Todd Cordell: Flames 3, Stars 2: Rittich steals the show, and two points, in Dallas

I know we took some unnecessary penalties but if the refs would have called it the same for both teams then we would have had our fair share of powerplays. I know homerism, but that's the way I saw it.
Big save Dave looks very confident, loved his reaction after stopping Radulov on the penalty shot.
Brodie looks confused on the 2nd pp, why is he still getting time there? Remember when Glughead used him over Gio?
Neal 7 goals for the Oilers matching his total from last year. Don't miss him what so ever we have tons of scoring depth.
When will Frolik be sent packing? As of now I'd rather see Czarnik in there.
Also Janko has had a very uneventful start. Can it be the ice time?
Bring on Vegas!

I know we took some unnecessary penalties but if the refs would have called it the same for both teams then we would have had our fair share of powerplays. I know homerism, but that's the way I saw it.
Big save Dave looks very confident, loved his reaction after stopping Radulov on the penalty shot.
Brodie looks confused on the 2nd pp, why is he still getting time there? Remember when Glughead used him over Gio?
Neal 7 goals for the Oilers matching his total from last year. Don't miss him what so ever we have tons of scoring depth.
When will Frolik be sent packing? As of now I'd rather see Czarnik in there.
Also Janko has had a very uneventful start. Can it be the ice time?
Bring on Vegas!
- K-man25

Yeah some of those penalties called on us were just hor$ec0ck! Then I see Benn slash Lindholms stick out of his hands & nothing. I dont get it.

Hopefully we will see Andersen up with Gio against Vegas but move Brodie back to the right side & put Kyllington in.

Agree, it's time to part ways with Frolik. We should have a pool for when his agent will start to request a trade on twitter. If we can move Frolik for pennies & to gain cap space, then I would like to see Tre make a move with Brodie & Janko to acquire a 2nd line centre. That would push backlund to the 3rd line & that would immediately improve the bottom 6. Backlund is not an offensive juggernaut & we need an offensive upgrade to play with Tkachuk & I think Mangi is earning those 2nd line minutes. Was really hoping Benny stepped up but maybe we need to change our expectations of him that he is a solid 3rd line forward that plays with an edge & can find another gear at playoff time. At his salary, there is nothing wrong with that. Backlund Benny & Lucic would make a decent 3rd line. Ryan can move down to the 4th line with Czarnick/Reider & Dube.

I really hoped Lucic could find some sort of game after all the pressure was off him to be anything more than physical and stick up for the skill guys but holy cow he cant pass skate receive a pass the play dies with him every time I really cant believe just how bad he has become well I guess as long as we stuck with him play him every 3-4 game as a deterrent and that’s about it lol Mangiapane is a player I said from day one he’s earning it glad to see him get rewarded and sorry but time to move Bennett too he just cant get it together here hope he can on a new team

I really hoped Lucic could find some sort of game after all the pressure was off him to be anything more than physical and stick up for the skill guys but holy cow he cant pass skate receive a pass the play dies with him every time I really cant believe just how bad he has become well I guess as long as we stuck with him play him every 3-4 game as a deterrent and that’s about it lol Mangiapane is a player I said from day one he’s earning it glad to see him get rewarded and sorry but time to move Bennett too he just cant get it together here hope he can on a new team
- Hockeyfan4life14

Agreed. Lucic is gawd awful. BT poop the bed, no way to sugarcoat it.

I couldn't agree with you more Kevin R, Jankowski needs to go he is useless. If I recall correctly we could've drafted Olli Mataa who's turned out to be a good d man.

Agreed. Lucic is gawd awful. BT poop the bed, no way to sugarcoat it.
- tincup

Yeah BT should've never signed Neal to that contract to begin with to have unload crap for another piece of crap.

Agreed. Lucic is gawd awful. BT poop the bed, no way to sugarcoat it.
- tincup

Agreed. Lucic is gawd awful. BT poop the bed, no way to sugarcoat it.
- tincup

I still dont mind Looch. Jankowski, frolik and Brodsky gotta go.

Hanafin has looked just great this year. Glad he got some time in OT, could be hitting the "next gear" this year.

Hanafin has looked just great this year. Glad he got some time in OT, could be hitting the "next gear" this year.
- Squilliam-

I’ve noticed him step it up another gear as well

The Neal trade could never be a win for the flames ...Neal was never good enough to be on the flames top line and wasn’t good enough to play on backs line against top lines ...Neal was always only a bottom 6 guy in cgy



I still like Neal better than lucic tho ...

