What Do We Want to See in the Final Month?

0:00You know how to chop them in at all here. He scores. He scores. He scores. Well, we lost. I'm the client to look forward to what you look. I've given a little bit of circle. Happy to be able to chop. See if they play on the game. We'll see about another chance. They score! The play's winning. Yeah! Baby! They score! And the seed of red hero. Flinktalk starts now. On sports night, 960, the fan. Brought you by Mr. Loop plus tires. Here's Pat Steinberg and Logan Gordon. Get an oil change at your local Mr. Loop plus tires. And you'll receive a pair of good year wiper blades for free. Visit MrLoop.com to get your coupon. Today is Tuesday, March 21st, 31st, March 31st. And we are underway this hour on Flamestock. I can't read. It's Pat Steinberg and Logan Gordon along with you. From our downtown studio on this Tuesday.

1:00The final day of March is here. We're available on Apple Spotify, Amazon and Seeker. Live right here on SportsNet, 960, the fan. We'd love to hear from you on the text line. If you're listening live, 960, 960. Lots of time. This segment for some text interaction as well. Hi, logo. Patrick. So welcome to. It's not March 21st. It is the final day of March, March 31st. Welcome to the final day of March, which is crazy to say. Calgary now has eight more games to go all in the month of April 5th on the road. Three in a row at home to wrap up the year. Of course, that was ugly to say the very least. You and I were hanging out at Grey Eagle Resort and Casino again. Thank you all year to Rod and everybody at Grey Eagle Resort and Casino for treating logo, Matty and me. As well as they did was awesome being down there. Thanks for having us all year. And you and I were watching at the stage bar. And watch that 9-2 debacle play out. So we're going to do everything in our power to avoid talking about that game specifically.

2:02The only thing I'll say that was the first time the flames have allowed nine goals in the game since. Do you remember which one was the penguins? Yeah, it was the penguin. October 25th, 2018 was the last time the flames had allowed nine goals in the game. Almost about seven and a half years since the last time they did that. That was, I believe those James Niel's first goal as a member of the flames. And that's the only reason I remember it is because it was one of his one and few goals as a member of the flames. It was meaningful. Sure was a shout out for Mark Andre. Get him James. It was nine rip and he made it nine one when the games mattered in a flames jersey. James Niel sure showed up. Especially game five against Colorado. Yeah, that was great. What a beating. No, no reason for this. I think there's a reason actually for it. Do you remember his tenure here? Unfortunately. Yeah, eight games to go. And we're going to spend the first half of this hour of the program. What do you want to see in the final eight games of the season?

3:03Logo and I have came up. Well, come up with some ideas came up. Logo and I have some come up with some ideas. But we'd love to hear from you on the text line at nine sixty nine sixty. Somebody corrected me. It was Matt Murray. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. The one that played for Pittsburgh. Yeah, what are some of the things that we want to see in the final, you know, two and a half weeks of the season will be two weeks on Thursday until the end of the year. So what are some of the things that you want to see accomplished or some of the things that you want to see happen as we move down the real final stretch of this year, the final 10th of the season. And yeah, let's let's get into it. Text line nine sixty nine sixty. We'll read some of yours in a little bit, but logo you tell me. I don't think it's controversial to say what I'm about to say based on the overall big picture for the flames. I don't think it's controversial to say I'd like to see him play hard. I'd like to see him leave it all on the ice.

4:03I'd like to see all the things that go along with a good culture, all those types of things. But I'd like the results to have more L's than W's and not because the flames have played poorly. Like let's not see another game like Monday. Let's let's have zero of those the rest of the way. But maybe you play really hard in Vegas on Thursday and you're just not good enough. And maybe the same is true on Saturday and you're just a little off the mark. And so I'd like to see good efforts, but I'd like to see more L's than W's. And that's not, I don't think that's controversial at this stage of the game. As much as I know that the players inside that room would disagree vehemently. I think what's best for the organization is a mix of culture and a high draft pick this year. And so the best case scenario would be like eight really, really strong games, but a record of two, five and one or something like that. I can't believe that you said that you wanted to see more of Monday night for the rest of the season. It seems ludicrous to me. I don't think I ever want to see another game like that. That first period was as lopsided a hockey period as I've ever seen in the national hockey.

5:08I still don't believe what we saw in that first game. Now I know what it was like to be Brent Cron for a period in the NHL. That was very Brent Cron. It's except Dustin Wolfen and Devon Cooley actually made saves. Yeah, they tried. That was whole. Yeah, he's six shots in a period. I don't know how the flames locked up with us shot. You should be very honest. It was so lopsided. Colorado is just Harlem Globetrotter version out there going crazy. But yeah, I mean, I don't think that I think you're you're right that the end of the day. It would probably be beneficial for a lot of parties involved that this didn't wind up the same way the homestand did. It already won't because they didn't have a regulation loss. So that's one positive that didn't exist in the last string of games for the Calgary flames. I think that that's fair to say. And look, I mean, I don't think it's going to be as bad as it was Monday.

