Well that was fun wasn’t it?
Sure they got a point in Vancouver, but it’s now a three game losing streak for the once conference leading Flames and this time they don’t have the “bad bounces” or “out played the opponent” crutch to lean on. The Flames and their goaltender were quite average tonight and average won’t cut it against the number one team in the league as the Flames went down whiffing by a 6-3 score in Tampa tonight.
Unlike recent seasons the Flames have had a tonne of good play thus far this season, giving them some room for a rough patch with some room to spare, but for first in the conference and division they’ve used up their lives as the streaking San Jose Sharks have taken both mantles.
Line Up Changes
Literally zero change from the club’s last game in Vancouver, a very odd 4-3 shoot out loss that was Calgary’s game by any measure but final score. Same units up front with Michael Frolik still patrolling the right side of 3M, Sam Bennett with Neal and Jankowski on the third line, and Ryan with Hathaway and Mangiapane on the bottom unit.
The 3M line has been sputtering of late with the last two contests a bit of a black hole in terms of chance generation and production. With the top line not lighting the lamp like they were before the break, the scoring has been pushed down the lineup; the team getting a goal apiece from the third and fourth lines on Saturday night.
No change to the pairings, a good sign with the daily injury watch for Travis Hamonic.
David Rittich starts again in goal.
Schedule Effects
I’m not one to give a team a pass when they play poorly, and truthfully the Flames could easily have had a three game win streak snapped tonight with a bounce or two. But I do think the recent stretch of inactivity was bound to catch up to them.
Nine days off, three games in two and a half days, four days off, two games in three nights, two days off … the pattern continues. The Flames have only played five games in 21 days through the last week of January and the first half of February which has to be anything rhythm creating.
The other side of the coin however should be the positive effects of rest, and what that means down the stretch as the Flames minus the nightly beating that Travis Hamonic is taking are sure to be beyond some of the seasonal bumps and bruises that may have been impeding their play.
David Rittich Starts Segment 7
I posted a story earlier this week looking at the season of David Rittich and how his play has gone from top five in the league in his first 10 starts, to now middle backup numbers in his last ten.
Tonight was a mixed blend of not making the save and a team breaking down in front of him. Six goals against in 27 shots are going to further decay his numbers, but he really didn’t have a chance on at least three of them, and probably four on the night.
A good team, and the other club not firing on all cylinders is asking a lot for a goaltender to mop up.
On the other side of the argument, a top goalie needs to make all of the easy ones, 99% of the average shots, and a good 90% of the tough ones. That isn’t happening these days.
Not A Good Night For Top Players
Not only did Calgary’s top stopper get lit up but the top two lines and top defense pairing all pretty much got owned on the night.
As I mentioned earlier, the 3M line has been struggling and tonight they brought up the bottom in possession stats and carried a -2 on the night. The top line was -1 despite finding the net, leaving the bottom half of the forward group playing decent hockey but not finding the net.
I thought Sam Bennett was the best Calgary player on the ice, creating chances and driving play but as often the case not hitting the scoresheet. Honestly can’t wait to see this guy in the playoffs.
Standings Implications
Honestly just the damage they have done to themselves, at least so far.
The Sharks, Predators and Jets had the night off and the Knights were still playing at press time. Calgary did burn a game in hand that they had on the Sharks giving them just one game in hand on their rivals.
The most important thing is getting things untracked for their next two games … Thursday in Miami and Saturday in Pittsburgh.
The slide has to stop.
Counting Stats
Individual
Points – Lindholm 3
Goals – Monahan 2
+/- – Any player with zero
Shots – Andersson 4
Save% – Rittich .778
Team
Shots – 27-22 Tampa
Face Offs – 53% Tampa
Special Teams – Tampa 2/4 Calgary 2/4
Fancy Stats
Five on five the Flames were better than the final score would dictate. In terms of shot attempts the Flames had 51% of the shot attempts with period splits of 52%/42% and 63%. Scoring chances were in the favour of the Bolts with a 63% edge, high danger chances also towards Tampa at 64%.
In all situations Tampa had 5!% of the shot attempts, 62% of the scoring chances and 61% of the high danger chances.
Individually it was the bottom half of the carrying the way. James Neal led the way with 70% of the shot attempts, followed by his linemates Jankowski and Bennett who each had 68% and 66% respectively. Other guys in the 60s included Derek Ryan, Derek Ryan and Andrew Mangiapane. At the bottom of the hill was Michael Frolik with 38%, joined by other top six forward Gaudreau (38%), Backlund (39%), Tkachuk 39%), Monahan (41%) and Lindholm (44%).
You’re not beating Tampa when your best players are getting fed.
