Gully and deservedly so... His incredibly dumb choice to leave an exhausted PK group out caused that GWG

I hope a Flames player threw a stick in anger in the locker room after the game was over.
- Nucker101

Yea I made a joke last night about that on twitter haha. Hoping somebody threw a stick in the dressing room asking him what he was thinking

Yea I made a joke last night about that on twitter haha. Hoping somebody threw a stick in the dressing room asking him what he was thinking
- LittleBroDougie

nice