6:08But fair to say that the talent gap still exists in these game like Vegas better. Like they didn't exactly blow the doors off of Vancouver like they should have with the new coach. That's still a game that they need to win on Thursday. You see the abs again. You see the stars like these are teams that should perform better than the teams that we saw coming into the Scotiabank's album on that homestand. So I'm optimistic that that is going to be what we see now to add to this conversation Saturday after the final game of the homestand. This was brought up on Flamestock post game Monday. Wasn't brought up so much on Saturday because I think a lot of people because it was a late game on Saturday. I think a lot of people heard the quote or saw a certain Flamestock host tweet on Sunday morning. Nope. Nope. It was me.

7:08It was one of the two Flamestock hosts. It wasn't you. It wasn't me. But no, like saw your tweet or or heard Blake Coleman or or watch it on Flamest TV or whatever the case may be. We're talking about it was kind of asked about a put together a 501 run. I mean, have you looked at the standings? Now you're just seven points back was kind of the line of questioning. And it spurred on this, which then elicited a slight response from Flamest fans. And I probably got 11 or 12 texts about it. I only read two or three, but probably got 11 or 12 texts about it on Flamestock post game on Monday night. This is this was Blake Coleman. No, I know team tanks pretty upset right now. I haven't looked the other way quite yet. We get a little tighter and striking distance. And maybe we've, we've, I don't want to say jokingly been talking about rattling off, you know, 10, 10 in a row to finish. But you never know, keep playing this way. Keep having fun with it. Crazy things have happened.

8:08I know. Obviously there's a lot of things that can go right wrong this season, but you know, it seems like right now. It's just as simple as, you know, the looming trade talk is sort of out of the room. And you guys can just play the game and enjoy it. Well, it certainly takes a weight off. And, you know, I think there's guys getting new opportunities and wanting to prove themselves. And, you know, again, there's guys stepping into new roles and guys. You know, for me, it's just fun. You know, it's a great group of guys. It's a lot of fun in the room. Winning is fun, you know, no matter where you are in the standings or what the season looks like. You know, I'm a guy that hates to lose and we've got a lot of those guys in here. So we're going to fight till the end and just enjoy the ride. And like I said, I think we're making a little mantra of upsetting team tank a little bit here. Oh, thanks. We got a little mantra of one upset team tank. That definitely elicited a response. Let me say this.

9:08This is what I said on post game on Monday. And even what I said, because I didn't know that was coming. I knew that Danny was going down that questioning road because Danny Austin, a post media came into the hot stove. I hope I'm not telling tales out of school. But came into the hot stove on Saturday night when it was very clear. The flames were going to roll over the connects and it's like. What do you think I'm going to get if I go this direction? And see, you know, we kind of had a conversation about it. Turns out he got absolute gold from Blake Coleman as a result. But here's kind of where I am on on that. On the one hand, as you and I just talked about. You and I are on the same page. I'm very much in the same boat of many other members of this group of fans. Where I say, yeah, it's better for the organization long term big picture for them to lose games. And the higher the draft lottery odds, the better as much for the opportunity to potentially win the draft lottery. As it is for guaranteeing yourself a kind of good chance of a top three and at worst a top four pick.

10:13Whereas, you know, and you do that if you're 31st, right? Whereas if you're 29th, all of a sudden, you got a better chance of falling down to fifth or sixth overall in the draft based on the way the draft lottery works. And so you and I are on the same page of that. And there's lots of flames fans who believe that way. You and I just said the first thing we'd like to see is strong efforts playing hard, but losing more than winning. Understanding that we have no control over it and you're never going to get pro athletes like these guys. Especially with what they built inside that room over the last number of years. You're never going to get guys to go out there and not care about putting the best effort on the ice. That that and I appreciate that. So on the one hand, like I get the reaction from a lot of flames. I was like, oh, like what the hell dude? Like don't say that. But on the other hand, I think big picture. That's the attitude that you want these guys to have. Like you want guys. So when when you're a pro athlete and you have people cheering for you to lose.

11:16And you're wired to win like these guys are. That's only going to motivate them. Well, that's that's how these guys are wired. And you want guys wired like that. If you want this team to be a contender down the road. So as much as the words maybe like, yo, what do you want? I think it's I think the actual attitude. You I don't think you should A be surprised by it. And B, I think having that type of attitude is actually a pretty good thing. The decision to voice it publicly. I mean, Coleman knew what he was doing. He had a huge smile on his face. He was doing it. And that guy says savvy and professional as I've ever been around in in the sport. So he knew what he was doing. But yeah, I kind of understand it from both sides. And I know that it's like, oh, yeah, we'll Steinberg. Yeah, you know it too. You're not taking a stance on this one. Well, no, I'm not because I really do understand. That's my stance that I get why it might piss a member a team tank off. But I also can put myself in or as best I can in the shoes of those guys inside that room.

12:19And having a bunch of people want you to lose. You're like, well, we don't want to lose. And so we're going to use that as motivation. It's kind of a double edged sword type of thing. Yeah, look, I did tweet it out after I heard it because I thought it was a hell of a quote. It was and I thought it was a meaningful quote from Blake Coleman. And in doing so, I sparked a interesting conversation in my mentions, which boy, that's that's a lot of fun some days. And look, there were there was a lot on both sides. Honestly, that I thought were interesting. The one thing that I think people have to understand with this is, you know, I saw a lot of well, that's Blake taking a shot at the fan base. That's, you know, that's Blake going after his fans and the guys that cheer for him and do all that. And I don't, I don't necessarily see it that way because I don't think everybody feels the same way about the team. I think there are people that really enjoyed the, the homestand and enjoyed seeing them win and aren't.

