Sometimes you tune into a game expecting the team you cover to get smoked.
With the Flames playing in Winnipeg on a back to back with Mike Smith in net and a depleted lineup the game had the feel of a 5-2 or 4-1 kind of game. It would feel over early, and you’d go on to your Saturday night in peace knowing the team is in good stead and can live to fight another day.
So yeah they lost, 2-1 to the Winnipeg Jets, but if anything you come away feeling better about their playoff chances than you did before the game given the way they carried the play and likely deserved better tonight in Manitoba.
They may surrender first back to the Sharks again tonight, but the way the team is finding themselves defensively, finding better goaltending and will get Monahan and others back it suggests better days are ahead.
Line Up Changes
Lately there hasn’t been a lot of change.
That’s not the case tonight.
The Flames are without Sean Monahan (ill), Sam Bennett (undisclosed but not serious), and going with Alan Quine into the lineup and defenseman Michael Stone, setting up an awkward seven forward / seven defenseman lineup for a big game in Winnipeg.
I say big game, but really with the Jets eight points back of the Flames, this isn’t a conference title battle as much as it’s two key points for the Flames who are looking to hold off San Jose.
Missed Opportunities
You just knew the Flames best chance at winning this one would have been with a quick start.
A game 19 hours after the last one finished, losing and hour, and travel is tough enough, but also being down bodies and not having adequate replacements is quite the predicament.
Calgary looked great in the first period, carried the play substantially and hit parts of four goal posts, but came out of the period down when the Jets scored a goal with 15 seconds left in the period.
Watching you just knew the third could be a struggle with the team running out of gas and leaning on a few forwards for more minutes and responsibility. So I was beyond surprised to see the Flames come out and dominate the third period to the tune of 14-3.
Mike Smith Start
I’ll admit I can be a little tense before a Mike Smith start. Sure he’s played much better of late, but it still gives you the shivers worrying about turnovers playing the puck, or that odd torso flop he carried through much of the first half of the season.
But once again … he was solid.
On the night he stopped 19 of 21 shots for a .905 save percentage and couldn’t be faulted for either of the Jets goals. The other guy, Connor Hellebucyk was much busier at the other end, but this certainly isn’t a game that was lost by Calgary goaltending.
Good to see both stoppers finding their game, though I still hope one of them ~cough~ Rittich lays claim to the role before the puck drops in the playoffs.
From Dominant to Non Existent for 3M
The Flames got their money’s worth from the 3M line in two of the three home games where the club put up 20 goals this past week.
Tonight with the first line hobbled and missing Sean Monahan they didn’t get a whole lot done however.
No points and even, but the three forwards finished in three of the last four spots on the team in terms of possession play as they got worked though they didn’t see a lot of the Jet’s top six. With Monahan out Maurice went after 3M with the Lowry line and pretty much shut them down.
Streaks are streaks, I’m sure they’ll get back to it on Tuesday.
Clinch or No Clinch?
The Flames failed to clinch their own playoff spot as they lost in regulation.
The Wild are leading the Rangers 3-1 in the second period and likely heading for a victory meaning it’s quite likely that the Flames won’t have their spot when the dust settled after games tonight.
Calgary plays again on Tuesday a home game against the Blue Jackets. The Wild play the New York Islanders tomorrow afternoon which could result in a Calgary clinch while watching television from the confines of their own homes.
Another Shortie
It seemed like the Flames were adding a short handed goal to their totals pretty much every three or four games through the bulk of the season, but then they went cold.
Tonight the finally scored their 17th short handed goal of the season when Elias Lindholm found Mark Jankowski out front for a tap in.
The goal was huge as they were early in a four minute double minor to Mikael Backlund, and was followed by a Winnipeg powerplay goal that could have put things pretty much away.
Standings Implications
The Flames give back that game in hand to the San Jose Sharks as the Sharks play the Nashville Predators tonight in California. The Flames still have them by a point, hoping that Pekka Rinne and his mates can do them a solid.
The loss moves the Jets two points closer to the Flames, as they now trail Calgary by six points with even games played.
Calgary still leads the Vegas Knights by 12 points in the battle for home ice in the Pacific, and have the Oilers by 26 points with ten games to go … that one might be done.
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Calgary 28 Jets 21
Face Offs – Flames 55%
Special Teams – Jets 1/4 Calgary 0/3 (Shorthanded goal)
Player Stats:
Points – Mark Giordano/Elias Lindholm and Mark Jankowski with 1
Plus/Minus – Travis Hamonic and Lindholm +1
Shots – Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk with 4
Fancy Stats
Pretty dominant game by the Flames all told, as they just continued to carry the play. Five on five shot attempts finished 69% Calgary with period splits of 64%/60% and 82% (not even close). Scoring chances five on five finished 18-11 Calgary (62%) and high danger chances were 62% Flames with an 8-5 count.
In all situations things were closer as the Jets had the extra powerplay including a four minute run in the second. Calgary had 58% of the shot attempts, scoring chances were even with 23 apiece, and Calgary had 54% of the high danger chances.
The Calgary top line was dominant tonight as Elias Lindholm (95%) and Derek Ryan (94%) were both in the 90s with 18-1 and 16-1 splits respectively. That’s pretty incredible. Other guys with notable nights included Johnny Gaudreau 83%, TJ Brodie 83% and Mark Giordano 79%. Only two Calgary players finished under the break even mark as Michael Stone 40% and Michael Frolik 45% had rough nights.
