Todd Cordell: On power play shooting and Calgary's 3rd line

Just in: research shows that elite players are targets on the man advantage.

Just in: research shows that elite players are targets on the man advantage.
- aghector

Thanks for that. Sometimes there are surprises. Tampa Bay, for example, had Kucherov taking ~8% more shots than Stamkos a season ago. You would have thought they'd be feeding Stamkos for one-timers

Thx Todd, I have agree Czarnik on that line vs Neal no comparison one game trial should be more than enough.

Thanks for that. Sometimes there are surprises. Tampa Bay, for example, had Kucherov taking ~8% more shots than Stamkos a season ago. You would have thought they'd be feeding Stamkos for one-timers
- ToddCordellVAN

I'm sorry Todd. It really was a good blog. I just couldn't help myself. Side note I'm a big Avs fan in Calgary so I'm feeling particularly argumentative these days

I look at the Av's very much like the Flames of last year. Heavy reliance on the top line to produce but drops off after that. Better top line than ours (IMO) but marginally and that's only with Rantanen at 100%.

We roll out 4 lines that (can) produce. That combined with a significantly better back end gives us the advantage. Goaltending to me is a wash. Our (two) are on par with the Av's two but then again, goaltending... We saw it in 04.

Is it me or this this week going by painfully slow???? Come on Thursday!!!!!

Mike Smith, the gift that keeps on giving.

Mike Smith, the gift that keeps on giving.
- aschuter82

Very true. Lets see which version of the guy shows up to see who is gifted the wins.

Mike Smith, the gift that keeps on giving.
- aschuter82

Only question is does mike smith win 6-2 or 6-5


GFG !!!!!

They got Neal for just this situation, so hopefully he shows up as the guy who played in the last couple of games vs the prior 60-ish. Beyond the shot, the intangible he tends to bring in the playoffs is a bit of grease...

Pretty pumped buddy got tickets to game #5 --- if we make it there! I joke, I joke.

Although everyone wants to point to the goaltending as the flames potential downfall, I read an interesting stat today.

"No Pacific playoff team gave up fewer goals than the Flames (227)."

Mike Smith, the gift that keeps on giving.
- aschuter82

Smith is like 11-1 in his last 12 versus the Avs

The Flames would have the advantage IF Peters and Treliving would play a better lineup. Neal is the worst hockey player on both teams at any position, closely followed by Smith. By playing Smith and Neal, the Flames coaches are giving the Avs a chance. Czarnik, or Dube, or Quine, would fare better and do more for Jankowski/Bennett with pressure, puck retrieval, and better defence. I hope Neal can do something physically without taking penalties, but I"m very skeptical, he just doesn't have the speed to get in on the forecheck.
Neal is a turnover machine, fires useless shots into shinpads, easily saved shots from far out, or misses the net, resulting in counter-attacks. He hardly ever recovers pucks, nor does he create ops for others. The Flames should win the series in spite of him and Smith anyways, but hopefully (I hope it doesn't happen, but) if Smith lets in 3-4 goals in game 1 or 2, and we still win, Peters goes to Rittich anyways.

The only way Neal gets pulled from this series is if he’s injured. Flames went out and spent a lot of money for this very reason. Treliving would have a hard time explaining to the owners, why his big UFA signing was sitting in the press box. We can all only hope that the James Neal that’s been to the last 2 Stanley Cup Finals shows up and not the one we’ve watched for 60 games.

@ Geta
I known right, and for some reason I had it in my head that we played Wednesday. Imagine my disappointment when I realized it was Thursday.

@Yeah Baby
People have been basing they’re opinion on the goaltending for the whole year. Smitty’s looked good the last couple months. Glad we have the option to start the veteran. Way easier to go to Rittich if he should falter.

I like our chances!

Thanks for the write up Todd!
Let’s look what you wrote.
First you tell us how good the Avalanche power play is, blah blah McKinnon
Then you tell how sh!tty our 3rd line is with Neal on it.

Not sure these are positives for the Flames?

Any who, thanks for everything you write I know it’s not easy.

The Flames would have the advantage IF Peters and Treliving would play a better lineup. Neal is the worst hockey player on both teams at any position, closely followed by Smith. By playing Smith and Neal, the Flames coaches are giving the Avs a chance. Czarnik, or Dube, or Quine, would fare better and do more for Jankowski/Bennett with pressure, puck retrieval, and better defence. I hope Neal can do something physically without taking penalties, but I"m very skeptical, he just doesn't have the speed to get in on the forecheck.
Neal is a turnover machine, fires useless shots into shinpads, easily saved shots from far out, or misses the net, resulting in counter-attacks. He hardly ever recovers pucks, nor does he create ops for others. The Flames should win the series in spite of him and Smith anyways, but hopefully (I hope it doesn't happen, but) if Smith lets in 3-4 goals in game 1 or 2, and we still win, Peters goes to Rittich anyways.
- quinneroma

I really don't get the insistence on Rittich being better than Smith. Smith has objectively been the better goalie since the All-Star break. There's really no way you can make an argument otherwise unless you think there is a coach conspiracy in Calgary to have Smith succeed over Rittich. Smith has given the Flames a chance in every game he's started since the All-Star break except for the one game against the Wild. Have you watched the Flames for the past two months? Have you looked at the stats? Everyone wants to pile on Smith for his .898 save percentage, but that's the exact same percentage Rittich has since the break.

Rittich was amazing for a month, pretty average for a bunch of months, then below average the last few. Smith has been pretty much the opposite but hasn't quite hit amazing.

Neal was trash this year, but he has a solid enough resume that he deserves to be in the lineup for at least a handful of games.

It’s game day female doges.

It’s game day female doges.
- DuranDuran

Game day 😁

The Flames would have the advantage IF Peters and Treliving would play a better lineup. Neal is the worst hockey player on both teams at any position, closely followed by Smith. By playing Smith and Neal, the Flames coaches are giving the Avs a chance. Czarnik, or Dube, or Quine, would fare better and do more for Jankowski/Bennett with pressure, puck retrieval, and better defence. I hope Neal can do something physically without taking penalties, but I"m very skeptical, he just doesn't have the speed to get in on the forecheck.
Neal is a turnover machine, fires useless shots into shinpads, easily saved shots from far out, or misses the net, resulting in counter-attacks. He hardly ever recovers pucks, nor does he create ops for others. The Flames should win the series in spite of him and Smith anyways, but hopefully (I hope it doesn't happen, but) if Smith lets in 3-4 goals in game 1 or 2, and we still win, Peters goes to Rittich anyways.
- quinneroma

FYI, the coach sets the lineup, not the GM...