The Flames put a bad run of history behind them by turning back the Rangers 4-1 at MGS on Sunday night, ending a ten year losing streak in the storied building
The result was about the only thing, granted the most important thing, to go right.
The game itself was easily the Flame’s worst effort of the season, as they were out shot, out played, gave up at least two game’s worth of quality scoring chances and were completely bailed out by their goaltender.
The team is now 5-3-0 on the season, and back into a playoff spot in the Pacific Division, but they had better not celebrate to excessively tonight. They have some work to do.
Roster Changes
Not this time, which is somewhat of a surprise given the fact the team lost Friday night and had some pretty quick turnaround continental travel.
The forwards and defensemen dressed for Friday all return, with the slight tweak of the reconstituted third line from the second half of the game; Derek Ryan up for Mark Jankowski, will start this one.
David Rittich makes his second start of the season.
Quality of Opponent
Game eight on the season, but the first time the Flames have played an opponent that missed the playoffs last year and isn’t expected to contend this year since the first two games against Vancouver. Ironically the Canucks have been flying along since that opening back to back by going 4-2-0 since and holding down a playoff spot in the division ahead of the Flames.
But this two game junket against the Rangers and Montreal are certainly two dates that would have been circled on the calendar as winnable games before the season started.
Thing to Watch 1: Protecting Rittich
Speaking David Rittich, it will be interesting to see what the Flames do in front of their backup goaltender, as his previous start in Denver featured the team’s best effort in cutting down on quality chances against, giving up only 11 high danger shot attempts.
That could very well come down to the fact that they spotted the Avalanche a two goal lead just three minutes into the contest and then had the game to come back, meaning score effects game into things. Or it could mean the pack mentality of buttoning down in front of the backup was all the rage through Calgary roster.
Tonight? The exact opposite as the Rangers practically run them out of the building to start the game, but Rittich stands tall and gives them the kind of goatlending you need to get settled and untracked for the rest of the game. The Flames settle in and get some flow, but then lay an egg to start the second as well, but once again the backup bails them out.
Third? More of the same as the Rangers ran up a 20-4 shot advantage at one point near the end of the game. The Flames got the chances to get some space but the game would have been different without Rittich’s work.
Things to Watch 2: Top Line Woes
The top line.
It’s great to be off to solid starts offensively, which all three members of the top line are; as all three players are on point per game paces to kick off their campaigns.
But they’ve been ravaged in four of the seven games this season, spending way too much time in their own zone, and giving up way too many blue chip chances. I’d have to think it’s being discussed and worked on, but Bill Peters can’t truck that line out for 20 minutes a night if he can’t trust them to handle top players from the opposition.
So tonight I was watching to see what and how was happening to get them in trouble. First off they were better, with much better possession stats. Their worst shift was a hem in on a bobble by Rasmus Andersson. Mark Giordano tossed the puck across at the Rangers blueline setting up a rush and then the top line spending 45 seconds chasing the play with the home team on the attack.
I did notice Elias Lindholm was up high on the F3 on the Andersson turnover suggesting either better focus from the trio, or a directive from Peters to get things worked out. If linemates aren’t communicating, sometimes it’s best to just tell the guys who F3 is going to be. Would make sense if it was Lindholm.
Things to Watch 3: Slow Starts
What is it with this team and getting the game underway when the puck drops?
Poor starts have plagued them in five of seven games coming in, and again tonight as their ability to get going in both the first and second periods almost cost them.
Tonight they were bailed out by goaltending as the game could have gotten out of reach, but Rittich held them in until they were able to find their legs. Has to stop.
Things to Watch 4: High Danger Chances Against
And to think I wasn’t happy with the team’s average of 13.5 high danger chances per game coming into the game.
Tonight it was 28 against five on five, and 29 overall if you include the Ranger’s powerplay. That’s simply brutal, and a game that was stolen by their goaltender.
The team didn’t get a chance to practice yesterday in Calgary before making the trek cross continent, they’d better get in a good session tomorrow. And I’m guessing Bill Peters won’t be in a good mood for the proceedings.
Best Fourth Line Yet
The fourth line has been a dump zone for failed third liners this year, and not a trio that has found consistency in personnel or play through seven games.
The current fourth line of Dillon Dube, Mark Jankowski and Garnet Hathaway was put together half way through the Nashville game on Friday night, and then again tonight. Midway through the second period the line really started to take off, scoring the game’s second goal on a great setup from Jankowski to Hathaway. From there they continued to generate chances and wear out the Ranger’s blueline.
Defender Switch Up
There was a discussion today on the effect that Mark Giordano has had in propping up TJ Brodie so far in the season.
Well we may now have a chance get a measure.
Part way through the second period Peters broke up the pairing, moving Brodie with Noah Hanifin and Giordano with Rasmus Andersson for the rest of the game.
Just about every Flame’s player finished under water on the night, but TJ Brodie was dead last at a terrible 25%.
Fancy Stats
As I just said, not a good night for the Flames. The Rangers had 60% of the shot attempts five on five with period splits of 55% / 50% and 76% (score effects certainly in play in the third). Most alarming though was the scoring chance split of 70% and the high danger shot attempts at 74% for the Rangers. That’s borderline embarrassing.
In all situations the Rangers had 60% of the shot attempts, 69% of the scoring chances and 73% of the high danger chances.
Individually the Flames were led by the two rookies as Dillon Dube (52%) and Jusso Valimaki (51%) were the only Calgary players over the breakwater mark. Mark Jankowski was at 50% flat. Seven players were under 40% on the game led by Brodie at 25%, Hanifin at 26%, James Neal at 26%, Sam Bennett and Derek Ryan both at 33%.
