Colin Dambrauskas: The Calgary Flames...The Calgary, Freakn, Flames...!

Colin Dambrauskas: The Calgary Flames...The Calgary, Freakn, Flames...!
- Colin Dambrauskas

From my perspective, even if the play is unsustainable, there are worse teams playing flukier, worse unsustainable hockey.

The Flames should be lauded for their near league-best work ethic and pretty balance scoring effort lead of course by their strong back end and perhaps the best dman in the world right now.

If they come back to earth, it won't be for lack of trying.

From my perspective, even if the play is unsustainable, there are worse teams playing flukier, worse unsustainable hockey.

The Flames should be lauded for their near league-best work ethic and pretty balance scoring effort lead of course by their strong back end and perhaps the best dman in the world right now.

If they come back to earth, it won't be for lack of trying.


- Morris

You've joined the world of the refs have ya!?

And yes, I think we can all appreciate that there are some areas of their game that could be considered unsustainable, if we consider league averages and what have you. But these are nothing but educated guesses, they are not a rule.

As good as they've been things are still super tight, and they're only a bad week away from being out of a playoff spot. Still need to see how they respond to a losing streak.

As good as they've been things are still super tight, and they're only a bad week away from being out of a playoff spot. Still need to see how they respond to a losing streak.
- Hunkulese

Fortunately, we haven't really had one of these yet...yet. Honestly I'm still not sold on a playoff spot, not because we are playing lights out but more so because the usual suspects in the west (you know like Edmonton ) that ramp up their games for the playoff push will give us fits come February. We are no longer taken lightly and yet we still compete but I think the 'A' games of the elite teams in the West (and East for that matter) are yet to be seen. I f'n love what this team has accomplished so far and we still are in what, year 2 of our rebuild...

Love the work ethic and the way they play but man does this not sound exactly like what Colorado bloggers/fans were saying last year. Cgy has a way better defense but Colorado has a deadlier top 6.

Should be fun to watch the rest of the season and if they can continue winning (in spite of possession stats) throughout the season and into future seasons.

Best of luck cuz i like the way the team plays and is built - even if they do regress its year two of the rebuild so lots of fun years to come.

From my perspective, even if the play is unsustainable, there are worse teams playing flukier, worse unsustainable hockey.

The Flames should be lauded for their near league-best work ethic and pretty balance scoring effort lead of course by their strong back end and perhaps the best dman in the world right now.

If they come back to earth, it won't be for lack of trying.


- Morris

The odds say that if they play 5 or 6 games over .500 from here on, they'll make the playoffs. I'm worried what will happen when the vets come back. This team has great chemistry with the young guys, and I'd hate to see that messed with. Anyway, it's been a fun ride and I hope it continues !

Look at last year, especially after the all star break. The Flames had a reputation as a hard working, pesky team that didn't go away. They were involved in a ridiculous amout of 1 goal games. They start the season where they left off last season and they surprised the hockey world? Unsustainable? Regress? They added pieces to a hard working team, some much better than others that elevated this team to a contender. Gio, Brody, Wideman and Russell have dominated the blue line. Our rookies are playing great, Bouma, Monahan, Hudler & Byron are still playing their game. Goaltending has been much better with the addition of Hiller. The biggest surprise, which will regress due to unsustainability.....the doubters? I think this team is for real, 100%!! Go Flames Go!!

Look at last year, especially after the all star break. The Flames had a reputation as a hard working, pesky team that didn't go away. They were involved in a ridiculous amout of 1 goal games. They start the season where they left off last season and they surprised the hockey world? Unsustainable? Regress? They added pieces to a hard working team, some much better than others that elevated this team to a contender. Gio, Brody, Wideman and Russell have dominated the blue line. Our rookies are playing great, Bouma, Monahan, Hudler & Byron are still playing their game. Goaltending has been much better with the addition of Hiller. The biggest surprise, which will regress due to unsustainability.....the doubters? I think this team is for real, 100%!! Go Flames Go!!
- FlamesNOTLames

I wonder what the team record is going back to January of last year. I seem to remember seeing it a while ago and it put them in a ranking right about where they sit now in the season. I think that a years worth of hockey is enough to say this team is for real and keeps getting better. Does Money look like a second year centre? This guy is playing like a 4th year vet and Johnny Hockey is going to be a Calder finalist. That's two years in a row that we will have someone in the Calder conversation. Jooris should be in that conversation as well. It's just a fun team to watch. Even if the wheels come off and we miss the playoffs I'm having a lot of fun as a fan.

