When a team gets to feeling it, it appears nothing much can go wrong.
Of course, the opposite is true, and was on full display for large parts of the month of November in these parts, but for right now; the Flames are winning, everyone is scoring, both goalies are making saves, the special teams work, and they’re getting the bounces.
That was pretty much the case in Arizona last night as the Flames played a fairly loose game in their own zone, but limited the opposition’s danger level and scored enough themselves to skate away with a 5-2 win, pushing their current win streak to six, and their point streak to eight.
Line Up Changes
The big one … no Matthew Tkachuk as the Flame’s leading scorer was banged up last night in Denver, came back for the third and promptly picked up an assist on Andrew Mangiapane’s goal.
With Tkachuk sidelined the Flames called up Calgarian Matthew Phillips (one Matthew out, another enters the fray, but the former Victoria Royal didn’t get his first NHL start. Instead Geoff Ward moved Tobias Reider up to take Tkachuk’s spot with Elias Lindholm and Andrew Mangiapane. Zach Rinaldo enters the game and takes Reider’s spot with Mark Jankowski and Michael Frolik. No change to the starting other two lines with Monahan playing with Backlund and Dube, and Ryan between Lucic and Gaudreau. At least to start …
A change to the blueliners as Michael Stone dresses for Oliver Kylington in back to back games. TJ Brodie lines up with Stone on the third pairing with Rasmus Andersson moving up to play with Mark Giordano. Noah Hanifin of course, with his usual pairing mate Travis Hamonic.
Cam Talbot gets the start, his second game in four days, as he’s started two of the team’s last three games.
The Non First
Shame to see Matthew Phillips called up but then not inserted into the lineup.
I get that he traveled and that they had a healthy body to use up front, but when the news broke that he was joining the team I’m guessing many Calgary families made plans to get together and watch the game only to have it not work out.
Hopefully Matthew Tkachuk is back against Toronto however, and that Phillips has to wait a bit longer. But if not I hope we see him on Thursday.
Depth Scoring
The Flames headed into a playoff series last year with the notion that their superior depth would be the difference in a series against the Colorado Avalanche.
It wasn’t.
To start this season said depth was missing in action with the fourth line literally not on the line for a goal until recently, and the third line not doing a whole lot either. In the last few weeks though, all that has changed as 13 different goal scorers have contributed including some unlikely sources that include Zach Rinaldo picking up his second in as many games last night.
Add in some input from Tobias Reider, Michael Frolik, the addition of Dillon Dube, and the resurgence of Milan Lucic and a whole boat load of pressure has been taken off the top couple of lines.
Monahan Rolling
From what looked like a miserable season to pretty much getting back to his normal season pace, Sean Monahan has gone streaking.
Goals in four straight games, and points in seven straight, the big center has eight points in his last seven games giving him 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 33 games. Prorated over an 82 game schedule that adds up to 25 goals, 40 assists and 65 points on the season.
Monahan has been a slow starter in the past, something maybe forgotten as the city overanalyzed the top line through the first two months of the season. But he appears to be back on track now, and with some added speed, and a hint more of aggression maybe he’s more effective?
Cam Talbot Finding His Game
The Flames limited the Coyotes to only ten high danger chances in 60 minutes last night, but don’t confuse that metric with the notion that backup goaltender Cam Talbot had an easy night!
Between said scoring chances was a lot of routine rubber, as the Coyotes out shot the Flames 48-29 (though don’t get me started on that tally, as I saw at least three occasions where shots were added when pucks hit players and went over the glass or wide), and was square to shooters, controlled in his rebound management, and solid.
That’s back to back wins for Talbot on the season, and it certainly appears to some tight proximity of work was the tonic needed to settle in his game and make him the goaltender he’s been.
I imagine they’ll be careful to avoid having too large a gap between his starts going forward.
Standings Are Fun Again
The win moves the Flames to within two points of both Edmonton and Arizona in the Pacific standings, something I’m guessing almost nobody would have seen coming as little as two weeks ago.
Now holding third in the division, the Flames have a four point gap on the next closest Pacific team, the Vancouver Canucks, though Vancouver does have two games in hand.
The playoffs have gone from perhaps doubtful to seemingly probable in just a few weeks.
Ending Desert Drought
The Flames had gone 140 minutes in Arizona without a goal before Michael Frolik’s first period tally last night in Glendale.
You wouldn’t think you’d have a horrendous run like that in Arizona, as they’ve frequently had challenged teams, but under Rich Tocchet they play a tight game, and they’re certainly getting the goaltending.
Putting up five on the Coyotes says a bit about how the Flames lines are rolling right now.
Goal Rush
Speaking of rolling, the Flames have now moved out of the bottom third of the league (sort of) with a goals per game average of 2.7, good for 21st place.
Before the streak the Flames averaged 2.48 goals in 25 games, pace that had them slotted with the bottom two teams in the league for production. In the streak however, the Flames have averaged 3.63 goals in the eight games, a total that matches the season production of the most offensive teams.
Last year they were 2nd in goal scoring, this year a mess until recently.
Who are they?
Lucic Again
Another goal for Milan Lucic last night, so now that’s three on the season, and a pace pretty close to 10 emerging for the big lug; something I think we would have all taken going into the season.
Up to a week ago it looked like the Flames were on their way to securing that 3rd round pick from Edmonton, as James Neal had a shot percentage boosted October and was up 14 goals on the Calgary player. That gap is down to 11, and with Neal stalled who knows how tight that gap could be. The Flames get a 3rd if Neal scores 21 or more and has 10 more than Lucic.
Given the Blades of Steel celebration we’re seeing from Lucic, some more production may be worth losing that pick.
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 29 Coyotes 48
Face Offs – Flames 46%
Special Teams – Flames 1/3 Coyotes 1/1
Player Stats:
Points – The Flames were led in points by Zach Rinaldo and Michael Frolik, each having a goal and an assist.
Plus/Minus – Rinaldo, Frolik and Mark Jankowski all had a +2 game.
Shots – Johnny Gaudreau led the way with four shots on goal.
Fancy Stats
Crazy night for the advanced stats summary as the Coyotes through everything, and I mean everything at the net. The eye test had you thinking there wasn’t a lot of danger in those attempts and the stats certainly backed that up. Calgary had only 37% of the five on five shot attempts with period splits of 41%/42% and 25%. In terms of high danger chances however it was 11-9 Calgary five on five for a 55% night.
In all situations Calgary had 40% of the shot attempts, 55% of the scoring chances and an xGF% of 41.1%.
Individually the Flames only had four players over the break even point with Andrew Mangiapane leading the way with a stellar 61% night. Noah Hanifin, Mark Jankowski and Zach Rinaldo were also in the black. The Backlund/Monahan/Dube line struggled posting an average of about 20%.
