Todd Cordell: Flames 6, Flyers 5: Five observations from another wild comeback win

Thanks Todd!

Was thinking that when Backs and Frolik are back from injury maybe try tossing Neal with them as they seem to bring out the best in struggling players.

It would leave someone centering Tkachuk and Bennett, just not sure if we have anyone to step up to at Center to really make that line enough of a threat.

32 games 6 points and a minus 9 = James Neal.


I would love to see Frolik and Backlund back ASAP.

All James Neal does is coast/glide out there. He turns the puck over. Does not create anything. Why put him on our second line? He needs to watch video of himself and someone point out to him that he's not skating 90% of his time on the ice. WATCH HIM. He truly does suck. Mostly due to his seemingly unwillingness to move his feet.

Thanks Todd!

Was thinking that when Backs and Frolik are back from injury maybe try tossing Neal with them as they seem to bring out the best in struggling players.

It would leave someone centering Tkachuk and Bennett, just not sure if we have anyone to step up to at Center to really make that line enough of a threat.
- DuranDuran

J-M-L
Tkachuk-Backlund-Bennett
Frolik-Jankowski-Czarnik/Mangiapane
Hath-Ryan-Czarnik/Mangiapane

Put Neal in the pressbox for 2-3 games, he is absolutely useless out there and does not deserve ice time until he learns how to skate instead of coasting/gliding all the time out there! He's not struggling... he's just not trying. The effort is not there, seriously.

All James Neal does is coast/glide out there. He turns the puck over. Does not create anything. Why put him on our second line? He needs to watch video of himself and someone point out to him that he's not skating 90% of his time on the ice. WATCH HIM. He truly does suck. Mostly due to his seemingly unwillingness to move his feet.
- quinneroma

He just looks slow to me. The Flames are a fast team..maybe he is just incapable of keeping up. If so, maybe BT should look at eating some salary if there is a taker out there.

smith should only see the net in back to back situations.....rittich is far and away a superior goalie

All James Neal does is coast/glide out there. He turns the puck over. Does not create anything. Why put him on our second line? He needs to watch video of himself and someone point out to him that he's not skating 90% of his time on the ice. WATCH HIM. He truly does suck. Mostly due to his seemingly unwillingness to move his feet.
- quinneroma

he looks awful....cannot keep up with the pace of the rest of the flames team

Suppose that James Neal continues to suck all season, but the Flames make the playoffs.
Then, in said playoffs, he goes on a mission and starts putting up important points and minutes.
Is he still a bad signing then? He hasn't really "cost us" any games (-4 in the game last night certainly didn't help, though) so as long as the team is winning then I'm willing to wait to see if he can turn it around when it matters the most.
Sam Bennett was that playoff guy once. Ferland was, as well.

I'm not saying that I expect it of him, just that it's possible.

smith should only see the net in back to back situations.....rittich is far and away a superior goalie
- Barx

That 4th goal was perhaps the worst goal scored on any goalie this season, but the way he moved looked so unnatural, it makes me wonder if that's where the injury happened.

The other 3 are not really on him in my opinion, breakaway where he was pulled side to side, that is a classic move, rebound goal off a tight angle shot and a perfect tape to tape pass for a tap in. Would say that Ritters let in a weaker goal than any of the first 3 Smitty allowed...

Not providing him an excuse for that 4th goal, but something really did not look right there.

IF smitty is injured wtf do we do for a backup?!

"Not providing him an excuse for that 4th goal, but something really did not look right there."

I agree. I've been sh*tting on Smith most of the season, but something looked messed on that 4th goal - he was actually decent until that point.

Regarding the "what if" possibility of Neal being a playoff performer ... I sure hope so.

"IF smitty is injured wtf do we do for a backup?!"

I would imagine John Gillies would be called up.

"IF smitty is injured wtf do we do for a backup?!"

I would imagine John Gillies would be called up.
- FlamesFan1230

I am 100% with giving Rittich the majority of starts, and especially difficult starts.

Maybe as Todd says Smith is too old and should be put out to pasture.

We easily forget that at this time last year Smith had stolen us a lot of games and was the only reason we were still in the hunt while not playing defense. I am not sure if Smith can play up to that level any longer, but I believe that he can find consistency and win the odd game. Patience. We are stronger with a confident Mike Smith and a big save Dave.

Besides the 1 stinker most of last nights goals were caused by blown defensive coverage, but no one is female doging at Monahan or Hamonic, only Smith.

That 4th goal was perhaps the worst goal scored on any goalie this season, but the way he moved looked so unnatural, it makes me wonder if that's where the injury happened.

The other 3 are not really on him in my opinion, breakaway where he was pulled side to side, that is a classic move, rebound goal off a tight angle shot and a perfect tape to tape pass for a tap in. Would say that Ritters let in a weaker goal than any of the first 3 Smitty allowed...

