Todd Cordell: Avalanche 5, Flames 3: Calgary a mixed bag in opening night loss

Agreed Todd. The flames lost last night because their secondary players were not secondary, they were awful. Frolik, Backlund (might still be injured, certainly played like it), Mangiapane, and Brodie in particular were just plain bad. Turnovers after turnovers, missed/bad passes, slow skating all over, and mishandling the puck. Not to mention 2 penalties by Frolik, one by Brodie, and one by Backlund.

Granted the refs call it tight the first part of the season to try to set precedence. But those 4 guys need to play well against good teams for the Flames to beat them, and they were just bad, not even ok!

However, I thought Kylington looked good and will get more comfortable as he plays more, and he deserves that spot. Gaudreau, Monahan and Lindholm were excellent. Giordano and Ridditch played great. Bennett was noticeable. Andersson and Hanifin and Hamonic played well. Tkachuk was ok, but was dragged down by his linemates for sure. The Avalanche are a top 4 team in the West this year and I expect the Flames will play them better next time.

I expect a better game/result on Saturday, GFG!

More of the same...soft forwards who don't defend and a blue line who can score but cant suppress chances...kadri made the right call by jumping at the avs and REJECTING the flames...

Kadri didn’t say no to the flames ass clown he wanted to stay home In Toronto!! And 2 he didn’t say yes to the avalanche cause he was never asked as they were not on his no trade list ! Stop talking out your ass and for the record I for one am glad that useless kardri said no to the flames

Oil90 shut your yap assclown

I didn't notice anything good outside of the first line. Kylington did his job and should be on the third pairing. I thought the fourth line was invisible, and the second sucked. Oh yeah, and clearly the Oilers have already won the cup, so call the season already!

Honestly Oil90, I’m actually not joking when saying I’m starting to really feel bad for you man!!!
I don’t even think you realize how badly of a picture you seem to keep on painting of yourself with all the comments you’ve made over the months...Either you clearly don’t get it or ya live a very sad life...
I really hope it’s not both, you’d be really fricken screwed...
LIKE WOW!!!!!

More of the same...soft forwards who don't defend and a blue line who can score but cant suppress chances...kadri made the right call by jumping at the avs and REJECTING the flames...
- oil90

You need some new material...

Lucic was fine last night. If anything, he made a case to get more minutes on the top line. He won some battles, went to the right places, made the smart passes, and didn't stick out for anything negative. If he can keep up a combination of what we saw last night and in the preseason, he could get back to 15-20 goals and 40-50 points if he gets more time on the top line.

The Flames are in better shape overall if they can have a semi-useful Lucic on the top line and Lindholm playing with Bennett.

Lucic was fine last night. If anything, he made a case to get more minutes on the top line. He won some battles, went to the right places, made the smart passes, and didn't stick out for anything negative. If he can keep up a combination of what we saw last night and in the preseason, he could get back to 15-20 goals and 40-50 points if he gets more time on the top line.

The Flames are in better shape overall if they can have a semi-useful Lucic on the top line and Lindholm playing with Bennett.
- Hunkulese

I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that Backlund & Frolik should be 3rd line & we should get Lindholm with Bennett & Tkachuk. If Lucic can play with top line without slowing them down too much would be an unexpected surprise. Even yet, Lucic is defensively responsible enough to play with Backlund & Frolik.

What the fck why that high stick was not reviewable??? After the league got all those blackeyes from the playoffs, first fcking game we get a play that should have been fcking reviewed. That was a big goal.

You need some new material...

- geta02it

Jonny money chucky
Bennett backland lindholm
Mangy Ryan Czarnik
Lucic janko reider

Frolik gone !

Roll all 4 lines

Sooo Peter's put lucic on the top line in the first game but Neal wasn't afforded the same opportunity throughout the year...sounds like either Peter's is a stubborn mule of a man or flames management are regretting the trade and trying to put lipstick on the pig... undisciplined, led by cheap shot Giordano and the antics of overpaid punktchuk...now lucic and his top line face washes...
Is that material new enough for u...one for the road...kadri and his avs bent the flames over ...yet again....wise choice mr.kadri...wise choice...

Sooo Peter's put lucic on the top line in the first game but Neal wasn't afforded the same opportunity throughout the year...sounds like either Peter's is a stubborn mule of a man or flames management are regretting the trade and trying to put lipstick on the pig... undisciplined, led by cheap shot Giordano and the antics of overpaid punktchuk...now lucic and his top line face washes...
Is that material new enough for u...one for the road...kadri and his avs bent the flames over ...yet again....wise choice mr.kadri...wise choice...
- oil90

I can tell you put a lot of time and effort into the wording and sentence Structure of your post. I for one have to say I am humbled by your mastery of the English language and your debating abilities. You must have gone to one of those prestigious Eastern private schools. Money well spent by your parents.

We appreciate you taking the time to help us understand our favorite franchise in a no nonsense, non biased manner. You have certainly given us food for thought and I think we are all the much wiser from your arguements.

Please keep making these intriguing posts. Soon enough you will start winning over other Flames fans as you are slowly winning over myself.



DD

Guys is it me or is Oil90 totally sexy....I bet he is a total catch. I think I am falling for him!

Guys is it me or is Oil90 totally sexy....I bet he is a total catch. I think I am falling for him!
- DuranDuran

Even the oil thread doesn't wish his presence upon you. Nor ourselves. If things can work out the oil policeman will rid him for the better of all of us in time. Might be waiting for those stricter chiefs to be pulling the strings tho. Might make an appearance too many in the leafs or Canucks boards. Let these ones be somewhat civil while ball busting to eachother. Kind of let the Jero/Iggy treatment happen. Hopefully they take JB too.

Guys is it me or is Oil90 totally sexy....I bet he is a total catch. I think I am falling for him!
- DuranDuran

Ewww...what a perv...remind me of some of my teachers at my school...

Ewww...what a perv...remind me of some of my teachers at my school...
- oil90

Hey dude! How is your day??? Hope it is amazing! You deserve to have a good day because you are you.

I'm beginning to think that Oil 90 has pictures, newspaper clipping and posters of Kadri on his bedroom wall and that in his crib he has a I heart Kadri pillow.

Ewww...what a perv...remind me of some of my teachers at my school...
- oil90

you got #MeToo’d eh?

Solid blog Todd. You hit on points that o had rummaging around my brain. Rittich was better than the numbers suggested. He made some great saves to give the Flames a chance. Tonight should be a doozie.

Im not even sure who I want to win tonights game, van or cal. If van loses it helps the oilers in the long run, but, i also want to see calgary lose every game. is there a lose lose scenerio?

I'm beginning to think that Oil 90 has pictures, newspaper clipping and posters of Kadri on his bedroom wall and that in his crib he has a I heart Kadri pillow.
- FlamesFan1230

Probably a Kadri body pillow too. Did he do a shirtless calendar because there's definitely one of those in there too.

Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to hear he moved to Denver across the street from the guy at this point.

Probably a Kadri body pillow too. Did he do a shirtless calendar because there's definitely one of those in there too.

Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to hear he moved to Denver across the street from the guy at this point.
- Helios

😍 kadri....all my friends think he's great 2...

😍 kadri....all my friends think he's great 2...
- oil90

Friends ? LOL, I don't think so.