Wideman effect still in play too, high stick before the pp here and clear high stick they missed during that pp.
- Emcee27

The Flames have had more power plays this year than times they have been shorthanded, so I don't know that the Wideman effect is at all legit. Last year it was a dead even count both ways as well, and we were top 10 in the league in drawing powerplays.

Are things missed? Yes.
Does that go both ways? Yes.
Do we as fans tend to miss the stuff that should be called against our team? Yes.
Do we overreact to the penalties called against our team? Yes.

The Flames have drawn the 3rd most penalties in the league this year, more than double what the bottom dwellers in the league have drawn. The single biggest problem for these guys around special teams is that they just aren't that special. Middle of the road PP, middle of the road PK. Improve those and the female doging around penalties probably goes away.

The Flames have had more power plays this year than times they have been shorthanded, so I don't know that the Wideman effect is at all legit. Last year it was a dead even count both ways as well, and we were top 10 in the league in drawing powerplays.

Are things missed? Yes.
Does that go both ways? Yes.
Do we as fans tend to miss the stuff that should be called against our team? Yes.
Do we overreact to the penalties called against our team? Yes.

The Flames have drawn the 3rd most penalties in the league this year, more than double what the bottom dwellers in the league have drawn. The single biggest problem for these guys around special teams is that they just aren't that special. Middle of the road PP, middle of the road PK. Improve those and the female doging around penalties probably goes away.
- rmull905

All valid points that I have to agree with, I’m just so fed up with years and years of inconsistent unfair reffing for portions of seasons. I’m just the king of complaining about the refs, and probably quite biased when it comes to the flames. You’re absolutely right too, they improve their special teams and I’m not even female dogging about the reffing at all most likely. Maybe I’m just still sour from the season directly after the wideman incident (2 years ago I believe) where this guy actually looked into it and there was a black and white explanation of how the refs consistently called more penalties against the flames, an absurd amount more from the year before, can’t remember the exact numbers and percentages but it was quite substantial.

Who doesn't want to believe that the best (talented, hard-working, etc) team will be rewarded with a playoff spot in April?
But conspiracy theories aside, when it only takes 10 points (or less) to be in /out of the playoffs after an 82 game grind think about how a missed call here or an even up call there can change the outcome of a game. Probably, it doesn't matter. Except if the questionable call/non-call involves 2 teams in a 4 point game. It's pretty simple math to see that it could take only 2 or 3 games between conference rivals to rule one team in and another one out at the end of the year -even though the other 79 might have been called perfectly.
Notice this time(!) I'm specifically not mentioning a purposeful conspiracy.
So is the Wideman effect still there? Maybe, possibly but maybe a team being in or out depends more on the qualifications of the referees rather than their attitude. Personally, I think it probably was there at one time but if I want to keep my job I'm making sure I do the best job I possibly can. That would be far more important to me than taking a chance for the sake of petty revenge.
But the one question I do have is whether or not Bill Peters can turn the Flames league-(2nd) worst penalty record into the least penalized team like the Hurricanes were last year.
I can't believe it was an accident that his team was the least penalized. So I can't believe improving the Flames penalty record isn't a priority for him. So far that doesn't seem to have happened. If the Flames have played their best, are again out of the playoffs and are still one of the most penalized teams in April then I'll be thinking conspiracy theories for sure.

Todd texted me. No game day blog. Outchanced nashville, something something Corsi, smith bad, Rittich starts, Stone bad, Rass good, Rangers suck, game time 5pm mountain time. There

Todd texted me. No game day blog. Outchanced nashville, something something Corsi, smith bad, Rittich starts, Stone bad, Rass good, Rangers suck, game time 5pm mountain time. There
- fry

Excellent summary.

Just so you are all aware, you once again have my permission to win tonight.

Excellent summary.

Just so you are all aware, you once again have my permission to win tonight.
- Wildschwein

Good Strategy seems like when we win you guys win

Good Strategy seems like when we win you guys win
- Kevin R

But who’ll win when we play each other?🤔

But who’ll win when we play each other?🤔
- Wildschwein

The big hope which unites both fanbases is that the battle(s) of Alberta will have at least a minimalistic implication on playoff qualification.

The big hope which unites both fanbases is that the battle(s) of Alberta will have at least a minimalistic implication on playoff qualification.
- VeryModernMan

(frank) playoff qualification. I want the Oil to battle their den of whores IN the playoffs.

(frank) playoff qualification. I want the Oil to battle their den of whores IN the playoffs.
- Wildschwein

Yes, and the oily lubed winner straight into the finals vs. the Islanders...

Rittich has been unreal

Rittich has been unreal
- Squilliam-

Yeah he has had 2 good games, should start to quiet worries about our back up.

I think Peters had enough with Brodie’s giveaways and moved him off Gio’s Pairing.
Despite the one ugly giveaway Andersson had he’s had a great game and deserves to be awarded with playing on the top pairing.

Hathaway

Missed the game. Looks like Ritter was solid!! Give him to reings as starter.

I think Peters had enough with Brodie’s giveaways and moved him off Gio’s Pairing.
Despite the one ugly giveaway Andersson had he’s had a great game and deserves to be awarded with playing on the top pairing.
- ScotsonFire

Yeah he tried to lay out zucs and then hathaway proceeded to score. Brodie's giveaways demoted him for sure and Rass has been playing fantasic- absolutely loving his game- not afraid to lay hits and get into it after the whistle. Safe to say hes not going back down

Yeah he tried to lay out zucs and then hathaway proceeded to score. Brodie's giveaways demoted him for sure and Rass has been playing fantasic- absolutely loving his game- not afraid to lay hits and get into it after the whistle. Safe to say hes not going back down
- Squilliam-

Can’t believe we got him for a player who wasn’t coming back to cgy ...great trade by BT

Yeah he tried to lay out zucs and then hathaway proceeded to score. Brodie's giveaways demoted him for sure and Rass has been playing fantasic- absolutely loving his game- not afraid to lay hits and get into it after the whistle. Safe to say hes not going back down
- Squilliam-

For being a big guy he doesn’t throw a lot of big hits. But he’s a big body that’s hard to move around in the corners, he rushes the puck well, and he’s great and putting shots on net, which he did all night.

For being a big guy he doesn’t throw a lot of big hits. But he’s a big body that’s hard to move around in the corners, he rushes the puck well, and he’s great and putting shots on net, which he did all night.
- ScotsonFire

if you didn't watch the game, the condensed game video shows how HUGE Rittich was in this game (more than any other highlights you'll find)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g39Hf33_ktQ

but yea...Brodie and those giveaways....
I hope they give Rittich some more games and see if he can get some consistency for quality starts