The Flames didn’t play well for much of the first 25 or so games of the season. In a big way they pretty much deserved the bad start they delivered.
There was a always an element of misfortune or bad luck in there too. Too many offensive players off to rough starts, odd shooting percentages far too low to be sustainable. Things were bound to turn.
And turn they have.
The Flames came from down two to the L.A. Kings on Saturday night to win 4-3, running their season best win streak to four games, and points in five straight.
They’re getting some depth scoring, their best players are becoming their best players once again. Things are rolling.
Line Up Changes
The Flames went with the same lines as the Buffalo game, save for a few minor changes to the third defense pairing and the fourth line.
The top three lines stayed intact with Elias Lindholm centering Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund between Sean Monahan and Dillon Dube, and Derek Ryan between Milan Lucic and Johnny Gaudreau.
With the illness to Mark Jankowski, Tobias Reider slides into the center spot on the fourth line between Michael Frolik and Zach Rinaldo.
On the blueline TJ Brodie moves to the third pairing to play with Michael Stone as Oliver Kylington was a scratch. Rasmus Andersson goes up to the top pairing with Mark Giordano, and the second pairing stays intact.
Cam Talbot gets the start, giving David Rittich a break.
Lucic Streak
Goals in back to back games, which is such a good story. A two point night with a third period assist doesn’t hurt the stats sheet either.
But the bigger deal was probably the change in his game tonight due to getting that monkey off his back on Thursday night.
He looked quicker, was handling the puck more, and more effectively and was a factor on a lot of shifts.
Even on the bench, he looked more animated and heavily involved in the game.
Crazy how the chains are coming off this team in a short period of time.
Talbot Start
Not a great start for Cam Talbot, but then I guess we’d expect that given the fact that the guy hasn’t seen the ice in three plus weeks.
L.A. scored two quick powerplay goals on just two shots, both snipes on the goaltender, both partly screened.
But he rebounded well the rest of the way. The team in front of him played well too of course, but he was solid in taking the game home for his second win of the season.
They’re going to need a backup playing much more often than he has. Good to see the rust knocked off and a successful employment of the backup night at the Saddledome.
Is Gaudreau Back?
He looked better against the Sabres, he looked back tonight against the Kings.
More spring in his step, a quicker more determined stick handle, and seeing the ice the way were used to before everything went to hell in late January last year.
If that’s the case then I guess you can chalk it up to a complete lack of confidence, unless of course the removal of Bill Peters plays a role.
So hard to say.
But with Gaudrau going you get more Sean Monahan as well, and the return of what looks like an NHL top line.
The Rise of Rasmus
I’d honestly rather have Rasmus Andersson with the puck in the Calgary zone than any other defenseman on the team.
The guy just has ice in his veins, a trait that allows him to out weight opponents until he can find a safe place to put the puck and avoid turnovers.
I think it was Ryan Huska a year ago that remarked that the organization could see his vision early, referring to his ability to see through the first and second wave of checkers and see an option but this year he’s going to another level.
Top four defenseman. Lock him up.
The Calls
I think Zach Rinaldo will get a look from the league for his hit on Nikolai Prokhorkin. He didn’t target the head per say but it was excessive and he did elevate.
But then I’m surprised nothing at all was called on L.A. tough guy Kurtis MacDermid for his elbow on Johnny Gaudreau after the Monahan goal, or again later when he elbowed Matthew Tkachuk.
Since I’m whining … I personally don’t like slashing calls when a guy should have a better grip on his stick. So I don’t have a problem with the Kings slashing the sticks out of the hands of Derek Ryan, Rasmus Andersson and another player I don’t recall. But why call Mikael Backlund for the same act in the first period and then just ignore it the rest of the night?
Tight Gaps
Can really notice a difference in the team’s gaps in the last two games, a win over the Sabres and then again tonight against the Kings.
Tight protected gaps all over the ice, especially back tracking an opposition rush and converging on players that post up and try and find the late guy.
A great example was Mark Giordano’s hit on Dustin Brown in the second period. If Andrew Mangiapane wasn’t backchecking within five feet he doesn’t step up on that play.
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 30 Kings 33
Face Offs – Flames 34%
Special Teams – Flames 1/4 Kings 2/3
Player Stats:
Points – The Flames got three points from each member of the third line as Milan Lucic and Dillon Dube each scored a goal and added an assist, while Derek Ryan picked up two assists.
Plus/Minus – Dillon Dube led the way with +2 on the night.
Shots – Michael Stone bested all his teammates with three shots on goal.
Fancy Stats
The Kings won the battle of the five on five shot attempts, as the Flames finished with 48.8% on period splits of 57%/44% and 50%. The Flames did lead the way in high danger chances however, as the Kings only managed five all night compared to the Flames nine. Calgary had a 54.2% xGF% mark on the night.
In all situations the Flames had 46% of the shot attempts, 63% of the scoring chances and an xGF% of 51%.
Individually, the Flames were led by Mark Giordano with a 61.5% night. Dillon Dube was right behind with 60.9%, and Andrew Mangipane and Rasmus Andersson had solid nights as well. Zach Rinaldo and Michael Frolik brought up the rear with numbers in the 30s.