I wonder what the team record is going back to January of last year. I seem to remember seeing it a while ago and it put them in a ranking right about where they sit now in the season. I think that a years worth of hockey is enough to say this team is for real and keeps getting better. Does Money look like a second year centre? This guy is playing like a 4th year vet and Johnny Hockey is going to be a Calder finalist. That's two years in a row that we will have someone in the Calder conversation. Jooris should be in that conversation as well. It's just a fun team to watch. Even if the wheels come off and we miss the playoffs I'm having a lot of fun as a fan.
- Flames in 6 04

Colorado had a full year of results though and look what happened to them - not saying its a guarantee to happen to the flames as well as the teams are built differently just that have really low possession numbers will usually eventually lead to losses. Who knows though - maybe the flames play a unique style that will allow them to be outchanced but still win, maybe those chances are all low quality...only time and a few seasons will tell the whole story!

Look at last year, especially after the all star break. The Flames had a reputation as a hard working, pesky team that didn't go away. They were involved in a ridiculous amout of 1 goal games. They start the season where they left off last season and they surprised the hockey world? Unsustainable? Regress? They added pieces to a hard working team, some much better than others that elevated this team to a contender. Gio, Brody, Wideman and Russell have dominated the blue line. Our rookies are playing great, Bouma, Monahan, Hudler & Byron are still playing their game. Goaltending has been much better with the addition of Hiller. The biggest surprise, which will regress due to unsustainability.....the doubters? I think this team is for real, 100%!! Go Flames Go!!
- FlamesNOTLames

So if you compare this years team to last years team there are a couple differences I predicted before the season:
Better goaltending
Better Defence (I was probably the only one that was convinced that wideman would bounce back)
Worse top line scoring
Jones playing good but couldn't stay healthy

Things I did not predict:
Offence output from brodie/gio
JG being as effective as he is
Mono playing as good as he is. He looks more and more like Burgeron every day.
Third pairing being that bad.
Who the hell is Jooris.
Sven not making the team
Setto getting sent down to the minors


PS I was always excitied about granlund. Well ever since I saw him play in the world Jrs.

Colorado had a full year of results though and look what happened to them - not saying its a guarantee to happen to the flames as well as the teams are built differently just that have really low possession numbers will usually eventually lead to losses. Who knows though - maybe the flames play a unique style that will allow them to be outchanced but still win, maybe those chances are all low quality...only time and a few seasons will tell the whole story!
- DirtyDozen

How do you explain colorado starting to turn it around? The just had an awful start. I think they will be the philly of last year.

Colorado had a full year of results though and look what happened to them - not saying its a guarantee to happen to the flames as well as the teams are built differently just that have really low possession numbers will usually eventually lead to losses. Who knows though - maybe the flames play a unique style that will allow them to be outchanced but still win, maybe those chances are all low quality...only time and a few seasons will tell the whole story!
- DirtyDozen

True. Like I've said. The team is fun to watch. As a fan that was my only expectation at the start of the season. I didn't think we would be in the McDavid sweeps but I certainly didn't predict the start they've had.

The skill and grit of some of our young forwards like Johnny is a stats person nightmare. No wonder our shooting % is so high when he makes passes like he did to Wideman last night who just have to pop it in the open net. The players also aren't afraid of getting into the dirty areas. Look at the tying goal last night, almost the entire team on the ice was standing in front of Wideman's shot blocking the line of site.

Warrener on our morning show this morning pointed out that he went to the cup final three times and all three of those teams would have had horrible Corsi numbers.

