The moral victories are mattering less and less every night.
The Flames show up. They carry the play for the majority of most games. They find a way to lose.
Today in Nashville the Flames spotted the Predators a 3-0 lead in the first period, pulled their starter, and then battled back in the third period to make it interesting before falling 4-2 as a final.
The Flames got goals from Jonathan Huberdeau and Joel Farabee and excellent relief goaltending from Devin Cooley in the second and third periods.
Next up for the Flames their final game on the trip in Philly tomorrow at 5pm MST.
The Lineup
No change from the overtime loss in Ottawa.
Two lines with no change; Nazem Kadri between Jonathan Huberdeau and Morgan Frost, and Mikael Backlund with Sam Honzek and Blake Coleman. A new third line of Yegor Sharangovich up the middle with Joel Farabee and Matt Coronato, and the regular fourth line of Justin Kirkland with Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka.
Only one pairing stays the same; Kevin Bahl with Rasmus Andersson and then two new pairings of Joel Hanley with Mackenzie Weegar and Jake Bean with Brayden Pachal.
Dustin Wolf back in net for the Flames.
Roster Decisions
Is Zayne Parekh banged up? Or are the Flames considering sending him back to the OHL? Both are possible for sure but the timing around game number 9 is certainly somewhat coincidental.
I think many thought that he wouldn’t play 82 games this year, which was solidified by missing the first two starts of the season. But if this is a in and out thing that has him at 55-60 games this year, I’m not sold that it’s a wasted development year. Takes time, especially as a teen ager on the blueline.
And to add to that what’s up with Connor Zary?
From the third line to centering the fourth line, to a top six role, to a healthy scratch in two straight games? He didn’t have the best of training camps and hasn’t found that gear yet this year that we saw before his injuries last year. So maybe a sit down is warranted.
Will be interesting to monitor.
Wolf’s Start
Not the start that Dustin Wolf wanted. Two goals on five shots through ten+ minutes of the first period and a three goals in the first period on 11 shots and pulled after 20.
Are we getting worried about this yet?
I think the number of goaltenders that have struggled in sophomore seasons proves the adjustment is real. He’s too good a technical goaltender and student of the game to not get better.
Cooley solid in the second period in relief despite not getting a tonne of work.
Final numbers for both goaltenders … Wolf with 0.95 in all situations expected goals and he gave up three. Cooley with 1.72 in expected goals and he pitched a 2/3 game shut out.
More rope for Cooley.
Odds and Sods
A pretty quiet start to the game with with neither team accomplishing much in the first handful of minutes. … The Flames take the game’s first penalty when Jake Bean gets called for tripping in an attempt to lay out and poke the puck off of Forsberg’s stick. … The woeful Nashville powerplay didn’t generate a shot on goal up a man so the game stays scoreless. … Too much time in their own zone after the kill, as Nashville keeps the pressure on. … Flames with some decent territorial pressure to answer back. … The Predators open the scoring when Bunting tips what looks like a harmless point shot home midway through the first period …. Less than a minute later it’s 2-0 Nashville with Wood scoring high on Wolf. Seems like maybe a weak one. ,,, A Kevin Bahl penalty send the Preds back to another powerplay. The Flames come close shorthanded when Backlund works his way in, but then he and Coleman get caught and a three on two the other way makes it 3-0 Predators. … Flames with some decent flow five on five, but down 3-0 through 20 minutes.
Devin Cooley starts the second period for the Flames which I think is smart. For one, Dustin Wolf wasn’t razor sharp in the first period, but two, why not get Cooley some minutes (and Wolf less) in relief this season more often. Good way to keep Wolf from getting too much work … Calgary with another minor penalty; Morgan Frost with a high stick … Flames not giving up as they post the first five shots of the second period but can’t put one behind Soros. … Flames dominate a four on four but come up empty, however at the tail end of it the Predators take their penalty of the game. … A prideful period without much to show for it for the Flames. They out shoot the Predators 14-7 but the game remains 3-0 Nashville.
The Flames jump to the attack to lead off the third period as well, with some blendered forward lines, primarily a flip of Matt Coronato and Nazem Kadri between lines one and two. … The Flames finally get on the scoreboard when Jonathan Huberdeau finds a rebound off a Jake Bean point shot to bring the Flames within two and make the finish a little more interesting. … The Flames keep plugging away and are rewarded again when Nazem Kadri finds Joel Farabee on his off wing for a one timer that beats Soros high. Flames trail 3-2 with time on the clock to tie things up. … Officials give Rasmus Andersson a somewhat sketchy tripping penalty with just three minutes to go making the final mile of the comeback a little more difficult. … Flames lose 4-2 with a Nashville empty netter.
Fancy Stats
You may have heard this story before, but the Flames had the better numbers in terms of shot metrics five on five, but not the finish or the prevention to get things done. The Flames, five on five, had 63% (65%/56%/61%) of the shot attempts, 53% of the high danger chances, and 57% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 57% of the shot attempts, 50% of the high danger chances and 51% of the expected goals.
The Flames with 65% on the Moneypuck deserve-to-win-o’meter.
Individually, the Flames were led by Blake Coleman with an xGF% of 89% on the night. He was joined in the 80s by Mikael Backlund, Sam Honzek and Joel Hanley. Jake Bean was in the 70s. Two players under 30%; Justin Kirkland and Nazem Kadri.