Not providing him an excuse for that 4th goal, but something really did not look right there.
- rmull905

he went on a nice lil run....but thats all he's got......he can't carry the load over the long haul.

he went on a nice lil run....but thats all he's got......he can't carry the load over the long haul.
- Barx

Dunno, hard to fault him on those and give Rittich a pass on the breakaway goal. I agree, I don't think he's shown in his career that he can elevate (or even remain healthy) over extended periods of time.

Don't know that the solution is long term though, Rittich will get a run here if Smitty is down long term, and that will tell us a lot about his future as a 1/1A option in the NHL.

Went to the game last night and I can honestly say I have never heard the dome that loud before it was wild

Stuff that I noticed live:

- Smith was definitely not himself either mentally or physically - that 4th goal looked like he was scared to stretch the groin. Guessing we'll hear an injury update sooner or later.

- Neal was slow but he wasn't entirely useless. He made some nice plays from a stick-work point of view. Overall he just looks not game-ready like when I don't warm-up before a game. Have a feeling it's a confidence issue. I for one believe he'll break out once the rest of the team cools down offensively which happens more or less halfway to the 3/4 point of the season.

- Backlund's absence is very understated. Flames looked lost defensively last night when the top guys weren't running the show. Brodano looked very good (especially smooth-skating Brodie) but the rest of the defence looked overwhelmed by lack of forward support.

True what Todd said. Even with under 1:30 left it never really felt like a 2-goal deficit. The man-advantage this year with either PP or 6on5 has looked elite.

You would think it’s game 7 of the Stanley cup final the way these sports broadcasts are pumping this game up.

Thanks Todd!

Was thinking that when Backs and Frolik are back from injury maybe try tossing Neal with them as they seem to bring out the best in struggling players.

It would leave someone centering Tkachuk and Bennett, just not sure if we have anyone to step up to at Center to really make that line enough of a threat.
- DuranDuran

Give jankoski a try......

Went to the game last night and I can honestly say I have never heard the dome that loud before it was wild

Stuff that I noticed live:

- Smith was definitely not himself either mentally or physically - that 4th goal looked like he was scared to stretch the groin. Guessing we'll hear an injury update sooner or later.

- Neal was slow but he wasn't entirely useless. He made some nice plays from a stick-work point of view. Overall he just looks not game-ready like when I don't warm-up before a game. Have a feeling it's a confidence issue. I for one believe he'll break out once the rest of the team cools down offensively which happens more or less halfway to the 3/4 point of the season.

- Backlund's absence is very understated. Flames looked lost defensively last night when the top guys weren't running the show. Brodano looked very good (especially smooth-skating Brodie) but the rest of the defence looked overwhelmed by lack of forward support.

True what Todd said. Even with under 1:30 left it never really felt like a 2-goal deficit. The man-advantage this year with either PP or 6on5 has looked elite.
- LittleBroDougie

Dome was never loud when I had tickets.well not all true, boa, Hunter Semenko fight,playoffs, peplinski and Lumley fight, Riser shredding McSorley's jersey in the penalty box, every time Loob touched the puck, Otto Dave Hunter fight, trumpet dude,......... Well I guess it had some loud moments back then.

Dome was never loud when I had tickets.well not all true, boa, Hunter Semenko fight,playoffs, peplinski and Lumley fight, Riser shredding McSorley's jersey in the penalty box, every time Loob touched the puck, Otto Dave Hunter fight, trumpet dude,......... Well I guess it had some loud moments back then.
- K-man25

I can honestly tell you I was not alive during any of those moments

glad to hear it was rocking at the time too though

I can honestly tell you I was not alive during any of those moments

glad to hear it was rocking at the time too though
- LittleBroDougie

Lived the dream back then. Was living just off Edmonton trail when the Flames came to Calgary. Had tickets in the Coral til the Dome was finished.

"IF smitty is injured wtf do we do for a backup?!"

I would imagine John Gillies would be called up.
- FlamesFan1230

Smith is day to day and Gillies on his way up. Gillies has a 3.96 GAA and a .861 save percentage this season. This could get hairy.

If Rittich should happen to faulter or get injured, we are screwed I think. We’ve got good depth at forward and defence, but not goaltending. I would be looking to shore that up anytime soon.

Lived the dream back then. Was living just off Edmonton trail when the Flames came to Calgary. Had tickets in the Coral til the Dome was finished.
- K-man25

We had the standing seats... we was po' back then. Hell still am....
Was in the nosebleeds during the 04 run. Was on Electric Ave when we won in 89. We can be loud giving proper motivation.

(the first one of you (frank)ers on the old guy jokes gets your IP address spammed with russian porn-I know a guy...)