Well that wasn’t pretty.
The Flames were completely out classed in Vegas on Saturday night dropping a 6-1 decision and losing their fifth straight in the early season.
Calgary remains last in the standings with 6 games ticked off of 82.
Tonight they actually had more zone time than Vegas, but when they broke down they got run over by Vegas skill and their own bone headed plays.
Dustin Wolf didn’t have a chance and was pulled after 40 minutes.
Next up the Jets on Monday night at the Dome.
That whole can’t make the playoffs in October but you can sure miss them thing is starting to become pretty real.
The Lineup
Four straight losses and the return of Jonathan Huberdeau necessitates a lot of change to a roster.
Up front Huberdeau joins Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee on the team’s top line. Morgan Frost centers the second line with Yegor Sharangovich and Matt Coronato. A third line that remains intact with Mikael Backlund between Blake Coleman and Sam Honzek. And a fourth line with Connor Zary between Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka.
On the blueline Brayden Pachal comes out for Jake Bean, with Bean pairing up with Zayne Parekh on the third pairing. No change to the top four with Joel Hanley paired with Mackenzie Weegar and Kevin Bahl teaming up with Rasmus Andersson.
Dustin Wolf returns to the nets after sitting out a game in Utah.
Stats Dive
The Flames can’t score goals, that we all know.
They couldn’t last season finishing 29th in goals on the season, and they can’t 5 games into this season with nine tallies in five games.
But why?
Five on Five:
They’re not last! When you look at five on five goals for per 60 they are 29th again, and sit above Minnesota, Edmonton and the Rangers. So there’s that.
When it comes to expected goals they’re not last either … with 8 teams behind them in per 60 rates. In fact the Flames, at 2.29 expected goals per 60 are well ahead of the Jets and Sharks who have numbers closer to 1.50. That’s ugly.
The numbers get even better when you look at the high danger stuff with the Flames sitting at 10.08 per 60, which is good enough to have 11 teams behind them with San Jose and Winnipeg again just terrible at a number under 8.
So it’s finishing right?
Absolutely is the easy answer, the rankings above put the Flames in the bottom third of the league, just not the basement, but if you’re finish rate is below average as well you’re not going to score. But thus far on the season they aren’t all that lucky either.
The Flames sit 21st in high danger finishing (shooting percentage) at 15.8%, and four teams are at 10% or lower including the Oilers at zero!
However they’re not getting the bounces when it comes to mid danger chances (ranked 31st), while their low danger chance finish is near the top of the league.
Do they lack the skill to finish low and high danger but not mid? Guessing not.
This Calgary team will NOT be an offensive team with some better puck luck, they’re just not built to fill the net. But a bounce or two is likely due moving them from near the bottom in production.
Wolf’s Start
Tough return to the nets for Wolf as he gives up two goals on his first two shots early in the first period; neither his fault.
Welcome back!
Four goals against through two periods and a mercy pull by the Flames. He didn’t have much chance, absolutely, but he’s also not stealing saves on sure goals to start the season.
Under too much pressure to hold the dam on a team that can’t score goals?
The Knights secure 1.57 expected goals in all situations through 40, but Wolf gives up 5 so it won’t be a stellar night on his season to date goals saved above average stat which was already -4.8 coming into the game.
Cooley with 1.14 in expected goals in the third and gives up one.
Odds and Sods
Want to know what not to do when you are offensively challenged as a hockey team? Get behind in the game’s first minute! Kevin Bahl with a poor backpass behind the net turns it over, resulting in Mitch Marner’s first goal as a Knight. Not a good start … Have to love the message sent by Ryan Lomberg with Colton Sissons right after the goal. It’s good from a team standpoint (standing up for each other), but it’s especially important in this case for what it does for Zayne Parekh’s sense of belonging … Early returns for Jonathan Huberdeau as he scores a powerplay goal on his second shift of the season. … Joel Farabee just can’t buy a goal. So many chances including that point blank chance off a Huberdeau pass in the first. Great save by Hill … Zayne Parekh simply electric on a late first period powerplay. You just don’t know what he’s going to do. Very edge of seat player to watch. .. Little doubt that Jonathan Huberdeau was Calgary’s best player in the first period. Skill was missed. .. Calgary does a lot right, but when they made a mistake it was big; 3-1 Vegas after 20.
Much like the two third period goals against St. Louis, the Knights go ahead on an uncovered tip from the high slot beating Dustin Wolf early in the second to make it 4-1. Wolf with no chance on the four goals on the night. … Tough to watch a team that can’t score three goals in a game trailing by three goals early. … John Garrett mentioned “former teammate Dave Lowry”. Looked it up, they were both in Vancouver around the same time, but were never teammates. Who cares I know, but it seemed odd that they could be in the same era. Looks like Garrett was done the year before Lowry’s rookie season. … Tough second period with the Flames giving up two more for a 5-1 Vegas lead through 40. Not looking good.
Devin Cooley to start the third period, which I think is an excellent decision by Ryan Huska. More time and touches for Cooley and less time on the ice for Wolf who is going to get more than enough ice time this year. … Parekh just misses high wide blocker side on a jump up four on two with the game out of reach. Fun to watch tonight despite the game being a face plant. … Thought Zary had some jump tonight. Starting to move the puck up the ice well like we saw last season. He won’t be on the fourth line long. … Kind of crazy that Sam Honzek is still pointless in his NHL career. He’s had a lot of good looks. … Devan Cooley pretty solid in mop up. Zero chance on the Vegas powerplay goal; their third PP goal in three chances. Calgary PK just shredded on the night. … Matvei Gridin scored 37 seconds into his first AHL game tonight. Nothing wrong with that start. …. Fun watching a frustrated Flames throwing the kitchen sink at the Knights in the third period. Loosey goosey hockey but fun to watch. … Calgary loses five straight with a 6-1 setback in Vegas. Tough start to the season continues.
Fancy Stats
It’s one thing if you can’t score goals, but you sure had better prevent them going the other way if you want to stay in games. The Flames were awful defensively tonight, getting run over on the scoreboard and in the underlying stats. The Flames, five on five, had 55% (61%/38%/68%) of the shot attempts, 33% of the high danger chances, and 40% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 54% of the shot attempts, 35% of the high danger chances and 42% of the expected goals
The Flames with 41% on the Moneypuck deserve-to-win-o’meter.
Individually, the Flames were led by Joel Hanley with an xGF% of 62% on the night. He was joined in the 60s by Joel Farabee with another solid play driving night. The only other players above 50% were Yegor Sharangovich and Nazem Kadri. Three players under 30% on the night; Adam Klapka, Kevin Bahl and Blake Coleman.