13:21People in the building seem to quite enjoy the homestand. And I think there are some people pat that if they draft three to six aren't going to be that upset about it. I'm not saying that that's how you should feel or that's how you do feel. But I don't think it's fair to say that Blake pissed off everybody in the fan base or spitting the entire flames fan base with that comment. Because I just don't think that that's true. And to be honest, yeah, it was a little more outwardly than I expected it to be like it was vocal. I didn't expect him to vocalize it quite that way. But in terms of being behind closed doors and what they say to each other when we're not around and when we're not privy to those conversations, I'm kind of okay with it. Right? Like I'm not, I'm not upset that they're against people who want them to lose that they've never been okay with losing. They don't even now they don't, they don't want to lose and want to lose Monday, but it happens.

14:25So I'm not surprised about that when it's all said and done that that's a conversation they're having. Again, was I a bit surprised that they vocalize that they were having those cars? Sure. That's probably more surprising than anything. But Blake Coleman understands it. And again, at the end of the day, Pat, we can talk about draft picks and we can talk about the future. And at certain levels of management, they talk about that all the time. In that locker room, do you know how often they talk about draft picks? Do you think anybody in that, do you think in a team meeting they've gone this year? Guys, when we get Gavin, we're kind of smoke this league. I can't wait to see Maddie see the bison baby up on a line with Maddie see that power play is going to be sick. No, nobody, nobody cares about that. And they go, well, you know, Pat, they should be excited because Gavin McKenna arrived or Stanburg's going to make them better.

15:26There's no guarantee that they're part of this team when that happens. And for a lot of guys, a guy that comes in like that is taking a job away from somebody and it could be your job. And there's only so many teams and there's only so many roles to go around. So I get why a player isn't excited the same way as a fan is about a high draft picker about losing games. I thought Blake Coleman, Blake Coleman's one of the few people I think that has the gravitas to say something like that in that locker room because he's been around because he's one Stanley cups and he understands. You know, what the reaction is likely going to be like to a comment like that. So at the end of the day, I, I loved it. I thought it was very interesting to see how everybody reacted to it. There was good. There was a lot of bad. As I'm sure you got on the post game show, but at the end of the day, especially Monday night again, less so on Saturday.

16:27Well, for sure, they lost on Monday. It's a lot easier for Blake to say that after a win. But there's also I think that again, because it was a really late game on Saturday. And that was the first time we were taking texts like that. I think that also played into it. For sure, but it's a lot of people were waiting to send that text. It's also easier to clap back at Blake Coleman after Monday than it is after the homestay. That's fair. Yep. If you wanted to clap back at him and rightfully so if you that's what you wanted to do, be my guest. I'm not going to be one of them, but if you wanted to and there are plenty of people that did on social media, it's easier. Much easier to do that after a nine to lost and it is after a five on one homestand. Yeah. Or if they beat the apple. Exactly. Yeah. Okay. Few other things. I'd like to see as many guys as possible get opportunities here down the stretch. So I unfortunately we are not going to see Jonathan Castania. How do you questions on this? So I wanted to make sure we clarified once again just in case if you're if you haven't been caught up on the news.

17:28They signed Castania on Monday to a three year deal, but he will not as it stands right now. Now this could change, but they've already announced it. So I'm not anticipating anything to change. Jonathan Castania is not going to play games as a member of the flames this season because his contract does not start until next season. So essentially there is never any concern that Castania was or was not going to sign that that was never a concern. But the holdup was when his season at Cornell came to an end, flames found out that he actually has a minor injury. I believe they did a little imaging and that type of stuff. And then when they determine that okay, they say it's not serious, but he does have something that's going to potentially be with him here for the next little bit. They decided that probably and this was in consultation with the player in his camp decided that yeah, okay. Maybe playing important NHL games where guys are going full bore and are looking to target guys playing in their first NHL games.

18:30Maybe playing NHL games down the stretch with a minor injury is not something that is not something that makes sense for the player. And so instead the contract is going to start next year, which gives him a better chance to, you know, be in a good spot to make his professional debut, whether it's with the Wranglers or the flames and puts him in a good spot to even get a little bit closer to hitting some of the bonuses that might go into his contract situation. And so yeah, he is not eligible to play with the flames the rest of the season. So Castania will not be one of the guys that ends up with the flames. But look, they've got two regular recalls left logo and I'd like to see them use both of them. And you can only have, I believe it's four players up at the same time on a regular recall post deadline. So might have to do some roster juggling so don't freak out if that's the case. But I'd like to see I'd our Sunia get recalled and I think he's going to everything I'm under the impression of is that Sunia probably going to get recalled on this on this road trip.

