You can’t question heart or culture in this one.
The Flames, five on five, simply dominated the Winnipeg Jets tonight, but surrendered two third period goals wiping out a 1-o lead and losing in regulation 2-1 to the Jets; their sixth regulation loss in a row in this young season.
Dustin Wolf was very much back to the version we saw last year, thwarting a dominant Winnipeg powerplay and keeping the Flames up a goal heading to the third.
Better defensively, but still a team that can’t finish enough to score that second and third goal to put Winnipeg away.
The Lineup
After an embarrassing loss in Vegas you knew there would be changes int eh Flames lineup. And change we get; three of four lines and two of three pairings with different looks, and a Yegor Sharangovich scratch after the Kevin Bieksa public shaming.
Up front no change to the top line; Nazem Kadri with Jonathan Huberdeau and Joel Farabee. The other lines are all new; Mikael Backlund with Blake Coleman and Matt Coronato (saw that last year), Morgan Frost with Sam Honzek and Connor Zary (that one is interesting), and then a fourth line of Justin Kirkland between Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka.
On the blueline it’s Kevin Bahl with Rasmus Andersson, and then two new pairings; Jake Bean with Mackenzie Weegar and Joel Hanley with Zayne Parekh.
Dustin Wolf back in the nets looking to shake off a night in Vegas where he got pulled.
Stats Dive
Taking a look at the Flames special teams ranks after getting lit up by the Vegas powerplay on Saturday night.
With the man advantage the Flames have the 19th best powerplay with four powerplay goals on 22 chances for 18.2%. Last season the Flames had the 19th best powerplay as well, but at 21%. The Flames are the 20th ranked powerplay in terms of expected goals for per 60 minutes at 7.90. Current goals for per 60 with the man advantage is 6.49.
Shorthanded the Flames rank 22nd with 6 surrendered goals on 23 times short. Last year the Flames ranked 25th with a kill rate of 76.1%. The Flames are ranked 24th for expected goals against per 60 at 9.43. Their actual goals given up per 60 down a man is 10.13.
Not a lot of move year over year in either unit. Bottom third is a tough spot if you’re not getting it done five on five as well.
Wolf’s Start
There he is …
He didn’t have much of a chance on Saturday night on any of the goals, but statistically Dustin Wolf hasn’t been as good against the high danger stuff that clearly the Flames are giving too many of. That could be a wear thing with the Flames spotty defense, but I’m sure the goaltender wanted to be better himself.
Tonight he clearly was.
Unbeatable in the first two periods despite Winnipeg having the edge in the dangerous stuff again.
In the third he’s beaten twice but didn’t have a chance on either play; a tip by Toews and a two on one goal by Scheifelle.
Final numbers have the Jets with 4.05 in all situations expected goals, and the Jets scoring just twice.
Excellent night from Dustin Wolf.
Odds and Sods
Flames with an early powerplay chance but fail to generate a blue chip chance. … Great backcheck by Huberdeau at the end of the powerplay to avoid a dangerous two on one chance. … I’m fine with the Sharangovich benching if Kevin Bieksa didn’t shred him on Saturday night. I mean you could scratch anyone on a struggling team and Sharangovich is off to as slow a start as anyone. But with the Bieksa attack I don’t like the player being singled out. … No dumber penalty than holding the stick. You never get away with it. Don’t do it. … Very few NHLers I dislike more than Scheifelle. … Dustin Wolf looking locked in early in this one. … Flames continue to give up too much on Wolf. Way too much action in the home plate area. Not blocking out at all. … Flames with some good zone time, they worked hard the whole period, but the better chances went to the Jets. By far. … Andersson with a bit of a poke at Bieksa after the first period.
Flames with a solid start to the second period, hemming the Jets in a couple of times and throwing pucks at the net. … Certainly can’t question Joel Farabee’s play. He’s noticeable every night in a very positive way. Also can’t miss the fact that pucks just don’t go in. There are NHL players that beat expected goals with skill, there are others that come up short for the same issue. Farabee just might be one of those guys. … Another ugly hit on Parekh. Not sure why they didn’t call it five and review it like we see often this season. … Wolf putting on a show shorthanded midway through the second period. … Great moment to see the reaction at the Dome when they announced the Springer homerun, and then later that the Jays won. … Was good to see Parekh back after the spotter duty in the dressing room. … The Flames break the tie with a Rasmus Andersson goal with about seven minutes left in the frame; long shot through a screen. A rare fourth line goal. … Staredown from Andersson of a Jets fan of course. … What’s with the run in too many men on the ice penalties? Up there with the holding the stick stupidity. … Flames with a solid second when five on five, but gave up a lot when down a man. Calgary up 1-0 with Wolf playing a huge role.
Flames take another penalty to start the third, with Nazem Kadri getting his stick up on Pionk. Not the way you want to start the final 20. … Wolf is finally beaten on said powerplay with Jonathan Toews getting his first as a Jet to tie the game at once apiece. … You take five minors against any team and you likely pay for it. … I was intrigued by the new third line of Frost between Zary and Honzek but unfortunately they never really got untracked. Lots of shifts that ended prematurely with penalty calls etc. Didn’t get a feel. … Flames with some quality chances in the third but can’t solve Hellebucyk. … Jets go up when Kadri can’t catch up to Scheifelle on a backcheck two on one. … Flames come close with the goalie pulled and Andersson stepping into the slot, but the shot is both deflected and Andersson slashed by Toews sending the Flames to a late powerplay with 25.5 seconds to play. … Calgary can’t find the equalizer. … Six straight losses for the Flames.
Fancy Stats
Five on five the Flames were excellent tonight. They had a leaky shift or two in the first period, but then didn’t give the Jets a lot the rest of the way … when they were five on five. The Jets powerplay was another story. The Flames, five on five, had 73% (50%/90%/79%) of the shot attempts, 70% of the high danger chances, and 80% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 61% of the shot attempts, 39% of the high danger chances and 43% of the expected goals. As I said … five on five good. Penalty kill? Scary.
The Flames with 72% on the Moneypuck deserve-to-win-o’meter, which seems somewhat high with the control of play by the Jet’s powerplay.
Individually, the Flames were led by Ryan Lomberg with an xGF% of 100% on the night with limited ice time. Four Calgary players were in the 90s including; Morgan Frost, Adam Klapka, Jonathan Huberdeau and Joel Hanley. Only four players were under water; Mikael Backlund, Kevin Bahl, Blake Coleman and Rasmus Andersson.
