Todd Cordell: Avalanche 6, Flames 2: MacKinnon continues to steal the show

Nate the great is just obliterating anyone on the Flames who tries to get in his way.

His speed and quickness are just stupid.

After getting blowtorched by him in game 2 I’d have thought Peters would’ve come up with a better plan against him.

What happened to the Flames D ??? Brodie looks lost out there and the rest aren’t doing much better.

Flames have no answer for Mackinnon.
Flames top line are not playing well at all.
Flames just do not want it bad enough, the avs do.
just an embarrassing game and effort, the whole team, except smith. The forwards, the D- just getting outworked and dominated. Peters being out coached.

I blame Hunk

I have always liked Brodie and liked him on the top line with Gio but last night he looked bad. His confidence was completely shot. It looked like Colorado targeted him every time he was on the ice. I watched right till the end and the last breakaway goal was scored by the trailing Colorado guy and when the camera pan back on the replay you could see the Flames forwards in coast mode back to the bench ..... it was not fun to watch. Bennett Lindholm Tkachuk and Smith have been the only guys to watch in this series so far. I hope there is a bit of a shake up.

Backlund, Monahan, Czarnik
Tkachuk, Bennett, Lindholm
Gaudreau, Jankowski, Neal
Mangiapane, Ryan, Hathaway

Giordano, Andersson
Hanifin, Hamonic
Fantenberg, Kylington

Smith

I am not sure about sitting Brodie but the other changes I think would consider.

The Flames effort last night...



And Av' fans, I take back the Makar comment... Good on the kid!

The Flames effort last night...



And Av' fans, I take back the Makar comment... Good on the kid!
- geta02it

Yeah, Makar is legit.

So. Any idea what changes your coach is gonna implement for game 4?

Johhny Hockey's game was not built for the playoffs, sad to see.

Not time to panic, but definitely time to be concerned.

Flames need to find a way to get McKinnon off his game, and usually the best way to do that is to get physical with him when they can. Think Chucky v McDavid. Tkachuk is focusing on Landeskog and Zadorov, and neither of those guys are who he should be targeting. This isn't "avoid pissing off Iggy otherwise he will dominate you", it's time to start getting under McKinnon's skin a bit and see if that gets him off his game.

The forwards are simply not backchecking hard enough right now. That's just effort and it should be embarrassing to each and every guy that the cameras caught coasting on the back check. The whole team looked slow and sloppy last night.

I was generally ok with Neal's game. He, Bennett, Fantenburg Tkachuk and Frolik (surprisingly) were at least somewhat physical and engaged. That said, I'm also good getting more speed into the lineup, so you can watch one from the box Neal.

Brodie is god awful right now, can't make a pass or decision or hold the line to save his life. Join James in the box and watch Valimaki - or put HANIFIN on the effing powerplay.

As much as the Flames need to keep up with Avs speed, they are also severely lacking in meaningful physical play. Not advocating for Prout here, as he hasn't been physical at all when he's played, but time for Hathaway to start Ferklund'ing a little bit. Get on Makar, Cole, some of the smaller D and hit them hard a few times.

Is Lomberg available to play in the playoffs? He sometimes can add a bit of a spark to a game.

the obvious elephant in the room here: is Peters in over his head?

One compliment I have for the Flames management is thank you for keeping Bennett, he is made for the playoffs! Smith has been good. The rest of the team is a dumpster fire. It's actually difficult to watch. We are witnessing a key moment in the history of our young Flames... I hope they find a way to pull through. A true test of character.

the obvious elephant in the room here: is Peters in over his head?
- aschuter82

Sometimes I read comments and wonder how the heck someone could have that opinion besides just wanting to stir the sh*t. I would suggest this is about 10% Peter's fault... 90% the team.

Case and point - Johnny hockey. Does he look effective right now? How about Gio? Even Tkachuck looks like a glimmer of his true self. Did you see when the camera panned to Tkachuck's dad last night (following his misconduct)?

Sure - it's Peters.

Sometimes I read comments and wonder how the heck someone could have that opinion besides just wanting to stir the sh*t. I would suggest this is about 10% Peter's fault... 90% the team.

Case and point - Johnny hockey. Does he look effective right now? How about Gio? Even Tkachuck looks like a glimmer of his true self. Did you see when the camera panned to Tkachuck's dad last night (following his misconduct)?

Sure - it's Peters.
- bsimms

he's had the wrong goalie in net so far, and his team is getting rolled at 5v5. He hasn't found an answer to either problem yet.

Czarnik is gonna turn this series around

James Neil has been treated with kid gloves by the organisation and fans all year and he has provided next to nothing for this team.
I hate to take him out of the lineup as he is one of our few heavy forwards but his lack of speed has deemed him damn near useless!
The experiment is over.

Just relax Flames fans you have a good team but you are also playing a good team.
Did you think you were going to sweep them in 4?
The cream will rise to the top, this is a test for your young players.
I think you will win game 4 and the series is going 7.

James Neil has been treated with kid gloves by the organisation and fans all year and he has provided next to nothing for this team.
I hate to take him out of the lineup as he is one of our few heavy forwards but his lack of speed has deemed him damn near useless!
The experiment is over.
- DEDDIE

Agreed. We’ll see if Peters has the balls to bench him, Neal will be upset and it makes his GM look bad too, but the goal is to win.

Brodie’s ice time needs to be scaled back to like 14-15 mins.

all I need to see is that the shots on goal were 56-29

there is no need for CF% charts

write a blog, stop hiding behind these charts

all I need to see is that the shots on goal were 56-29

there is no need for CF% charts

write a blog, stop hiding behind these charts
- jimbro83

I really liked the chart, what was wrong with it?

he's had the wrong goalie in net so far, and his team is getting rolled at 5v5. He hasn't found an answer to either problem yet.
- aschuter82

I am really enjoying your lack of insight. Please go on.

I am really enjoying your lack of insight. Please go on.
- rmull905

outside of a few vintage "look what I found!" glove saves in game 1, smith has been as advertised. slow, poor going side to side, too sweaty, overplaying the puck, and constantly rattled.

the composure of rittich would go a long way toward settling the team down here i think.

the composure of rittich
- aschuter82

Combine that with Gaudreau's intense physicality and the Flames will be fine.

Combine that with Gaudreau's intense physicality and the Flames will be fine.
- Hunkulese

any bold predictions for game 4??

Combine that with Gaudreau's intense physicality and the Flames will be fine.
- Hunkulese

fair enough, he may have thrown his stick at the ref once. but outside of that, he always looks far more relaxed and comfortable compared to smith.

MacKinnon is playing angry bc of one reason...Mike Smith acting like Hask in Game 1 over selling flashing the leather on glove saves

Word from game 2 practice was MacK was pissed off from that, felt like Smith was trying to show up the Avs and he took that personally. There a reason why you Mack has been continually beating Smith high glove side. Hes trying embarrass him for those antics.


If Peters starts Smith game 4, Flames are done bc you will get that MacK once again