19:34I'd like to see William Stromgren and I'd like to see Rory Karen's and I know they've only got two regulars left, but the NHL. The NHL isn't too strict on teams like in concrete situation when it comes to the criteria for emergency recalls. So you know, it might have to be later in the season, but maybe you put a few guys out of the lineup and and you know nagging injuries to player X Y and Z. NHL will count that as okay, you can go emergency conditions and bring bring up a player or two. So I'd like to see Sunia of Karen's and Stromgren if possible all get into games down the stretch. I'd like to see more time for gross. I'd like to see Kuznetsov return and not kick either one of Brestevich or Perak out of the lineup. I'd like to see Zeri get some games in down the stretch. So I'd just like to see as many opportunities for young and youngish players down the stretch. That is something that I think everybody would probably be on the same page with. Yeah, same here. I would like to see the added caveat for me would be some more top nine opportunities perhaps for some of the younger guys than we've seen my guy like Hoffman.

20:43I think you knew that because we've talked we talk after the show sometimes we are friends, which is strange to say, but we are. So we have these conversations and friends. Sorry about it. I love you. Yeah, Hoffman, but it's one of those guys that that fits the bill, but lots of guys like the top nine has been. And look, they've played well during the homestead. I'm not trying to take that away from from the top nine, but, you know, what I hate to see. You know, Tyson Gross in spot where Strom is or Clapka moved up the lineup as well in some of those situations I would. I think that is important for these guys to I like they're getting NHL time and they're seeing good minutes, but for me, we can sometimes do a little bit better than the fourth line. You know what I mean, like gridden is kind of the one guy in my mind that's gotten a big opportunity in the top nine and he's deserved it.

21:45Like that's not mince words. He's been their best rookie this year. So he should be getting those minutes, but I wouldn't hate for a couple of games to see some of the other guys elevated the lineup too. And I think that we are going to see that. I think we're going to see a lot of that between now. Because right now it's just really a fourth line rotation for a lot of guys. I think like I even go back to the way they handled game 82 last year. I think, you know, final four or five games of the season, I think specifically the final three games of the year on home ice. I think you could see kind of something similar, right? Like they played parac with ball in game 82. They put for stavage in a good spot that they put Suniev and Morton in spots that fit them. And so I think that, especially the final three games of the season on that home stand to wrap it up. I think we could see that and and could see some brand new lines and those types of things to see how to see how certain guys perform. So that is something that I would be anticipating.

22:46I'd like to see I'd like to see Abram weab sign. I'd like to see weab sign a contract just because I think it would be a nice. Be a nice indication that guys see opportunity here and are wanting to be a part of of the opportunity. Look, we know that we can go unrestricted free agent starting in June. If that's what he decides and he does not come to terms with the flames on a contract. The earliest that weab could sign would be somewhere the earliest North Dakota season could come to an end is April 9th. And so say that that is what happened and that there's nothing saying that would because they could very well go to the championship game and win it all on April 11th. But but you know for the sake of this conversation say they lose in a semi final to Wisconsin. Well, then April 10th gives him four games remaining probably doesn't join the team in Seattle probably joins him for the home stand. So could get three games in that neighborhood in if that's the way the flames go. So I'd like to see weab sign and the leverage the flames have is the fact that they can.

23:55Burn a year of his contract right away, whereas no other team is going to be able to do that. That's the leverage or the benefit that signing with Calgary would have. Now does he burn a year without playing? Yeah, as soon as you sign that type of deal, as soon as you report, you immediately burn the game. So for instance, if gross didn't play a game, still would have burnt the year was curious about that because of the timing on his season. Yeah, that was all that because there's a chance he doesn't get games in this year. There could be, although I think if they sign them, they would probably play. No, no, that's that's what I mean, but it's a little bit out of their control based on how well they play. So I was just curious about that. But yeah, I'm with you. That one feels like one that you'd really like to get signed up and see what's there. And like you said, know that you've convinced somebody that there's opportunity and they see that opportunity in town to to join up. That'd be good. And finally, I just just quickly, there's a few personal milestones that are there like backland 82 games, Dustin Wolfkitt himself back above 900 to finish the season.

25:03Coolie finishing the year on top of the league is the top save percentage. That'd be pretty cool. Morgan Frost hitting 20 for the first time, Blake Coleman hitting 20 again. Those are just some of the kind of individual milestones that might be pretty neat between now and the end of the season. Like I really like the way Frost is playing. And so can he turn this take away last night? I thought that line was dreadful against Colorado. But outside of Monday night, I think Frost has been really, really good. And can he carry that into the offseason in next season and maybe hitting a 20 goal milestone for the first time could help him. So some some personal milestones would be pretty neat to see as well. Yeah, I think for I'd go backland up backlands at 16. I'd like to see that grew back on Coronado Farah be Coleman and Frost all at least get close to 20. There's a time when we didn't think this team would have any 20 goal scores bad. So the fact of the possible to have three or four when it's all said and done.

