The Flames played a pretty solid hockey game, much like they did on Saturday in their 4-2 loss to the Blues.
But in the end they’re bit again by a lack of finish as the Jack Eichel show takes over the game with the game turning from a 2-0 Calgary lead to a 3-2 Vegas lead as the night wore on.
The loss drops the Flames to 1-3-0 on the season with a pretty important early season game tomorrow night in Utah to try and stem a three game losing streak.
Big game for Cooley and the Flames.
The Lineup
No change up front for the Flames from their 4-2 loss to the Blues on Saturday afternoon. So look for Nazem Kadri between Matvei Gridin and Matt Coronato, Morgan Frost between Joel Farabee and Yegor Sharangovich, Mikael Backlund with Sam Honzek and Blake Coleman and finally Connor Zary with Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka.
Changes to who is dressed and two of the three pairings on the blueline. No change to the pairing with the toughest matchups, as Kevin Bahl stays with Rasmus Andersson. Daniil Miromanov comes into the lineup with Mackenzie Weegar, and Joel Hanley moves to play with Zayne Parekh.
Fourth straight start for Dustin Wolf in goal.
Stats Dive
Digging into stats / rates after three games is somewhat pointless (sample size). So instead a list of obscure team stats to start the season.
- The Flames have played the second least number of five on five minutes through three games at 42:54 (only Winnipeg with less / Seattle with the most at 50:47)
- The Flames are 10th in CA/60 (basic shot metrics against)
- The Flames are 27th in xGF/60 (generation) and 24th in actual goals for / 60 five on five.
- The Flames are 26th in HD chance for / 60 and 22nd in HD chances against / 60. They are 25th in HD% (splits)
- The Flames powerplay is 20th in expected goals / 60.
- The Flames penalty kill is 22nd in expected goals against / 60 (meaning 22nd best). The Flames shorthanded have the 6th highest expected goals for.
Wolf’s Start
Solid night for Dustin Wolf.
Zero chance on goals one and three, and honestly not much chance on goal two given the turnover and breakdown with a defenseman walking right in.
On the night Vegas posts 3.74 expected goals in all situations but only beat Wolf three times.
Check and check.
Different Start
Last season the Flames got out to an improbable 5-0-1 start, something that gave them a foundation that got them through an iffy second quarter, and in the conversation all season.
This year it’s 1-3-0 as a start, and a very different feel.
They’re playing decent hockey, but goal scoring again seems to be a problem and they are slowly digging a hole that could be tough to get out of given the margin they play with every night.
Lots of pressure on the team and Cooley tomorrow night to avoid the 1-4-0 start.
Odds and Sods
What a start for the Mikael Backlund line with both Backlund and Blake Coleman scoring first period goals. They are really meshing well with Sam Honzek who is quietly starting to make the little touches look routine and less like a fire drill, a phase all young players go through. If he keeps this up he’s another tough decision for the team when bodies come back. He’s starting to finish some checks, and drew a penalty with some second period hustle. … Zayne Parekh jumping up in the play to join the rush in the first period. Such good instincts. … Interesting changes on the blueline with Hanley seemingly dropping down after a sketchy outing or two, Weegar moving to his offside and Miromanov coming in. Guessing the staff isn’t happy with either Pachal or Bean at this point? Didn’t think we’d see a Miromanov start this early in the season. … Vegas with a good push to start the second. … Give the Flames credit they didn’t cave in after the Eichel goal and instead carried the play for the next half dozen minutes. … Saw our first Parekh walking the line play in the second. Great foot work. … Calgary has a huge late period kill to keep the score 2-1 and then have two glorious chances of their own in the last minute but both Kadri (block) and Andersson (bobble) fail to score … Thought Miromanov was having a decent game based on D6 expectations until he got walked by Eichel in the third period. … Surprised they didn’t challenge that play. Certainly a pad push. I think I would have done it. … Interesting to see Parekh elevated with Weegar after Miromanov lost a man the shift after the Eichel goal. Baby steps for Parekh towards a 4/5 slot on the team. And perhaps the last we see of Miromanov for a spell … Quiet night for Matvei Gridin. Not mistake laden but quiet. … Shame the Flames didn’t get a powerplay on a clear cut elbow to the head on Parekh by Sissons. I think I’m good with two and not five though as his head was down looking to keep the puck in the zone. Bit of a chicken wing, but not a full head hunt in my opinion …. Sometimes Nazem Kadri drives me crazy. His offside in the first period, his refusal to forecheck, not getting involved in a four man scrum in the offensive zone causing a turnover. Just seems disinterested in everything in the game that isn’t offence some games. … Flames just couldn’t get any flow with the goalie pulled and drop a 3-2 game after leading 2-0.
Fancy Stats
Much like the St. Louis game the Flames were more than adequate five on five, but just let the game get away from them with a failure to find that third goal with the game on the line. The Flames, five on five, had 47% (45%/50%/45%) of the shot attempts, 53% of the high danger chances, and 54% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 44% of the shot attempts, 50% of the high danger chances and 38% of the expected goals (Vegas’ powerplay significantly more dangerous than Calgary’s).
The Flames with 59.5% on the Moneypuck deserve-to-win-o’meter.
Individually, the Flames were led by Sam Honzek with an xGF% of 74% on the night. He was joined in the 70s by Joel Farabee, Mikael Backlund and Rasmus Andersson. Blake Coleman, Kevin Bahl and Joel Hanley were all in the 60s. Only seven players under water, led by Daniil Miromanov at 19% and Matvei Gridin at 29%.
