Now there’s a good sports day in Calgary.
The Flames get up 6-0 by scoring two goals in each of the three periods in a 6-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, followed by the Calgary Stampeders beating the Red Blacks to capture the 2018 Grey Cup. Quite a day in deed.
The Flames were never in any danger in the desert, jumping into a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Sean Monahan and Noah Hanifin and then building on the lead period to period. In the end both Hanifin and Mark Jankowski had two goals apiece as the Flames scored three short handed goals to rout their hosts and knot their two game road trip at a win apiece.
Line Up Changes
Two changes for the Flames today in their second straight afternoon game; one that will bring a little intrigue, and one that likely brings a little trepidation.
The intrigue came in the form of Oliver Kylington playing his first NHL game in two years, stepping in for the banged up rookie Juuso Valimaki. Kylington has had a whale of a start to his AHL season, and looks to continue his transition game to the next level. With Mark Giordano, Noah Hanifin and Valimaki on the left side the Flames need to get their heads around what they have in Kylington and how they see the group constructed going forward.
The worrisome change is the return to the nets by Mike Smith, the veteran not seen since his third period gaff against Montreal, a goal that cost his team a game they deserved to win.
Own Medicine
The Coyotes came into the game as the league leaders in short handed goals, one of the NHL narratives to set up the game. So it was somewhat ironic to see the Flames score three times short handed including two on the same penalty in the third period.
With six now on the season, the Flames jumped a boat load of teams into second overall.;
Have the Flames Gone to One Jersey?
Odd to have a two game road trip where the Flames wear their home red jerseys in both stops.
My guess is one of the two teams requested a change of pace game to wear their whites for the home crowd prompting the Flames to call the other team and ask if they can to the same in the other local.
Depth Scoring
Another game with depth scoring being part of the story for the Flames.
A fourth line player scoring twice (Jankowski), while three defensemen lit the lamp is good news for a team that was sputtering to score goals when they went through California ten days ago. The four game homestand featured games of two, four, seven and six goals before being shut out in Vegas and then posting six again tonight.
The Flames scored six or more goals six times last year, and already have five games of six or more this season.
Neal Nets 500th Point
Great to see James Neal hit that 500 point mark after chasing it for nine plus games, something that had to be getting frustrating. The struggling winger had another noticeable game for chances but was foiled on all three shots on goal which included a few in close looks.
Have to say it, the guy doesn’t seem all that rattled. Close ups after missed chances seem to always end in a smirk, a level of confidence that has to rub off his teammates.
When he gets rolling the Flames are going to be a very formidable group.
Trade Update
Just past the quarter poll and the big draft trade is starting to settle in for both Carolina and Calgary.
Micheal Ferland has cooled off somewhat but is still having a heck of a contract year with 11 goals and 15 total points thus far on the season. Dougie Hamilton has chipped in eight points which includes three goals.
On the Calgary side Elias Lindholm failed on his penalty shot attempt today but has 23 points on 11 goals through 24 games, while Noah Hanifin, on a bit of a tare himself these days, how has 11 points on the season.
The last component, Adam Fox has a two points per game click in college hockey making his signing the potential tipping point in a trade that looks to be going Calgary’s way early.
Standings Implications
With the win the Flames jumped back into first place in the Pacific Standings, after the Sharks got pounded 6-0 by Vegas last night. The Flames remain four points up on the third and fourth place Pacific teams and have a game in hand on both Vegas and Anaheim.
The win against Arizona is important as well, as they fall two games under .500 and well back of the playoff group. If the Central Division sends five teams to the playoffs it’s ultra important to drive a stake into the hearts of the lower Pacific teams whenever you get a chance.
Fancy Stats
Score effects took over in this one. The Flames had only given up 11 shots on goal through 35 minutes of hockey but through sitting on a fat lead and shortening the bench to the bottom half of the roster to not insult the opposition had the Coyotes run the show in terms of shot attempts in the second half of the game.
Shot attempts finished at 44% with period spits of 57% / 47% and 31%. Scoring chances were 54% Calgary however (20-17), while high danger chances were 12-9 Calgary or 57%. Yet another game of single digit high danger chances against.
All but the top line and the top pairing were under water on the night with the Coyotes throwing everything at the net in the third period. Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie led the way with 63% and 62% respectively. Elias Lindholm (57%), Sean Monahan (54%) and Johnny Gaudreau (53%) had great bounce back games after a less than stellar effort in Vegas two days earlier.
