Good to see some run support for Cam Talbot.
Both goaltenders had a shaky start, at least in totals as five goals were scored in the game’s first nine shots on goal, but to both of their credit, they settled things down and had a fairly normal outcome … a 4-3 Flames victory in regulation time when the final buzzer sounded.
Cam Talbot had overtaken David Rittich of late in save percentage, but only had three wins on the season because the team has only scored 1.9 goals per game for the stopper in his last several starts. Tonight they post four and sure enough Talbot takes home the victory, snapping a five game home ice losing streak.
The win moves the Flames into a virtual tie with the Edmonton Oilers for third spot in the Pacific, and a points tie with the sliding Winnipeg Jets for the wild card spots (Jets have two games in hand on both Alberta teams).
Should be a fun second half!
Line Up Changes
An interesting day became even more interesting.
The morning lines rolled out with a lot of interesting change including a return of a line from three years ago of Mikael Backlund (back at center) between Sam Bennett and Michael Frolik.
Since the trade this afternoon, clearly that won’t happen … and as expected Backlund goes back to the wing on the second line, Jankowski enters the game to center a new fourth line with Sam Bennett and Tobias Reider, leaving no change to the Lindholm and Ryan lines.
Phew.
In goal a change as Cam Talbot starts for the recently struggling David Rittich. Talbot actually has a better save percentage on the season than Rittich now, but hasn’t had the goal support and with that only three victories.
On the blueline TJ Brodie is back from the plague, lining up with Mark Giordano and sending Rasmus Andersson back to the third pairing.
The Bennett Opportunity
Through the years the Sam Bennett saga; that is his inability to live up to his 4th overall draft position has been a constant lightning rod of contention on the site’s message board. Every fan is disappointed, some want him gone, others want him to have more opportunity.
With the emergence of Andrew Mangiapane this season however, it almost feels like the top six chase is over. At least among current players on the roster, one can still hope an upgrade is coming from the outside.
Two nights ago he got a quick look on the second line with Monahan and Gaudreau. The team was a hot mess though, and with that Geoff Ward shortened his bench and sat Zach Rinaldo and Mangiapane.
As a result Bennett got more ice and with varied linemates, scored a goal and had six hits in the third period as he certainly played a role in the momentum generated. So it was interesting to see him get a spin on 3M Light and ironic as hell that said chance didn’t even last a shift as he tumbled down the roster with the trade.
I’m not one for suggesting Bennett hasn’t gotten his fair shake, but some of the drama around his “opportunities” can certainly be interesting!
Would Have Been a Gooder
Calgary’s fourth line tonight is sort of filled with disappointment, speaking of Sam Bennett.
Bennett hasn’t had the season, nor career that he had envisioned. The center, Mark Jankowski has one point on the campaign, a downer no matter how you look at it. And the right wing Tobias Reider was a PTO in camp after a goalless (soulless) season in Edmonton.
But two years ago on paper that would have been a great, young third line to have on an emerging hockey club, wouldn’t it?
Jankowski a first rounder, showing he belongs in the AHL. Bennett had to break out soon right? And Reider was a 15 goal guy season in and season out.
Goal Rush
The Flames had a much better start … though anything better than spotting the opposition a three goal lead would have been a step in the right direction.
Tonight they score the first two goals of the game, including a Mikael Backlund marker down two men incredibly, had that lead evaporate, and then took it back again by the end of the period.
All in all only seven shots against desplite taking two peanlties and being short two men for 75 seconds.
A great stat? Five on five the Flames didn’t give up a single first period high danger scoring chance.
The Shuffle
For the second period Ward made a slight adjustment to the forward lines, moving Dillon Dube down to the fourth line for Sam Bennett.
For Dube that was pretty much the last time we saw him, save for a shift where he ended up out with Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm and was part of a scoring chance. Bennett, however, seemed to find chemistry with Lucic and Ryan, becoming the best line of the second period.
The Frolik Trade
Colour me a little surprised.
In camp and to start the season I saw value in a player like Michael Frolik. He can play up and down the roster, he’s a plug and play guy, he plays well with skill players, and he’s good defensively. Is he a build around guy? Absolutely not, but I thought he would have value in a trade for a pick.
I was wrong. The last minute downgrade to the cap limit at the June draft pretty much ended the ability to move bottom roster players with big pay tickets, regardless of intangibles.
So today was a shock with Calgary moving Frolik to the Sabres for a 4th round pick, no salary retained. In this climate I didn’t see that as possible, without a lot of things going your way, which I guess is the case with the Sabres.
What Does a Fox Say?
Not a bad debut for the young defenseman. Three points in the first half of the game to go with an even game, which was not a bad outcome compared to his Ranger teammates.
There was certainly a smattering of boos every time he touched the puck, which is fine … I get it.
Personally I just don’t care much about the player. I’m glad the Flames scouting staff drafted a valued asset that they could use in a trade that has helped the club, and I’ve moved on. The loop hole is the loop hole, and I don’t blame him for using that leverage any less than I don’t blame Brad Treliving from moving on when he learned the player wasn’t going to sign here.
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 29 Rangers 27
Face Offs – Flames 46%
Special Teams – Flames 0/4 Hawks 2/3
Player Stats:
Points – Johnny Gaudreau led all skaters with a goal and an assist on the night, a player with a noticeable dash of jump in his step with the Rangers in town and his dad in attendance.
Plus/Minus – Mikael Backlund and Travis Hamonic were both +3 to lead the club.
Shots – Shean Monahan led all skaters with six shots on goal in the game.
Fancy Stats
Kind of an odd night again for the underlying numbers.
Calgary in five on five shot attempts had 49.5% on the night with period splits of 60%/52% and 25%. The 30% needs some colour though, as the overall action was held to a paltry 3-9 split. Final high danger chances five on five came out 4-6 in favour of the Rangers, an almost non event game by NHL average standards. Finally five on five xGF% came out 47.3% Calgary.
In all situations the Flames had 53% of the shot attempts, high danger chances were tied up at 8 apiece, and the xGF% 56.5% in favour of the Flames.
Milan Lucic led all skaters with a 81.5% night five on five. Other guys with great nights included Mark Giordano (71%), Dillon Dube, Michael Backlund and Sam Bennett all at 61%. On the wrong side of things was Tobias Reider at 21%, and Andrew Mangiapane at 31%.
