Sometimes … you just take the point.
The Flames showed rust and / or the Winnipeg Jets are a heck of a hockey team, either way this writer had the Flames somewhat fortunate to escape Saturday afternoon’s matinee opener for Hockey Day in Canada with a point in a 2-1 shoot out loss to the Jets.
The Flames turned the puck over far too many times, and didn’t really get their top line rolling, while the Jets better players including goaltender Connor Hellebuyck were all present and accounted for.
The loss snaps the Flames win streak at seven, but does build on a points streak that now sits at eight games.
The Lay Off
You just knew this one wasn’t going to be a masterpiece.
Many teams, but certainly the Flames, have never done well with any of; the first game back from a road trip, first game back from a layoff, or an afternoon game on Saddledome ice. So today’s match up for the Flames was one that was almost cringe-worthy in anticipation.
The saving grace was the fact that Jets were pretty much in the some boat, coming off a six day break.
As expected at least one of the teams would be flat footed with the Flames very lucky to be tied through two periods given the play of Smith, a goal post, and too much time in their own zone.
Jet Picks
Was kind of funny to listen to Gregg Millen and Paul Romanuck rave about Dustin Bfuglien’s coverage on a Flames three on two, when he basically picked Micheal Ferland, taking him off his skates and out of the play with no call. Ferland was flattened in the neutral zone earlier in the second period with no call at all.
The Jets are a good hockey team, they don’t need that much help!
The Brouwer Non Goal
The Flames actually had a 2-0 lead in the second period, but the goal was challenged and over turned for goaltender interference.
The review took over three minutes suggesting the call was a tough one, and I can see why. Hallecybuck did get bumped slightly but not to the extent where the call was obvious. In a league that wants goal totals to rise they may want to think about making plays just out of the crease more competitive.
No Rust On Smith
The one Flames player that was ready to go today was goaltender Mike Smith who was solid not only between the pipes stopping pucks, but also playing the puck behind his net and stymieing the Jets attempt to get pucks deep and get in on the forecheck.
Good to see the big goaltender look good in home red and not just road white after the break.
19 And Counting
The two goals against (one charged to the team with a shoot out result) runs the Flames game streak of giving up 3 goals or less to 19 games. That of all the stats is the best indicator of future results, as no other team has been close to that mark this season; a huge sign that the team has figured it out defensively.
Today the Flames dug themselves out of a pretty flat start to slowly gain momentum and make it a game. The third was better than the second, which was much better than the first. Little doubt the goals against streak would have fallen if they played 60 like they played 20.
Top Line Flat
The top line of Sean Monahan, Micheal Ferland and Johnny Gaudreau were red hot in October and November, almost invisible in December, but back to impact again in January, at least up to the break.
Today however they didn’t get a whole lot done, as both Monahan and Gaudreau had their point streaks snapped against the Jets; Gaudreau’s at seven.
Ferland was more noticeable as he was a force physically and heavily involved with Byfuglien all day, and an impact on the forecheck. Monahan was completely invisible and Gaudreau noticeable for not being himself with the puck through the afternoon.
The Brodie Good and the Brodie Bad
What a classic example of the good and bad sides of TJ Brodie’s game over the past season and a half.
Assistant coach Dave Cameron was singling Brodie out for his great play on the night, and there was certainly a heap load of good, but also a decent sized serving of bad. He finished the night with a goal, 27 minutes of ice time, three blocks, five shots on goal, but also a CF% of only 35% and way too much time in his own zone.
There is so much there, but just so much that needs cleaning up. He and partner Travis Hamonic were making big strides before the break, it looks like they’ll need to get back to that process over the next few weeks, because tonight felt like a step back.
Standings Watch
The point moves the Flames temporarily past the Sharks and into 2nd spot in the Pacific Division, as the Sharks play the Penguins later tonight. Additionally it puts them two points up on the Kings with even games played, a situation any Calgary fan would have taken going into the five day break last Sunday.
Looking upward, the Flames are nine points back of the Golden Knights with Vegas having a game in hand.
Fancy Stats
All Winnipeg to start as they had a 69% edge in shot attempts in the first period, a stat that very much matched the eye test as the visitors were very much more ready to start this one. The Flames recovered to have a 52% edge in the second and a 63% edge in the third as they climbed back into it. Five on five scoring chances were low, at 7-6 Winnipeg.
In all situations the Flames had 52% of the shot attempts and a 12-10 edge in scoring chances, a better spit than I would have guessed from watching the game.
Mikael Backlund and Matthew Tkachuk were both beasts in terms of possession, both posting 85% for the Flames, while linemate Troy Brouwer and Dougie Hamilton were both in the 60s. Other guys with solid games included; Mark Giordano, and the whole third line who all hit the mid to high 50s. On the other end of the gamet was the top line with Sean Monahan posting a miserable 19%, and linemates Gaudreau and Ferland each hitting 30%. Andrew Mangiapane was at 29% despite his linemates being a more respectable 43%.
In terms of scoring chances the second line had a perfect 3-0 exchange, the top line was at a 3-6 clip and noticeably out played.