26:09I think that that's actually pretty significant, especially for guys like Frost, who's had a big second half of the season, Matt Coronado to continue as a youngster hitting that kind of milestone. I think is important. So yeah, same boat with all of those personal ones. And it's good for guys to feel confident about themselves, even on a personal level heading into the offseason, I think. A little bit of time for text 9 69 60 lots of text to chime in on this one. This just says two words eight losses. Fair enough. Wedding and bridlewood says I think James Neil was the real deal signed James Neil. I also want to see the kids play in all situations. That's kind of what Logan's talking about. What's a bad deal. What do you think of when you think of bad deals because that would be the kind of deal that James Neil was. It's a bad deal. I remember Jack. I give Jack Michaels a hard time because remember James Neil scored four in his other's debut. Yeah, I do remember very, very. Remember Jack Michaels. I give him a hard time. Jack is one of the great play by play guys and just an awesome human. And it was because he scored four is like.

27:13The real deal. His name is James Neil. I text him that about once, once every few months. Tony says I want the flames to lose every game. Fair enough. This is what are your guys prediction of what the record and the final eight games will be. I'm going with three, four and one. I think somewhere in that range is pretty fair. Like I think they'll probably they'll probably I think they'll give Seattle a push. I think they'll give. They've been competitive with Anaheim in every game. So if they were to beat the ducks wouldn't be a surprise. Like it wouldn't be a shocker. Who knows what L.A. and Calgary is going to be on the final game of the year. Los Angeles is so uninspiring. I really have no hopes they're going to track down Vegas despite they've got the two games in the end. That would be copatars last game. Yeah, potentially. So that might. I don't know. Should motivate them, but you're right. They the only one that really kind of has me interested. That last Colorado game in town. I don't know if it means anything for them in the long term besides cadres return. Like they could have they could have the I mean they could have the president's trophy sealed up by then.

28:23So, but then they did what they did on Monday. So who knows Mike from Calgary want them to win one. Maybe two more games down the stretch. Then it's close games. Good battles. The young guys gets lots of ice. And they finish second from the bottom because while they're not going to catch Vancouver. Marie and Rocky Mountain House is sit all UFA's and bring up the players that need waivers next year to see what they have. I don't have that many UFA sit. Longberg and Olivesin would be it at this point. Dylan and Revie says I'd like to see them play how they play during the homestand and go on a run to the cup. Hashtag 2019 blues kidding play that way but don't get the bounces is what Dylan said. Why aren't you mad at Dylan? No, I don't know why Dylan thought I was mad at it. Derek and Cochran says I really want to see perrex score at even strength. That's good one. You scored a couple on the power play, but even strength goal would be cool to see only I didn't think about that. Sean and Capitol Hill lots of time for the young players lots of effort lots of losses.

29:26This is the flames need to be beat Vegas for a better draft pick. They can lose the rest of them after that. Yeah, it's you can do yourself a favor if you beat Vegas possibly. I mean, I don't think Vegas is going to miss. They've got a six point edge. Now I know LA's got two in hand, but LA's perpetual 500. So do we really see them making up six on on Vegas. I don't not with this much time. And I'm still more conservative of your own pick than that. Agreed patent logo. I want to see the team stick up for each other. I want to see goals from young players. I want to see Wranglers call ups. But most of all, I want to see hard fought losses and Coleman's comments don't bother me in the slightest. That's Marie from the ranch lands. This says 96960. There's some Coleman reaction. Yeah, you know what? That's good. That's good cross section of the text line at 96960. Appreciate it as always. We are underway.

30:31This is our on flames talk. He's Logan Gordon. My name is Pat Steinberg. We're here in our downtown studio on this Tuesday afternoon and flames talk is brought to you by Mr. Lou plus tires. Get an oil change your local Mr. Lou plus tires and you'll receive a pair of good year wiper blades for free. Visit Mr. Lou dot com to get your coupon today. Flames talk is live on Calgary, Socky station sports net 960 the fan. A Tuesday edition of the program rolls on. It's Pat Steinberg Logan Gordon along with you from our downtown studio on this Tuesday. And let's say hello to the voice of the Calgary flames Derek wills now. It's time to complete a Tuesday edition of the daily flames round table brought to you by Mercedes Bams country hills. The fastest growing segment of vehicles. They sell as electric in form buyers are coming to see. Perhaps you should discover why minutes from the Calgary airport. Okay. We'll see we've been like, you know, trying to talk to in depth about Monday's loss in Colorado. Like, you know, we don't need to talk too much about.

31:36I want to talk about that game anymore. We don't need to really talk about it. We've mentioned it a couple of times, but, you know, it happened and we move on. But it did underline something that has been a issue for them all year. And that is the disparity between their home record and their road record. What? Why do we think this year specifically? It's been such a struggle for this group away from Scotia bank saddle them. Well, it's a question that I have asked a number of coaches and players. And I'm not sure that there's any one way to explain it. For me, there are a few things. Number one, I do think that Scotia bank saddle them and Calgary do give the flames a distinct home ice advantage. It's not a cookie cutter building like most are on the NHL. And so maybe we'll have one of those in some ways when Scotia place opens in a couple of seasons. And then there's the altitude. Calgary is the second highest altitude city in the NHL behind Denver. And I can tell you even going from Calgary to Denver, which is not as dramatic on your system is going from sea level to one of those two cities.

