Lets keep these dads around!
The Flames annual “parent trip” took place this week on the two gamer through Minnesota and Chicago. The rotation pushed back to the fathers, and the players didn’t disappoint with a 5-4 shoot out win in Minneapolis, followed by a come from behind (second period, not third) 2-1 victory in Chicago this evening.
Calgary had a weak first period, but tied it quickly in the second period, and then went to stay a few minutes later, both goals by Elias Lindholm.
The Flames … literally for once … didn’t try to sit on the lead in the third and pushed the play effectively, skating away with a big victory, their third in a row.
Lineup Changes
Cam Talbot starts tonight, he’s coming off the win over the New York Rangers last week, after David Rittich lost to the Hawks in Calgary on New Year’s Eve. On the season Talbot has a calculated quality start % of .545, while Rittich is a few slots behind at .515. Despite the early start to the season, the Flames may be moving very much back to the tandem situation many predicted when the season started.
On the blueline the Flames go back to Oliver Kylington over Michael Stone, and Zach Rinaldo coming in as well for Tobias Reider. That leaves no change to the team’s top three lines. Elias Lindholm between Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane. Sean Monahan between Johnny Gaudreau and Mikael Backlund, and Derek Ryan between Milan Lucic and Dillon Dube. The new fourth line is Mark Jankowski between Zach Rinaldo and Sam Bennett.
Can’t blame the Flames and Geoff Ward for endeavouring to get as many players into the two game dad trip roady as they can.
The Talbot Start
What can you say about the guy? Is he back?
Three years ago he was every bit as much the reason for the big Edmonton Oiler season … well the only Edmonton Oiler season for most of you just old enough to read this, but then looked to have burned out. Back to back off seasons had him moved to Philadelphia towards the end of last season before arriving in Calgary this summer.
Tonight 31 saves on 32 shots, moving his save percentage to .917 on the season in 14 appearances.
His only goal was a screened point shot that went off of a Dominik Kubalik shin pad giving him little chance. From there he just kept it simple and shut down the Hawks, literally not giving them a whiff.
I’m a David Rittich supporter, but Talbot has certainly earned more starts going forward with back to back wins, and going with a tandem now will certainly provide lots of flexibility down the stretch and into the playoffs when a starter is named.
The Blender
After an iffy first period, Geoff Ward threw his lines in the blender again, and was immediately rewarded in the second period.
With just 14 ticks off the clock in the second period, Elias Lindholm playing in his 500th game, scored a goal on a newly formed line with regular linemate Matthew Tkachuk and … wait for it … Milan Lucic. Another new line was Mikael Backlund between Sam Bennett and Andrew Mangiapane. Derek Ryan ended up on the fourth line with Mark Jankowski and Zach Rinaldo.
An interesting wrinkle that created two goals from that Lindholm line by the end of the period.
Smith Penalty
First off … phew!
From a short handed breakaway to a two man advantage that was certainly setting up for a huge turning point in the game. We’ll never know how the Smith breakaway would have gone, but the two man advantage was certainly a complete dud.
But the guy’s stick went off of Tkachuk’s shield, it was pretty clear. How he lost his gitch on the officials by first shooting the puck hard wide, then berating the officials on the way to the box, and then in the box but avoided a ten minute misconduct is beyond me.
Speaking of Tkachuk
How the hell did Matthew Tkachuk get away with his “ass hit” on that Blackhawk defenseman after Lindholm scored the go ahead (and eventual game winner) goal in the second period.
He looked to have eyed the player as he skated backwards behind the net heading towards his teammates to celebrate, but then just finished it.
Guessing the officials decided that the Hawk’s player as coming at him at the same time, but in my mind he got away with one there. Could have been a quick penalty kill right after the big goal.
Zebulon
Pretty cool story to have your dad from Sweden in town to watch two road games.
Even better story when the second game of the two is you’re 500th of your NHL career.
Goes up another notch when you score both goals for your team in a 2-1 victory, both games ending in wins.
But the fact that the two goals gave you the two points you needed to reach 300 in your career?
That’s simply crazy. Great night for the player that many feel is Calgary’s best (sorry Mr. Tkachuk), as he’s struggled of late to put up goals, but has seamlessly moved to center ice and fronted the team’s top line of late.
Dougie Hamilton is a story in Carolina for sure, but Lindholm has been a huge add for the Flames as well.
Lets Check the Standings
The win moves the Flames back into a deadlock with the Edmonton Oilers with 51 points in 45 games. It also moves them one point ahead of both the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks though both teams have two games in hand.
The conference is starting to form blocks, as the St. Louis Blues appear to be free and clear of everyone, a second group seems to have nine teams battling for seven spots .. then a smaller group of Minnesota, Nashville and Chicago that are on the outside and in need of a streak. And finally the California teams who are looking at the trade deadline feverishly.
With the Flames having the easiest schedule of the group to finish, there is certainly a great opportunity to move way up the standings. If they can find consistency, they have a chance to flip the script and go into the playoffs with their A game found instead of listing.
Will be interesting.
Gaudreau Coming
Thought Johnny Gaudreau had a pretty good night despite not picking up any points.
He had his looks, had five shots on goal and appeared to be handling the puck much better than we’ve seen in recent months.
Coming in he had four points in his last two games so the points are coming, but tonight felt like a bigger step because the puck seemed to be settling down more on his stick, giving him the chance to create like we saw for much of last season.
The Flames have survived on penalty killing and spread scoring to date. If they could refind that top line from last season it would be a huge boost to the team’s chances to not only make the playoffs but maybe go a ways once they start.
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 28 Hawks 32
Face Offs – Flames 46%
Special Teams – Flames 0/4 Hawks 0/2
Player Stats:
Points – Both Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk picked up two points tonight, Lindholm with the goals and Tkachuk with two assists to pace the club.
Plus/Minus – Milan Lucic leads all skaters with +2 on the night.
Shots – Johnny Gaudreau was held off the score sheet tonight but led the team with five shots on goal.
Fancy Stats
The Flames had the better of the five on five shot attempts on the night with 53% on period splits of 47%/56% and 59%. In terms of scoring chances the Flames edged the Hawks by a 8-7 margin, and the team had an xGF% of 55% on the night.
In all situations the Flames had 53% of the shot attempts, 58% of the high danger scoring chances and an xGF% of 61%. The better team won.
Individually, the Flames had Milan Lucic as their best skater in terms of five on five shot attempts with a mark of 67%. TJ Brodie and Mark Giordano were just behind with monster nights of 65%. Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau were the other two players over 60%. Only six players finished under the 50% mark “led” by Andrew Mangiapane at 29%, Zach Rinaldo, Mark Jankowski and the third pairing of Oliver Kylington and Rasmus Andersson.
