Beating weak teams is a start. It’s not screaming to the hockey world that the Calgary Flames are back. It’s certainly not proof positive that all is well, inconsistent play fixed, and slumping hockey players dialed in having refound their way.
But it’s a start.
Amidst the chaos of a week that had their head coach removed and the team, league and sport thrown into a chaotic, public, gut churn the Calgary Flames eked out a 3-1 victory on Saturday night after defeating the Buffalo Sabres (another weak team) on Wednesday, a game in which they were substantially outplayed.
They now have points in four straight games (3-0-1) after closing out a six game losing skid, and have climbed into a playoff spot if you ignore games played.
As I said … it’s a start.
Line Up Changes
The Flames iced the same lineup they have in their little streak without a single change for the Senators.
David Rittich got the start again, as he runs up his league leading totals, but in all fairness during a period where the team only plays three times in 11 days.
The defense pairs unchanged; Mark Giordano with TJ Brodie, Noah Hanifin with Rasmus Andersson, and Oliver Kylington with Michael Stone.
Up front no change as well. The top line remains in tact, the Backlund line still has Andrew Mangiapane, the Ryan left line left alone, with the trickle down seeing Mark Jankowski between Michael Frolik and Tobias Rieder.
Turnover Johnny
There was a lot of hope that a coaching change would return Johnny Gaudreau to his former self like a magic elixir.
The melting of ice is taking a little longer than that however.
There are signs however, signs that the little play maker if starting to find his game, but there are also signs that he still hasn’t shaken his funk that results in far too many turnovers, many of them dangerous. His second period tonight was especially heinous with two or three mild turnovers on one shift, and then a terrible puck booting turnover on the point of a Calgary powerplay that could have been a huge game changer.
If it’s not something else off the ice, you would have to think it’s only a matter of time before he gets going – the guy has been an dynamic offensive hockey player his whole life, but he’s not back yet. Forcing passes, shots from the perimeter, and as I highlighted far too many turnovers.
1000 Home Wins
The Saddledom crew shot up a graphic at the end of the game celebrating 1000 home wins in franchise history.
The franchise is in their 47th season between Atlanta and Calgary, with a split of 8 in Atlanta and now a 39th season being played in Alberta.
Those 1000 wins at home are an average of 21.3 per season (this season not complete), and come with 716 road wins.
Dube Contributing
For a while it looked like the only goal that was going to hit the scoresheet on the night was Dillon Dube’s marker late in the first period. From there the two teams started to grind in and it very much looked like the billed game between two teams that can’t score.
Then the teams traded late goals with the Flames escaping with a 3-1 win on an empty netter.
Dube had no points in his first four games after his recall by the team to shake up a losing streak. In the last three games though he’s scored twice as he adds a speed and puck retrieval angle to the third line, a trio that has consistently been the team ‘s best in the last two weeks.
At his age and waiver eligibility he won’t be house shopping this year, but it is starting to look like he’s forging himself a permanent home (role).
Bottom Six Rolling
Speaking of Dillon Dube, the entirety of the bottom six was the engine to get the team past the Senators.
Solid games by the bottom line (Jankowski, Rieder and Frolik) and the aforementioned third line had the Flames spending time in the Senators zone, giving some relief to the top six and David Rittich.
The bottom line didn’t hit the scoresheet, but had the best metrics on the night, and it looked like the third line would have the only goal before a late exchange on the scoreboard.
Imagine if this team can add that top line back some day?
Lucic With Chances
Another night with chances but no results from Milan Lucic, as the big winger continues to post solid games without hitting the scoresheet.
His expected goals per 60 five on five is now up to 0.51/60 compared to James Neal who sits at 0.52/60; a virtual tie when it comes to where they should be in five on five goal production through action ending last night. Lucic has an xGF% split of 50.51% compared to Neal’s total of 49.14%.
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 27 Senators 27
Face Offs – Flames 40%
Special Teams – Flames 1/3 Senators 0/1
Player Stats:
Points – Elias Lindholm led the way with two goals, both of which coming late in the third period as the go ahead game winner and the insurance empty netter.
Plus/Minus – Michael Stone stood above all others with a +2 rating on the night.
Shots – Matthew Tkachuk and Noah Hanifin each had four shots to lead the Flames.
Fancy Stats
The Flames eked out a tight five on five shot attempts victory with 51% on period splits of 59%/40% and 53%, that pesky second period almost doing them in again. In terms of scoring chances five on five the Flames had a 13-10 edge (57%), and the Flames had a nightly xGF% at 48%.
In all situations the Flames had 51% of the shot attempts, 48% of the scoring chances and a xGF% of 57%.
Individually the Flames were led by their fourth line as I said above as Tobias Rieder had 68%, Frolik 63% and Jankowski 61%. The club’s second line was at the bottom of the pile with Matthew Tkachuk posting a rough 37.5% night.
