“If a team keeps playing a certain way the results will come”.
A definitive statement, more often true than not, but surely not a guarantee in the parody ridden modern state of the National Hockey League, but on this night the bumper sticker seemed to ring true.
The Calgary Flames coming in were a respectable yet disappointing 3-2-2 in their last seven games, a stretch of seven games that had them out shoot their opponents 190-139(58%), direct more shot attempts to the tune of 366-299 (55%), out chance by a 64-36 margin yet just not get on that tear that will be needed to get back into the thick of things in the Pacific Division standings.
Tonight more of the same, but with results as the Flames turned back the Blues by a 2-1 score, playing a tidy game and taking the season series from a tough advisory on Wednesday night at the Saddledome.
Jagr Watch
Another game with the legend on the sidelines, in what is becoming a grave concern for the veteran player and achieving what I thought was a slam dunk in the all time games played champ in a Flames jersey.
The winger now needs 37 more games to pull by both Mark Messier and Gordie Howe and with the Flames having played only 35 games he has 47 more opportunities to achieve that mark. But that margin is down to 10 games, and with the holiday season coming it’s a good bet that he doesn’t play Friday night against Montreal in order to get a longer period of rest.
When the team comes back he’ll be in single digits for games he can miss heading into the second half. With his recent injury (groin?) issues that isn’t a strong guarantee.
The Powerplay
No the powerplay didn’t score last night.
Yes it did look a bit better.
Their first attempt was shot-less despite some looks, but the units got better over time finishing the game 0/4 to the Blues 1/4 despite having the better of the statistics with the man advantage. The Flames powerplay had 17 shot attempts the Blues seven, while the Flames shorthanded had five attempts on the Blue’s net. Scoring chances were recorded as 3-0 for the Flames, as the statistician determined the Blues powerplay goal was more a Troy Brouwer mistake than a blue chip opportunity.
Mike Smith at Home
It’s only one game, but you take it if you’re Mike Smith.
His results at the Dome have been pretty average compared to his impact on the road for the Flames this season. Tonight though he hung in there and only gave up the single goal in improving both his team’s fortunes and his stats on home ice for the season. The Blues were the better team in the first period, and at worst even up through the midway point of the game; a whiff or two by the goaltender would have made this a very different game.
Streaking!
The win gives the Flames two victories in a row and a record of 4-2-2 in their last eight games, a stretch that looks much better with the recent success.
It also pushes the Flames back into a Pacific playoff spot but with some pretty strong asterisks; the Sharks trail by a point, but have three games on hand on the Flames. Calgary is seven points back of the Kings with even games played. League wide the Flames are tied with the Dallas Stars for 16th (final playoff spot statistically) spot in the standings; so they have some work to do.
Hamonic Injury
Travis Hamonic left the game after the first period having blocked a shot with his hand or wrist towards the end of the stanza. He didn’t come back.
With the team about to have four days off following their game on Friday you’d have to wonder if they may keep him out for precautionary reasons and recall Rasmus Andersson to take his spot. Andersson continues to put up a stellar AHL season with his coach telling 960’s Ryan Pinder this week that “he’s NHL ready”.
Injuries are often spring boards to decisions, and Andersson is likely a second half injury to a right shooting defenseman away from forcing a decision.
Fancy Stats
As I said the game hung very much in the balance midway through the second period. The Flames had their tiny lead wiped out a by Brayden Schenn goal to tie things up and the game was pretty much Even Steven in terms of shots, scoring attempts and play.
Then the Flames just took the game away.
Final tally on shot attempts five on five had the Flames up 41-40 but the Blues were up 20-16 after one period, the scoring chances five on five finished 12-8 (60%) for the Flames on the night. In all situations the Flames had 55% of the shot attempts and 65% of the scoring chances however, as their powerplay did carry the play.
Individually, Sam Bennett was a beast again as the suddenly streaking winger failed to hit the scoresheet but was dominant most of the night leading the team with a 77% corsi night and 80% of the scoring chances when he was on the ice. That line is really coming around. Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton and Mark Jankowski also had 70% nights to pace the team, Garnet Hathaway and the 3M line were in the 60s. Maybe it was a good night to get hurt as Hamonic left the game 0-15 in shot attempts with just under five minutes of play as he and Brodie were getting shredded. The fourth and first line were also in the 30% range as the Blues were happy to have that strength vs strength matchup.