32:46Working out this morning was just a little bit harder. So I do think that between the dome, the great fan base, the energy inside of the sea of red and altitude, the flames do have more of a home ice advantage than most teams in the NHL. So that would be one thing. Another thing would be, you know, for whatever reason, dust and wolf and Devon Cooley, maybe it's because they're both relatively early in their NHL careers. They will look more comfortable playing at home than on the road and having talked to Calgary. There were certain buildings that during his career, he felt really good in and certain buildings that he really didn't like playing in might be, you know, the lights or the color of the seats, different things that can maybe get into your head. So I do think that in the numbers would back this up. Both dust and wolf and Devon Cooley have been better gold tenders at home than on the road. And that also might have something to do with how the team is played in front of them. I think that the biggest thing talking to coaches about it would be last change. And I talked to Dave Lowry about it yesterday. He thinks that's a significant factor, especially for this flames team.

33:53Because as you know, at home, Michael backland and whoever his wingers are. So right now, Blake Coleman and Joel therapy, they're going to get the defensive zone starts. They're going to get the tough matchups and getting those matchups is so much easier to do. At home with last change than it is on the road. So on the road, the flames can't get that good back online matchup against the other teams top line matchup is often and also on the road. You have to be more careful with how you use some players you want to put in a position to succeed, like saying, correct, for instance. So at home last change. Let's say they've got an offensive zone face off. And the other team has the third of line on the ice, maybe the third defense bearing while rolled an opportunity to put Zayn Barack in his partner on the ice and put them in a position to succeed. So last change based on what I've been told by coaches and players is probably the single biggest reason why, but I don't think it's the only reason why there's been such a disparity.

34:55I think there's lots in terms of what goes into it. I think last change and coaches playing off of their team strength against the flames weaknesses is something that happens and it doesn't just happen to the flames to be very clear. The flames aren't the only team that has these kinds of struggles, but you know, let's be honest, they're a bottom five NHL team. There are weaknesses and strengths on this team. And I think coaches have, you know, the ability to take advantage of those more. So in Colorado is a good example, right, Pat, when they're on the road, it's probably harder for an opposing coach to say, OK, how do I use last change to my advantage to really get an edge. There's not a ton of ways that you're going to be able to do that against a lot of Colorado. And I think there are some with this flames team. That's just I think just the honest truth about it. It can be hard. The schedule has been a tough one, but I don't think that's an excuse for anybody. I think that's just pointing out a fact that, you know, you play a lot of games in succession. The travels tough for West Coast teams, especially throughout the NHL.

36:00I think that gets forgotten a lot, but everybody has travel. You have to go everywhere at least once during the season. So nobody really uses it as an excuse. Like it's just something that comes out during the season. And when you have a young team like the flames, who like Derek said are learning and trying to find their way in the NHL teams are going to go after them in different ways. And on the road, it's just easier to do that because of the rules that are set up in the NHL. I don't have a problem with it. I'm not blaming anybody for it. But yeah, it's something that the team will have to continue to get better at. I, I really look at two, there's two things for me as I was thinking about this earlier. Number one, just sometimes sometimes it happens like sometimes just have years. There have been years where the flames haven't been very good on home ice, but have been great on the road. And it happens. And I mean, take a look at Vegas's struggles at home this year or Los Angeles's struggles. Rangers, Rangers at home, you know, sometimes it just is, it happens. Right. So that's number one. And, and some of that stuff just, you know, goes in the under the stuff you can't control category.

37:11But I do think from an actual tangible reason why. And, and I think you take a look at the way this year is gone for the flames. So before the trade started happening. And in the first half of the year, the team, because, because we weren't seeing guys quite at the same level as as the flames needed them to be. So you think about Mackenzie Weger, you think about Nazum Kadri, you think about Jonathan Huberdo, you think about guys that had great years last year. And unfortunately weren't able to follow it up the same way this year. And, and so because of that, I think that Calgary's depth, which when, when guys like that are playing at their, a little bit closer to their, their peak or a little bit closer to where they were last year. I think depth on this team was a strength prior to all the trades. But because there were a number of guys who had had taken a step back from the year before. I think depth became less of a strength. And thus it became a little bit easier, easier to exploit that when you had last change on the road. And so because they weren't as good at rolling three lines and, and rolling four lines or rolling two and three parings.

38:26Because of that, I think opposing coaches on home ice were able to target things a little bit differently. And then obviously once you start trading those guys away and you move on from Weger and, and Kadri and Anderson. And you shut down Huberdo for the year. Well, then you just become less deep because you've subtracted some really important pieces. So that would be the, the one kind of like tangible reason for me guys is that I do think their depth just hasn't been as much of a strength this year as it was last year. And you add that with just sometimes you have bad years on the road and, and you get the disparity that we've seen this year. Yeah, I mean, and last night was a great example of that. So you could argue that the two teams four lines were the best lines in last night's game. And I mean Parker Kelly is playing the fourth line for the avalanche and he has 18 goals. Just the three points. Yeah, we're as Nick wager to play when it comes back. Yeah, maybe they move into the wing or maybe they move Nas and Kadri to the wing in the top nine, but maybe he's your fourth line center. Are you kidding me? So some teams. It's just it's easier to get the matchups you want and avoid the matchups that you don't want. And it is easier to get those matchups at home either way, but the flames might be a little bit easier to get good matchups against because they don't have that same level of depth that they did even at the start of the season.

