Well that was a let down.
For those watching and certainly for the team itself, as the team caught in the fervour of Saturday night’s big win over the Edmonton Oilers couldn’t muster the kind of start needed to secure two points against the struggling Montreal Canadiens, dropping a 2-0 decision on Monday night.
A listless first period, a small improvement in the second and then a too little too late push in the third period just wasn’t enough to beat a desperate team looking to turn an eight game losing streak into a two game winning streak.
It happens, but they had better be better in the final two games on this road trip before the break.
Line Up Changes
No changes to any of the skaters from the big win over Edmonton on Saturday night.
Up front Elias Lindholm centers the guy everyone is talking about and Andrew Mangiapane. Sean Monahan takes draws between Johnny Gaudreau and Mikael Backlund, as Derek Ryan is in the middle of Milan Lucic and Dillon Dube. Finally Sam Bennett taking most of the draws between Zach Rinaldo and Tobias Reider.
On the blueline no change as well. Mark Giordano with TJ Brodie, Noah Hanifin with Travis Hamonic, and Oliver Kylington with Rasmus Andersson.
In goal the Flames break up the Cam Talbot streak by going back to David Rittich in a building that he always seems to play well.
Why is Yelesin here?
Interesting to see Alexander Yelesin called up yesterday only to see eight defenseman on the ice in Montreal at the morning skate.
The quick (and fun) jump to a conclusion is a trade is in the works, one that would see Yelesin needed with a defenseman going out, but more than likely it was more due to a player with a bump and or bruise, and it was precautionary.
Still interesting to see things play out though.
The Tkachuk / Kassian Argument
I knew the Tkachuk thing in Edmonton was large last year, but man oh man has it been something to watch that fan base come unglued in the last 48 hours.
To me the first hit was a borderline charge, and there was certainly a predatory nature to them. But with the current rule book if you hit a guy with the puck, away from his head, and with your elbows down and feet on the ice you’re good.
The refs on the ice saw it that way, the league since has seen it that way, and guys like Bob McKenzie see it that way as well.
Should there be a rule about hitting a guy in a vulnerable situation, embattled with another player? I think there should be, but there isn’t yet. And those, to me, are just the facts.
Having said that, the number of reputable media members that have sanctioned the reaction; a horse collar and beating of a player that was looking the other way is beyond me. Amazing when a rivalry trumps professionalism.
Mangiapane Down
I’ve said it before, but man does Andrew Mangiapane ever hit the frozen surface often in a game of hockey.
Counted one in the first, two in the second and three in the third for a total of six in the game … half of which occurred with a Montreal player nowhere near him.
He wasn’t alone though. Mark Giordano fell a few times again, and a few Habs hit the ice.
Wonder if Circe du Soleil was there last night?
Who Are These Guys?
I’ve never witnessed a season so hard to pin down.
There have been many a season where the Flames just aren’t very good. You either know it going into the campaign, or discover it midway through and get your head around it.
Then there are years where things work out; last year being a great example, the team seems to be confident night in and night out, and give you what you expect on most nights.
This year however has been an enigma from October through mid January. No consistency. They seem to trail in every game. They play just well enough to hang in there, but never take that next big step to prove they belong in the upper echelons of the league.
Their record since the Bill Peters firing is solid, but have they honestly been that solid as many times as the win totals suggests? Not in my mind.
Great effort against Edmonton, and yeah I get the let down notion. But you have to identify that, rectify it, and get back to what you do within the game.
Didn’t see that tonight until it was too late.
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 31 Habs 37
Face Offs – Flames 41%
Special Teams – Flames 0/2 Habs 0/3
Player Stats:
Points – Believe it or not, nobody had a point in the shut out loss.
Plus/Minus – Believe it or not, nobody had a plus night in the shut out loss.
Shots – Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm each had five shots to pace the Flames in a losing effort.
Fancy Stats
The Flames had only 45% of the shot attempts on the night with period splits of 34%/44% and a third period score effects push of 61%. As I said … too little, too late. High danger chances were kept to a minimum both ways with the Habs enjoying a 8-6 margin. Calgary had a five on five expected goal percentage of 45%.
In all situations Calgary had 47% of the shot attempts, 32% of the high danger chances and an expected goals percentage of just 38%. Not a good effort from the Flames at all.
Individually, the Flames had six skaters above the break even mark in five on five shot attempts led by Sean Monahan with 68%. TJ Brodie was also in the sixties, while Rasmus Andersson, Johnny Gaudreau, Oliver Kylington and Mark Giordano were all in the fifties. The Hanifin/Hamonic pairing as well as Derek Ryan and Zach Rinaldo were all in the 30s or worse.
