For the third straight game … and loss … the Flames actually put forward an above average hockey game.
They scored three goals! That doesn’t happen.
But they surrendered four and an empty netter in a 5-3 Winnipeg Jets victory on Friday night with the entire hemisphere watching the World Series.
Calgary got out to an early lead, had a terrible first half of the second period (where they lost the game), but then battled to keep in it right until the end.
The loss is the team’s 7th straight however (one point to show) and moves their record to 1-7-1 on the season good for three points. Should it take 96 points to secure a playoff spot this year the Flames will now have to play on a 104 point pace (.637) the rest of the way.
Next up the Rangers at the Dome on Sunday night.
The Lineup
One roster change with Justin Kirkland sitting out and Yegor Sharangovich returning to action.
And maybe a message sent for Morgan Frost? (I could be reading too much into it). But some new lines with a key demotion. Nazem Kadri with Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato, Mikael Backlund with Sam Honzek and Blake Coleman, Connor Zary with Joel Farabee and Yegor Sharangovich, and finally Frost between Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka.
On the blueline it’s Kevin Bahl with Rasmus Andersson, and then the two newer pairings; Jake Bean with Mackenzie Weegar and Joel Hanley with Zayne Parekh.
Dustin Wolf back in the nets after his best start since the Edmonton curtain lifter.
Stats Dive
There has been a lot of juggling with lines and pairings int he first eight games of the season, which is somewhat expected with a team that has only secured three of a possible 16 points.
Yet even still, it’s surprising to see the newly minted Jake Bean / Mackenzie Weegar pairing sitting third in tenure at 31 minutes.
And it appears to be going well.
Jake Bean isn’t a top four defenseman, he’s more of a 6 and possibly a 7. But on a Calgary Flames team trying to accomplish two things (build two pairings to be top four defensemen, and find a partner to help break in their rookie prospect) with only three viable options he is quieting things down.
Mackenzie Weegar makes players better, but he can’t work miracles. Last year Weegar was able to elevate Bean and Joel Hanley, but couldn’t get to the same place with Daniil Miromanov.
This year more of the same with Miromanov (22% xGF), but a bit of a skid with Hanley (51%).
So far with Jake Bean, however, he’s found a tidy 73%, after the duo was the Flames best pairing last year at 59%.
You can’t make Jake Bean something he’s not, but perhaps he’s the tonic to help turn a very thin Calgary defense corps into something that can be referred to as serviceable.
We’ll see as the minutes climb in this new roster setting.
Wolf’s Start
I’d say a bit of very good, and a bit of meh for Dustin Wolf in this one.
The Flames break down and gave up dangerous opportunities which he stopped. But he also gave up an iffy goal or two through the course of the night.
All told the Jets had 4.3 in expected goals in all situations, and Wolf only gave up four which sounds like a check mark, but the Jets had an empty net goal so really it’s 4 against vs 3.3 in expected results (1.60 for Winnipeg five on five and 1.67 for the Jets up a man).
He certainly wasn’t the problem, but maybe not the solution either?
Odds and Sods
Game starts with an immediate powerplay for the Flames. Zayne Parekh, graduated to PP1 looked a little nervous in his touches and the group doesn’t get a whole lot done. … Just love seeing a big #29 on the Flames. Reminds me so much of the Joel Otto days. Sam Honzek isn’t the first big guy to wear the number since Otto with Cale Hulse, Wade Belak and Derek Engellend all wearing the digits. … Parekh looking much more dialed for powerplay two which happens a few minutes later. Parekh makes a deft pass to Frost who feeds the seem to Kadri who one times it for his first of the season. Parekh with his first NHL assist. … Some big humans in a fight with Klapka going with Stanley, have to give Stanley the win with Klapka slipping though I don’t know if either player landed a punch. … Will never understand why the Jets don’t make these jerseys their permanent home jerseys. Far superior to the multi blue home silks … Calgary with one of their better periods of the season and lead 1-0 after 20.
Winnipeg with a clear push to start the second period, forcing Dustin Wolf to be sharp to keep the one goal lead in place. …Playing four on four Mackenzie Weegar makes an ill advised desperation play on a two on two, creating a two on one and a Kyle Connor tying goal. Odd mistake from Weegar. … Those two first period cross bars feeling impactful with the team up 1-0 at the time. … Winnipeg goes up 2-1 when Jonathan Toews goes to the net and tips in a centering pass as the ceiling seemed to be crashing in on the team. Saved by a review? Not this time. Thought they had a case with Toews skate in Wolf’s pad. … Calgary down a man to double the insult; ceiling resumes the crashing down. … Calgary kills the penalty and then take a minor to Bahl seconds after it expires. Flames don’t kill this one as Valardi makes it 3-1 Jets. Did I mention the ceiling? … Wolf would probably want that one back. … Calgary back in it on a Mikael Backlund goal with about six to go in the period. The play starts with a solid board battle win for Sam Honzek, netting himself his first assist and point of his career. … Andersson with a late penalty and the Jets double the lead again. Four second period goals for the Jets.
Flames start the third on the man advantage with a chance to maybe get back into things, but it’s thwarting quickly by a Morgan Frost tripping penalty. … You just can’t take six penalties and expect to win if you’re a hockey club that scores a normal amount of goals. If you have anemic offence? Forget about it. … Zayne Parekh’s best game as far as showing off his boots and hands offensively? I certainly think so. Some magical moments. The kid is going to be fun to watch. … You can’t take seven penalties … …. After escaping call number seven unscathed Calgary gets the game back to within one when Mikael Backlund find Blake Coleman in front for a snipe making it 4-3. … Three goals for the Flames in one game? … All told a pretty solid push back period from the Flames after a miserable second period. … Thought Connor Zary looked as good as he’s looked in this early season. Some jump and bit of that flare back in his game. … Nino Niederreiter has always seemed like a complete tool on the ice. … You just can’t take eight … I just keep moving the floor up on Sam Honzek. Great game. He seems to be developing the ability to use his size effectively. He’s going to be a middle six forward at worst, and I’m not writing off the second line. … Maybe it’s not just the Flames. Way too many minor penalties in this hockey game. Complete flow kill. … Matt Coronato had a rough night. Mishandled the puck a few times, and took two minor penalties. Really seems to be forcing things. … Jets hit the empty net after Calgary had all kinds of zone time with a late powerplay and the goalie pulled. … Jets win 5-3. …
Fancy Stats9
Calgary was the better team five on five on the night. They outscored the Jets at even strength and outchanced them as well. But that meant less tonight than in most games with the run to the penalty box for both clubs. The two clubs only had 35 minutes of five on five hockey all told. The Flames, five on five, had 57% (61%/38%/71%) of the shot attempts, 70% of the high danger chances, and 64% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 53% of the shot attempts, 61% of the high danger chances and 51% of the expected goals.
The Flames with 47% on the Moneypuck deserve-to-win-o’meter.
Individually, the Flames were led by Adam Klapka, who was elevated from the fourth line in the game’s second half, with an xGF% of 98% on the night. Joel Hanley and Joel Farabee where also in the 90s. Sam Jonzek, Connor Zary and Mikael Backlund were in the 80s. Ryan Lomberg with a miserable night at 3%. Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato had limited ice time and struggled.