How do you explain colorado starting to turn it around? The just had an awful start. I think they will be the philly of last year.
- tmurph

I agree, they Avs are a good team. Semyon Varlamov hasn't been healthy but with him healthy, they'll be fine. The comparison with the Avs doesn't bother me in the slightest. They're also against the cap and the Flames are at the floor....If the Flames are where they're at and at the Floor, this team is in great shape moving forward.

From my perspective, even if the play is unsustainable, there are worse teams playing flukier, worse unsustainable hockey.

The Flames should be lauded for their near league-best work ethic and pretty balance scoring effort lead of course by their strong back end and perhaps the best dman in the world right now.

If they come back to earth, it won't be for lack of trying.


- Morris

That's the funniest sentence I've ever read

I agree, they Avs are a good team. Semyon Varlamov hasn't been healthy but with him healthy, they'll be fine. The comparison with the Avs doesn't bother me in the slightest. They're also against the cap and the Flames are at the floor....If the Flames are where they're at and at the Floor, this team is in great shape moving forward.
- tincup

I think we can move for pieces this year. Maybe a minor deal for Mcqaid?

Look at last year, especially after the all star break. The Flames had a reputation as a hard working, pesky team that didn't go away. They were involved in a ridiculous amout of 1 goal games. They start the season where they left off last season and they surprised the hockey world? Unsustainable? Regress? They added pieces to a hard working team, some much better than others that elevated this team to a contender. Gio, Brody, Wideman and Russell have dominated the blue line. Our rookies are playing great, Bouma, Monahan, Hudler & Byron are still playing their game. Goaltending has been much better with the addition of Hiller. The biggest surprise, which will regress due to unsustainability.....the doubters? I think this team is for real, 100%!! Go Flames Go!!
- FlamesNOTLames

I think that's the point everyone including Colin are forgetting. How many times did Colin Blog last year about how amazing it was of the number of 1 goal games we were in & lost. Our goalies save percentage was just slightly higher than what the Oilers are getting now. Our goalies were insanely good the first 10 games & that gave the likes of Gio & Brodie the confidence to play the game that is now considered one of the best top pairings in the league. The goaltending has regressed to league average but Gio/Brodie are still playing very good. In addition, their play has carried over to Russell & Wideman. The two forwards I think is key is Monahan & Gaudreau. When Backlund went down, Monahan has stepped up, played tough minutes & he is always just around the net, & he can put them in as efficiently as set up another player around the net. After he scored that O/T winner last night, my buddy & I at the game both thought he looked like Sid the Kid. The other guy is Gaudreau. I saw it early, even before he sat out the 1 game, but this kid has Gretzky vision on the ice. He's fast & he has hockey IQ off the chart. Gretz wasn't that big of a player & he survived quite well back when goonery was at its peak in the NHL. This kid sets the play up & puts the opposition back on their heals. It's truly amazing to watch & other players are feeding off of this. Once again last night, the Avs would cycle & pressure & hem the Flames in but the Flames transition game is so quick, they are creating great scoring chance lethally quick. Avs have a great counter game themselves, they just don't have the top pairing like we do. The last half of that 2nd period is where we sure could have used a few of our injured vets, especially Backlunds possession game could have settled us down. It will be interesting to see how this team reacts to top teams playing at a higher level & during the stretch run & especially the higher intensity of playoffs. For this team to be in this position this early in the rebuild is huge. I for one am still hoarse from shouting & cheering at the game last night. Sure enjoying this ride.

Seriously....can someone smart please go back and find out what the Flames record is from January of last year until now? I remember they lost like 7 in a row or something and from that point on were top 5 in the conference if i'm not mistaken.

I was at the game last night and it was a blast. It's obvious the fans are really starting to believe too. 2-3 weeks ago I think most fans were still cautiously optimistic, but it's getting really hard not to full-on believe right now. Before the third period started I had complete faith they could pull out the comeback. Even when Tanguay scored I had a feeling they could tie it up. I've never had that before with the Flames (and for good reason), but this team is way different from any team they've ever had IMO. Even the 04 squad.