39:42And that some other teams in the league have and the other thing and I'll pick up on something that Logan mentioned the schedule. And this isn't me using the schedule as an excuse, but the flames generally travel the second most kilometers in the NHL every season right behind the sharks. So the schedule this year has been tougher and everybody I get that, but I think maybe a little bit tougher on the flames and there have been some road trips that have been really difficult. Where look at the first road trip of the season, you start the game at Edmonton and then you play a back to back in Vancouver the next night. And then you come home and you play an afternoon game three and four to start your season. Like there have been some real scheduling perks this year. Again, not making an excuse didn't mention that off the top with the other three reasons I gave. I still think that last change is the biggest one having talked to enough coaches players about it and hearing that from them, but yeah, it's been it's been a tough goal for the flames outside of the dome, but they've been a really good home team this season. And that matters. It is the daily flames round table on this Tuesday edition of the program. He's Derek Wells. He's Logan Gordon. My name is Pat Steinberg.

40:46Guys, two points and two games for Brennan Othman since his recall on Saturday. Have the assist on the Adam Clapka goal on Saturday night. And then on Monday in Denver scored one of Calgary's two goals in that loss. He got them on the board early in the second period. What what have we made? It's it's been, you know, limited work on the fourth line. But what have we made of the early returns of of Brennan Othman? Well, it's basically just the trend we've seen with every other player that's come to Calgary leading up to the trade deadline. You know, whether it be Zach White Cloud, we just kind of picked up with the flames. We're left to offer the gold and I explain the same style of hockey, but I would say playing an increased role simply because of the lack of depth of the blue line. But he's been a really good player. Oli Mata has been unbelievable when you compare what he did with the mammoth compared to what he's done with the flames. Looks like a completely different player. Ryan Strom has the same number of goals and points in what 12 or 13 games of the flames that he had in 33 with the ducks.

41:49Victor Olivesin was pretty productive with the avalanche and I started to find his footing as a member of the flame. So he's been pretty good. But then there's Brennan Othman and I had a really good shot with him pregame yesterday and he really felt like it was time for a change. He felt like he didn't fit in with the direction the Rangers were going in, who they prioritized as prospects and as players. And he was really happy to hear and he wasn't sure if he was going to get dealt. He said it was 50 for him on deadline day, but got the late call. He said about an hour after the deadline had passed and learned that he was going to agree to join the flames and super excited to have a fresh start and an opportunity and started with the counter anglers was fairly productive there. I believe he had points in 10 games, so. And then he gets an opportunity and comes in and I asked him off the record before Saturday's game against the canucks to describe himself as a player.

42:49And I thought he played exactly to that identity in that seven to three victory over the canucks talked about, you know, being a guy who does have some offensive upside and we've seen that at other levels as a former first round picked. You know, he's a guy who was brought in with the idea that he could contribute offensively and a guy who plays with speed and who plays with edge and that's what I've seen from him in his first couple of games as a member of the flames. He had one point in 17 games, the Rangers. He's got two and two with the flames. So just another one of these guys who has come to Calgary with a new lease on life and feels like this is an opportunity for him to prove that he belongs in the NHL that he should be a full time player in this league. So I've been really impressed with them. I like the edge that he plays with. I think that might be my favorite part of his game because, you know, Martin Posposil hasn't been the same type of player this season that he was last season when he set the franchise record for hits. He just hasn't looked the same and yeah, he's got to build an excuse.

43:50We missed the first 48 games of the season with what we believe was a concussion suffered at the end of the preseason and it's tough to join a team more than halfway through the season and to be at your best and then he goes to the Olympics and he comes back and flames right of the playoff race. I guess I'm making excuses for Martin Posposil, but he just hasn't been as impactful this season as he was last. So I think that is open the door for a guy like Brendan Hoffman to come in to try to play with that type of physicality, even if it's not at the same level as Martin Posposil, but also to chip in offensively. And I thought the fourth line was probably the flames best line and what was a bad game for the team against the avalanche last night, but he was one of the big reasons why for me. I really liked Hoffman's game. I've had the opportunity to watch him with the Wranglers a couple of times before he got called up to the flames, so I had a bit of an idea of what he played like at the AHL level. It doesn't always translate to the NHL level, but I liked what I saw from him and so far so good in his two games with the Calgary flames.

44:54He's kind of tenacious on the puck, but as Derek mentioned, I really do think he's got good offensive upside. He was a scorer in junior. And at the AHL level Pat has always been able to put up good amount of points going back to his time with Hartford, the Rangers, AHL affiliate, who he spent some good time with the last couple of seasons. So he's always had that offensive upside for whatever reason, it just didn't work for him in New York, but a fresh opportunity here in Calgary, I think has certainly energized him. I like the speed that he plays with the game, but he's also, you know, for sometimes I think we we shortchange offensive players and how much they're willing to put in the hard work. I feel like that's the case with a Brendan Othman, he really works hard for his chances and has the ability to finish those chances. So I really like him. As I said to you earlier on the show today, he's one of the guys I'd like to see get a more prominent role up the lineup, because I think he can play with higher skilled players. And I think it's a curious, I think it's a good opportunity that Craig Conroy has given Brendan Othman.

