Yeah, guys like Sutter/Hitchcock/Torts have that ability - but it also tends to work for fairly short bursts. They are, for that reason, great playoff motivators, but also wear their guys down and are eventually tuned out. Happened here with Sutter, Hitch and Torts both have that rep as well.

I will say this, in game 3 when Peters called a timeout and just sat there smiling and drinking his water, I was pissed off. I've been craving emotion out of this team all year long and it just isn't there. Smitty gets run (even though fairly innocent) by Wilson and Hamonic hugs the guy. No scrums, no fights, no one has anyone else's back and it's frustrating.
- rmull905

I agree with most of your post! Don’t know about the fighting part tho, it’s not really apart of playoff hockey. I watched Hammer talk to most of everybody during scrums he was on the ice for. He knows what’s up.

I wonder if Monahan's value balances out Neal's negative value. Maybe package them together and hope someone will give up a second. Then go hard after Duchene or even just go with Bennett on the top line and save trees cap space.
- Hunkulese

The problem with trading Sean Monahan is that you no longer have Sean Monahan.

Things look really bad, but the real difference this series is Nathan MacKinnon. Supposing Gaudreau was outplaying MacKinnon, it'd probably be 3-1 Flames right now.

The problem with trading Sean Monahan is that you no longer have Sean Monahan.
- BINGO!

Yeah, that would suck for the first three months of the season, then it would be fantastic for the rest.

The core pieces of this team have had three shots in the playoffs now, and besides the perfect Vancouver matchup, they've been lifeless in every series. They need to change something now before they have to pay all of them 10+ million.

I don't know why people are so surprised. The Flames racked up wins against trash teams, but have been under .500 against playoff teams since January 1st. Gaudreau is soft. Enjoy the Pacific Division Banner ceremony next year. That's quite an accomplishment. Maybe next year Gaudreau can get 100 points too. Perhaps a banner for that too.
- uofcguy

You're obviously not an English major...
The team went from a non-playoff team with 84 points to a playoff team with 107. Gutted the lineup outside the core and hired a new coach. Did I hope for better, yep but its obvious there are a few pieces that need to be changed out. I think it took 8 years of playoff disappointment for the Caps to figure it out. I don't see a comeback and, well, (frank) but they now know what it takes and I guarantee changes will be made. This city needed something positive and the Flames gave that. I'm disappointed with the results of the 1st round but its a hard lesson that hopefully sets the team up for future success!

Things look really bad, but the real difference this series is Nathan MacKinnon. Supposing Gaudreau was outplaying MacKinnon, it'd probably be 3-1 Flames right now.
- archromat

The real difference is that the Flames haven't really gotten any offence from their top line, and the majority of their depth players haven't stepped up either.

Most players are producing as advertised, but the top line really really isn't.

The problem with trading Sean Monahan is that you no longer have Sean Monahan.
- BINGO!

Depends on what the return would be...

Playoffs are a different beast. Playoffs need players to be beasts. Sean Monahan (and a few others) apparently grew giant vaginas...

Depends on what the return would be...

Playoffs are a different beast. Playoffs need players to be beasts. Sean Monahan (and a few others) apparently grew giant vaginas...
- geta02it

I mean, I know it's not really his game, but Monahan wasn't credited with a single hit until game 18 of the season.

Might be he's just not well suited for when the refs put the whistles away (which they shouldn't do)

I mean, I know it's not really his game, but Monahan wasn't credited with a single hit until game 18 of the season.

Might be he's just not well suited for when the refs put the whistles away (which they shouldn't do)
- BINGO!

He doesn't need to be physical, he needs to be at least visible. He hasn't managed to do that for the last 30 games.

You're obviously not an English major...
The team went from a non-playoff team with 84 points to a playoff team with 107. Gutted the lineup outside the core and hired a new coach. Did I hope for better, yep but its obvious there are a few pieces that need to be changed out. I think it took 8 years of playoff disappointment for the Caps to figure it out. I don't see a comeback and, well, (frank) but they now know what it takes and I guarantee changes will be made. This city needed something positive and the Flames gave that. I'm disappointed with the results of the 1st round but its a hard lesson that hopefully sets the team up for future success!
- geta02it

No not an English major. Did I have a spelling mistake or something?

It's pretty irrelevant that they had 84 points last year and 107 now. What is relevant is how many people were fooled by this 107 points thinking the Flames were a legit contender. For months they have struggled to beat quality teams. But that was masked by beating up on trash teams. Truth must hurt. I live here and see the shock from the fans. An entire city fooled thinking this was the team to beat in the West. Wrong.

Flames didn't make it last year, Bud.
- Hunkulese

much better then

No not an English major. Did I have a spelling mistake or something?

It's pretty irrelevant that they had 84 points last year and 107 now. What is relevant is how many people were fooled by this 107 points thinking the Flames were a legit contender. For months they have struggled to beat quality teams. But that was masked by beating up on trash teams. Truth must hurt. I live here and see the shock from the fans. An entire city fooled thinking this was the team to beat in the West. Wrong.

- uofcguy

They were definitely the team to beat in the West. The fact that they're about to get beat doesn't change that. Same thing happened in the East.

Colorado deserves a lot more credit than people are giving them. I'd put what's happening more on what Colorado's doing right than anything Calgary's doing wrong. If they can keep playing like they are, the could win it all.