How do you explain colorado starting to turn it around? The just had an awful start. I think they will be the philly of last year.
- tmurph

5-4-1 still isnt a stellar record over their last ten...but if you look at their possession numbers over the past 10 verus the whole season you'll see a roughly 5% jump in possession.

So it does seem like whats helping them to get back in the W column is playing a better possession game. But like I said these stats arent the be all and end all - there may be a style of play that allows tons of outside shots which would result in a horrible corsi that still allows a team to win. I just havent seen a sustainable style like that yet not to say it cant exist.

Love the work ethic and the way they play but man does this not sound exactly like what Colorado bloggers/fans were saying last year. Cgy has a way better defense but Colorado has a deadlier top 6.

Should be fun to watch the rest of the season and if they can continue winning (in spite of possession stats) throughout the season and into future seasons.

Best of luck cuz i like the way the team plays and is built - even if they do regress its year two of the rebuild so lots of fun years to come.
- DirtyDozen

I think its really remarkable what they are doing, but as a fan going through both sides of the spectrum, have to relate with the flames in what they are doing.

But ultimately, it wont last (if not this season but next). Like the Avs last season, when you get career years out of everyone (Dutchy, Varly, ROR, EJ, Barrie, Landy) and surprise production out of the food soldiers (Holden with 10 goals, Cliché looking like an NHL regular, Mitchell, McLeod and McGinn with a career years). Its unrealistic to believe they they are going to produce at the same level or match those totals again.

Flames have a lot of guys doing the same thing right now. Having Career years and its exciting to see. But eventually some of those guys will drop down in production or wont be able to match those totals again.

Hoepfully the Flames don't do what the Avs did...They bought in and fell in love with the 2013-14 Avs...now they are paying for it locking up guys long term. Now they have issues having to justify guys like Holden, Guenin, Cliché, McLeod stuck on the team long term. Its going to get worse before it gets better for my club

We are lucky as hell as we are able to see a good product on the ice. De very well could regress, but I think what the team has accomplished since the start of last season is lay a good foundation for the future.

I think we have Feaster to thank for the drafting and focusing on guys with high hockey IQ.

Burke gets some credit for the hard nosed never say die attitude.

We have found ways to win many of those 1 goal games we lost last year. I put that on Hartley and the players.

Playoffs is still a long ways away but as a fan I am more excited about Flames hockey than I have been for a long long time.

5-4-1 still isnt a stellar record over their last ten...but if you look at their possession numbers over the past 10 verus the whole season you'll see a roughly 5% jump in possession.

So it does seem like whats helping them to get back in the W column is playing a better possession game. But like I said these stats arent the be all and end all - there may be a style of play that allows tons of outside shots which would result in a horrible corsi that still allows a team to win. I just havent seen a sustainable style like that yet not to say it cant exist.
- DirtyDozen

Disagree, those loses were all 1 goal games and losing in the 3rd period or in OT. They changed their defensive system and went down from being blow out 5-0 and giving up 30-40 shots a game, now in those games they are giving up around 24 shots.

Changing their system is paying off with better defensive efforts but just too many terrible D (Guenin, Holden, and Stuart) dragging them down. A lot of those loses were bc of a PP goal usually with a penalty taken by those guys or McLeod bc they just are not NHL caliber players

Disagree, those loses were all 1 goal games and losing in the 3rd period or in OT. They changed their defensive system and went down from being blow out 5-0 and giving up 30-40 shots a game, now in those games they are giving up around 24 shots.

Changing their system is paying off with better defensive efforts but just too many terrible D (Guenin, Holden, and Stuart) dragging them down. A lot of those loses were bc of a PP goal usually with a penalty taken by those guys or McLeod bc they just are not NHL caliber players
- DDM-Coga

Oh I haven't watched many of the games I was just looking from a possession standpoint. From that POV their increase in possession correlates to their improving record. Whether that be from them shooting more, or limiting shots - the result still seems to say possession ties pretty closesly to W's.