I still dont mind Looch. Jankowski, frolik and Brodsky gotta go.
- Squilliam-

He serves the purpose. Yeah way way way over paid but Neal wasnt happy here & he wasnt gelling with any of our top 2 lines. He was a perfect fit for the Oilers & it shows. His 50% shooting percentage is going to regress but glad he's shooting lights out this year & not next. Lucic fills a need but that trade also gained us $750K in cap space & it its looking pretty darn good we are getting that 3rd round pick as well. That $750K cap space was huge, how huge you ask? Well we were able to get both Magpie & Tkachuk resigned without having to make a panic cap clearing trade that would have costed us a high pick &/or a decent prospect or get zero return on a decent player.
So I wish the panel experts can answer where you you fit that value in the trade equation other than just a goal count.
Hate helping the Oilers, really do, but this was one of those rare times the trade between our hated enemies was the best fit going both ways.


I just hope Neal keeps shooting his way to 21 goals & then gets a puck in the teeth so he can get then fixed again

- Wildschwein

The audacity

The audacity
- Squilliam-

Oh come now. I’m a sensitive/classy troll, and you damn well know it.

Multiple teams have already given Neal away, any team could have had him this summer by just taking his contract.

Signing him in the first place was the mistake

The cap space, 3rd, and I honestly think Lucic will be useful in a playoff series

They did the best they could under the circumstance

High SH% or not, Luc isn't nearly as useful as Neal. The latter was awful last year but also had some bad luck. If he played more with Bennett and Ryan (not Janko) this year, I bet he would've at least doubled his goal output.

In the Dallas game, Luc was single-handedly responsible for the tap-in on the first goal with a lazy backcheck. It was never and will never be worth >5M to have a face-puncher. You could get 5-6 of them with that price tag - ones that could probably skate too (Rinaldo, etc.)

The only way this becomes a win is if the Flames draft a stud or manage to trade for a good player with the extra 3rd.

I understand the optimism but let's call a spade a spade. This might be BT's worst decision of all time.

High SH% or not, Luc isn't nearly as useful as Neal. The latter was awful last year but also had some bad luck. If he played more with Bennett and Ryan (not Janko) this year, I bet he would've at least doubled his goal output.

In the Dallas game, Luc was single-handedly responsible for the tap-in on the first goal with a lazy backcheck. It was never and will never be worth >5M to have a face-puncher. You could get 5-6 of them with that price tag - ones that could probably skate too (Rinaldo, etc.)

The only way this becomes a win is if the Flames draft a stud or manage to trade for a good player with the extra 3rd.

I understand the optimism but let's call a spade a spade. This might be BT's worst decision of all time.
- LittleBroDougie

We all knew that Neal was going to bounce back, fact is though he didn’t fit on this team, coach didn’t trust him, and he basically went through the last part of the season uningaged. Lucic was one of Tre only options, I say let’s see how he pans out before declaring it his worst decision.

I agree! IMO I think Looch has actually looked pretty good so far despite a couple mishaps...one thing I love is seeing the Flames getting pumped up and start taking it to them after Looch throws a heavy punch, backing up his bros or simply throwing his body around...especially when they’re not looking nearly engaged enough...
At least they’re feeding off his energy and waking up when looking dull...

I agree! IMO I think Looch has actually looked pretty good so far despite a couple mishaps...one thing I love is seeing the Flames getting pumped up and start taking it to them after Looch throws a heavy punch, backing up his bros or simply throwing his body around...especially when they’re not looking nearly engaged enough...
At least they’re feeding off his energy and waking up when looking dull...
- Cruzn’Oost

We used to love that too about him. But it gets old real quick. People soon realize that if they provoke lucic he will take a stupid penalty and cost his team. Which judging by his PIMS already, hes made an early habit of it.

Maatta was so good the Penguins traded him

Go Flames!

Neal is a Richard. I hope he gets punched in the Richard so hard he gets anal prolapse. Maybe by Lucic....maybe by nurse after Neal sleeps with his sister.

Go Flames!

Neal is a Richard. I hope he gets punched in the Richard so hard he gets anal prolapse. Maybe by Lucic....maybe by nurse after Neal sleeps with his sister.
- DuranDuran

Too bad we play stone instead of kyllington. So dumb

Too bad we play stone instead of kyllington. So dumb
- Squilliam-

Fack is it ever dumb. Kylington is better than Stone 100 %.

Well period one done and it wasn’t a good one. Need to have cleaner breakouts, harder on the forecheck, and better dump ins so its not so easy for Fluery to handle. Hopefully boys come out buzzing the next two periods!