He doesn't need to be physical, he needs to be at least visible. He hasn't managed to do that for the last 30 games.
- Hunkulese

Okay, well, what about Lindholm? Including the playoffs, he has 11 points and only 3 goals in his last 25 games.

Okay, well, what about Lindholm? Including the playoffs, he has 11 points and only 3 goals in his last 25 games.
- BINGO!

He makes 1.5 million less than Monahan, and was a far bigger factor to the Flames' success this year.

Monahan also has a higher perceived value around the league.

Starting Rittich for game 5 is a no-brainer imo.

He makes 1.5 million less than Monahan, and was a far bigger factor to the Flames' success this year.

Monahan also has a higher perceived value around the league.
- Hunkulese

Sure does. I'm just saying that his struggles down the stretch were much worse than Monahan's.

That was always my one real knock against Peters. When things started slipping away he never seemed to know how to stop it. He coaches one way and one way only, which is fantastic when it's working, but when the time comes to adjust, he just... doesn't?

We'll see if he's learned anything, I guess.
- BINGO!

This is your Christmas

This is your Christmas
- Nucker101

Making the playoffs was Christmas.

Dougie outscoring Lindholm and Hanifin combined in the playoffs is like winning $250k on a cheap scratch-off ticket somebody through in your stocking.

I agree with most of your post! Don’t know about the fighting part tho, it’s not really apart of playoff hockey. I watched Hammer talk to most of everybody during scrums he was on the ice for. He knows what’s up.
- Flamin_Irishmin

Fair enough, the Flames just aren't making these guys pay any sort of price. The Avs have been great at closing on the puck carrier, they've been whacking, Zadorov, Landeskog and Cole have been noticeably physical and made the Flames pay the price to get to the hard areas.

I actually mentioned before the series that it's what I saw the last time these teams matched up. Colorado plays a widespread, but aggressive defensive style that limits high danger chances. Part of the reason Grubauer's save percentage was so high the last couple of months. Flames play a generally passive defensive system and look for breakouts on mistakes instead of forcing them.

They were definitely the team to beat in the West. The fact that they're about to get beat doesn't change that. Same thing happened in the East.

Colorado deserves a lot more credit than people are giving them. I'd put what's happening more on what Colorado's doing right than anything Calgary's doing wrong. If they can keep playing like they are, the could win it all.
- Hunkulese

Well I guess some people had labelled the Flames as the team to beat in the West. I certainly didn't. Since the All-Star Break (a sample of over 30 games) the following teams in the West had a better record than the Flames:

St. Louis
Dallas
Chicago
Colorado
San Jose
Nashville

And as I've mentioned the Flames were struggling to beat quality teams. It's neat that they beat up on bad teams, but they couldn't beat quality teams. Case in point...Blues went 15-6-2 against playoff teams since January 1. So clearly succeeding against the elite teams in the NHL. Flames went 9-8-0. Now make that 10-11-0. Nothing impressive to see here.

Well I guess some people had labelled the Flames as the team to beat in the West. I certainly didn't. Since the All-Star Break (a sample of over 30 games) the following teams in the West had a better record than the Flames:

St. Louis
Dallas
Chicago
Colorado
San Jose
Nashville

And as I've mentioned the Flames were struggling to beat quality teams. It's neat that they beat up on bad teams, but they couldn't beat quality teams. Case in point...Blues went 15-6-2 against playoff teams since January 1. So clearly succeeding against the elite teams in the NHL. Flames went 9-8-0. Now make that 10-11-0. Nothing impressive to see here.

- uofcguy

How's your phd coming ? Any interest from the Flames in hiring you ?

No not an English major. Did I have a spelling mistake or something?

It's pretty irrelevant that they had 84 points last year and 107 now. What is relevant is how many people were fooled by this 107 points thinking the Flames were a legit contender. For months they have struggled to beat quality teams. But that was masked by beating up on trash teams. Truth must hurt. I live here and see the shock from the fans. An entire city fooled thinking this was the team to beat in the West. Wrong.

- uofcguy

Who thought they were a legit contender? Why were all the "experts" wanting to avoid Vegas in the first round? Why did so many not have the Flames getting out of the West? Jesus dude, either you just troll allot or are clearly f'n dumber than you appear. You obviously haven't been on this site long because the vast majority of Flames fans on this site recognize the window is JUST opening.

On paper we should have beat the Av's. I think the depth we thought we had has some holes. Well gee, lesson learned. Its not shock, its disappointment. Woulda, coulda, shoulda... Learn, adjust, move on.

Av's deserve credit and taught this team a valuable lesson. You want to be a Richard, jump on another teams bandwagon.

Starting Rittich for game 5 is a no-brainer imo.
- aschuter82

Why? Because Smith is the reason the Flames are behind? I'm a Rittich fan but goaltending is not the reason this team is here.

He doesn't need to be physical, he needs to be at least visible. He hasn't managed to do that for the last 30 games.
- Hunkulese

Agreed. He just looks like he doesn’t give 100%.

Monahan is a 80% give a shît person in life, and on the ice. He’s a coaster. Nate is killing him on the ice, and I haven’t seen any pulse from him despite that.

Pretty disappointed about that. Don’t expect him to add energy to the team, only subtract from it. At least Jonny gets fired up from time to time, Monahan just avoids checks. *sigh*

The silver lining is that they've been massively outplayed and still were within minutes of being up 3-1. If Smith continues to Smith, they only need a handful of players to actually show up. What kind of nut pulls the goalie with three minutes to go when you're only down one?

One game at a time.