I swear Mike Smith is a happy goaltender when the Flames play loose and give up way too many odd man chances.
In recent weeks the Flames have enveloped the opposition with a blanket of security, leaving their goaltenders very little to do. In some of those games however a weak goal or two was Mike Smith’s downfall causing the city to wonder if a new starter was born. That wasn’t the problem tonight though as the Flames outplayed the Hawks but bent ugly when they bent giving up numerous breakaways and odd man chances only to have Mike Smith go “zone” and secure the win.
The Flames are going to want to batten down those hatches again for Tuesday night in Columbus, for tonight it made for an entertaining 3-2 victory.
Line Up Changes
Mike Smith gets his second start in a row after defeating the L.A. Kings this week. He has won his last two starts including a shellacking in Arizona, but it’s the type of goal he gave up against the Kings that has people nervous. The game should have been a blow out, but L.A. scored a weak one short side sending the game to the third tied at one.
Other changes come on the third line with Austin Czarnik coming out again, this time for Andrew Mangiapane. Ryan Lomberg stays in on the fourth line. Fans hate it when pluggers get ice ahead of young skilled players but having some jam in the lineup from time to time certainly doesn’t hurt.
Mangiapane’s insertion on the third line certainly gives him a leg up for linemates with Derek Ryan and James Neal compared to what he’d be getting in terms of assistance and ice time on the fourth line.
Limiting Chances
With only giving up five five on five high danger chances against the Kings the other night the Flames how now only had two double digit games against in their last 16 games dating back to their first encounter after the much publicized Penguins game. In that period of time they’ve averaged 7.75 high danger chances against, which is excellent. More importantly the team has averaged 9.5 high danger chances against per 60 minutes of five on five hockey in that time period.
For comparison the Oilers have just won three in a row under Ken Hitchcock at home, but in those three games they’ve given up an average of 13.8 high danger chances per 60 minutes and an average of 12.3 per 60 minutes since the big guy took over. That’s not all that sustainable in today’s NHL. The Oilers are winning some low scoring squeakers but don’t be fooled, it’s as much about some good goaltending and bad opposition execution than Hitchcock teaching the club how to play defense. The six games before the coaching change the Oilers gave up an average of 11.5 chances per 60 minutes.
Tonight the Flames were certainly pretty loose in Chicago but in the end only gave up eight high danger chances five on five to continue their streak.
Mangiapane & Neal
James Neal played a spirited game, Derek Ryan was good down low in keeping cycles moving, but could it be the insertion of a young Andrew Mangiapane made the difference in injecting some chemistry into what has been a season long search for that third line of offence.
Elias Lindholm gelled with the first line, Sam Bennett seems to be helping the second line add more offence to their shot metrics, so perhaps in early December the fit for that third group and James Neal has finally been found.
The line had numerous chances including an iron shot from Mangiapane in the second period as they more than held their own in generating chances and keeping the team’s momentum a flowing.
Mike Smith Start
Struggling goalie in net, who then sits for the game’s first ten minutes without a thing to do … but then faces two breakaways and a point blank chance in five shots to round out the first period.
That’s a tough start on the nerves for the goaltender and the fan base, but by the end of the game I honestly found myself not cringing with every puck that went Smith’s way. His scorpion save late to secure the win was both amazing and lucky as hell but they all count as the stopper has posted three straight wins, giving up only four goals in those contests.
If it’s win and you’re in we may see Smith again in Columbus on Tuesday night.
Standings Impact
The damn Ducks came back from down 5-1 in Washington to win 6-5 in regulation, retaking the top spot in the Pacific before the Flames game finished in Chicago. Calgary’s win vaults them back into first in what is becoming an extremely tight division these days.
The Flames are a point up on Ducks but have two games in hand. Calgary has a three point bulge on both Vegas and San Jose with two and one game in hand respectively and a four point lead on the Oilers with even games played.
In terms of percentages the Flames are at .615, Ducks at .538, Oilers at .537.
Fancy Stats
Good night for Calgary overall, as they had 52% of the shot attempts with period splits of 59% / 48% and 48%. Scoring chances finished all tied up at 20 apiece to show you how loose things got for the Flames in the second half of the game, and the high danger chances finished 8-7 Chicago.
Individually, James Neal had himself a night with a 14-3 edge in five on five shot attempts and 82%. Mark Giordano, Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund and Ryan were also in the 60s as the third line asserted themselves as I said above. Terrible night for the fourth line though as Garnet Hathaway at 10%, Mark Jankowski 18% and Ryan Lomberg 29% got completely filled in. That can’t be a line again at this level.