46:00It's something that you and me again have talked about the flames scouting department for pro scouts likes to identify guys that maybe just need some fresh opportunity in a place or a different looking opportunity that Calgary has been able to provide for them. And a lot of times it's worked out is looking like Kevin ball who was buried in the depth charts of New Jersey and now is, you know, probably the most consistent defender of the flames have on a day to day basis. I like those kind of chances that they taken. I have a feeling Othman has a potential to be one of those guys if he continues to play well. I've liked a few things. Will's at your point. I've liked the edge for hits in his first two games. I've liked the speed that he's played with. And I think that he at times like, you know, I thought at times the fourth line against Colorado got exposed pretty hard. And that's, you know, the fourth line for Colorado ended up with their points and jury and at Parker each had three points. And, you know, they exploited that fourth line at times.

47:00But I also felt that Othman individually, even against the avalanche created some good things and his speed was able to open things up and get the flames. Some nice opportunities off the rush or just some nice entries. I like the final stat line for Othman against Colorado. Have the goal. Have the one shot of the six attempts. Three of those attempts or scoring chances. One of them at high danger with the one that he scored on. And so I thought that that was a nice stat line for him. And he's not playing a lot, right? Like he's playing less than 12 minutes in each of these games that he's played. So I'd like to speed. I'd like the physicality that he's played with. And more and most importantly, unlike even unlike Moda, strong white cloud or Olipson. Like those guys weren't coming in to try out for NHL jobs. Those guys are all established NHLers. They've definitely done a nice job and taking advantage of more opportunity in an NHL lineup. But we knew those guys were NHLers, whereas Othman's still 23 years old and hasn't been able to crack the NHL on a regular basis to this point.

48:08And so I've liked the way that he's used this. He said it. The first thing he said to us on Saturday morning was, you know, they've said that this is a tryout for me. And I want to approach it like that. I want to go out and show them that I can be in an NHLer. And will see how many times over the last decade of you use the reference about dipping a toe in the water and or jumping right back in. And I like the jumping right in rather than I like the way that Othman hasn't just kind of tread tread lightly. He's he's gone out there and has has made sure that he's made an impression on a shift to shift bases. I like that a lot. Yeah, me too. And now the next step for him is to do it consistently because if he doesn't, he will be out of the lineup very quickly. I mean, the flames have so many bodies right now. And there's a lot of interpretation to stay in the lineup, especially if you're a third or advancement or a fourth line forward. So if you're branded often, you cannot take your foot off the gap.

49:09Yeah. Line up last night. He wants to get back in. Ryan Lomburg has been a healthy scratch. We are more often than not of late. Understanding that the flames are auditioning some of these young guys and trying to figure out what they've got. But you don't think he wants to play. Of course he does. He's a competitor. He wants to be out there and try and help the flames win hockey games. Martin posthusill again. I didn't ever think. And I think we've lost will see. And it sounded like it was going in that direction. So I think we've lost will see we're near the end of the hour. It's Derek Will's voice of the Calgary flames. We will wrap it up there. That is your daily flames round table brought to you by Mercedes Benz Country Hills. The fastest growing segment of vehicles they sell is electric inform buyers are coming to see. Perhaps you should discover why minutes from the Calgary airport is we start to wrap things up this hour on the program. He's Logan. My name is Pat. We went to and oh on Monday night for a good start to the week on our best bets. Good start logo.

50:16And I like starting to know it gets a little bit of cushion for a few bad nights which inevitably always happen. We hit Nazim Codry over half a point. That didn't take long. And we also hit Vegas and regulation. Although that didn't go as smoothly as it should have. But we did hit both of them. So 2 and 0 to start. It is time now for a Tuesday edition of your flames talk. That's that's brought to you by the heating ninja. It's that time again. The birds are chirping the snow is melting. Is your HVAC ready? The heating ninjas air conditioning and heat pump presales are on now. Beat the spring rush and book your annual furnace and AC maintenance today at the heating ninja dot com. So for Tuesday. I'm going to go Zach Hyman of the oilers over two and a half shots as they take on Seattle reason being Seattle bleeds shots. And I'm in at two and a half. I don't mind that number. If it was a different opponent, I maybe wouldn't have taken that bet. But Hyman over two and a half shots versus Seattle. I like that over at play Alberta. They've got that at minus 175.

51:16So Hyman over two and a half shots. And I've also got the Buffalo Sabers in regulation against the New York Islanders Islanders played on Monday. That was a kick in the gut. They had a three one lead. They lost eight three to the Pittsburgh penguins. Now they got to play here in this game. And this Sabers team is rolling second half of the back to back for the oil for the islanders. I'm going to take the Sabers in regulation and play Alberta's got that at minus 115. So Zach Hyman over two and a half shots and the Sabers in regulation. That is your Tuesday best bets brought to you by the heating ninja. It's that time again. The birds are chirping the snow is melting. Is your age back ready? The heating ninja's air conditioning and heat pump presales are on now. The spring rush and book your annual furnace and AC maintenance today at the heating ninja dot com.