Tough to win a game when you spot a competitive team four goals in the first period.
The Flames did just that in Tampa on Wednesday night, and predictably went on to lose the game 5-1.
The loss breaks up a three game win streak for the Flames, and evens their five game road trip at 1-1-0 through two games.
Back channels suggest the Flames extended GM Craig Conroy for two years behind the scenes which is much more impactful than any on ice action tonight.
Calgary moves on to play the Panthers on Friday afternoon in their next stop on this trip.
The Lineup
Only one change after the Flames beat the Stars last night in a shootout, and that’s Sam Morton out for Ryan Lomberg. Lomberg sat the last two games.
Up front it’s Morgan Frost with Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato, Nazem Kadri with Yegor Sharangoivch and Joel Farabee, Mikael Backlund with Connor Zary and Blake Coleman, and a fourth line of John Beecher between Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka.
On the blueline it’s status quo; Kevin Bahl with Rasmus Andersson, Yan Kuztensov with Mackenzie Weegar and Jake Bean taking a seat for Joel Hanley who lines up with Brayden Pachal.
Dustin Wolf in net for the Flames.
Stats Dive
The Calgary Flames aren’t doing this with mirrors.
Over the past number of hockey games the team has some pretty impressive numbers, especially in how they defend five on five.
Defensively, when you compare November to October (both months 12 games to date) you see a reduction in most metrics. They give up just under 3 less shot attempts per game, one less shot per game, and one less high danger chance per game. Sounds like small potatoes, but the trend is moving the team into elite defensive categories.
Over the last ten games played by all franchises the Flames are 3rd in xGA60, 5th in expected scoring chances per 60 and 2nd in expected high danger chances per 60.
With those trends the goaltending looks to be finding their footing, as the team is ranked 12th in five on five save percentage in those ten games.
The catch? The club is s still ranked near the bottom (26th) in shooting percentage which makes it tough to run up wins and dig out of a deep hole.
Not sure the dressing room issues listed earlier this season are a thing with this level of buy in.
Wolf’s Start
Didn’t last long!
Dustion Wolf gave up three goals on five shots early before getting pulled for Devin Cooley.
Cooley goes the rest of the way (almost 55 minutes) and gives up two more in the Flames loss.
The Flames tandem gave up five goals vs 3.21 in expected goals in all situations for a less than stellar night overall for the two dudes between the pipes.
Wolf had two tipped by him.
Cooley was solid despite giving up two.
Nothing to see here.
Odds and Sods
Not the start you draw up for a road game after three striagh twins. The Bolts score two quick goals on Dustin Wolf on three shots to take a commanding 2-0 lead just 100 seconds into the game. Wolf gave up a goal on the first shot in Vancouver on Sunday night as well, and then settled right down. … Shot five goes in as well, a redirection accidentally by Kevin Bahl and just like that we’re looking at a goaltending change. Good move by Huska, fault or not (not in this case), you don’t need your starter in a 3-0 game. … A few minutes later it’s 4-0 Tampa with a goal leaking through Cooley. Not going well, clearly. … 24-0 pace!. … Calgary gets to settle things down with back to back to back powerplays, stopping the skid, but not climbing back into things.
Flames shorthanded for 70 seconds to start the period, but then get 170 seconds of their own powerplay when Joel Farabee is high sticked by Kucherov. Not a good sign as they get blanked making the Flames 0/4.5 on the powerplay with only six shots in the game, down 4-0. … Not much doubt in my mind, Devin Cooley looks like an NHL goaltender. Solid in every appearance this year, and a difference maker keeping the score where it is/was in the second period. … Sounds like a Conroy extension of two years, that should appease some of the fan’s angst that we’ve seen in the last ten days. Well deserved, but wish it was a four year extension to clear the decks for the next 5 years. Either way the guy isn’t exiting, which is the big point. …
The Flames start the third period down a man, but it’s Joel Farabee shorthanded who breaks the shutout string for Vailevsky. Flames down 4-1 and coming back! Ok probably not but you have to start somewhere. … Flames banging away after busting the doughnut but can’t solve the Tampa goaltender again to make it close … Talk about score effects, the Flames had a 28-16 shot advantage after the Tampa 3-0 goal in the first period. … Tampa makes it 5-1 on a two on one late in the third to put away game that was already put away …
Fancy Stats
Score effects helped the Flames on this night, clearly. They churned up some pretty good stats on the night after getting down 4-0 in the first period with the Bolts. The Flames, five on five, had 51% (29%/44%/69%) of the shot attempts, 70% of the high danger chances and 64% of the expected goal split. In all situations they had 51% of the shot attempts, 69% of the high danger chances, and 62% of the expected goal split.
The Flames with 63% on the Moneypuck deserve-to-win-o’meter. Spot the opposition a four goal lead and then drive the play the rest of way right?
Individually, the Flames were led by Yan Kuznetsov with an xGF% of 90% on the night; another stellar night from the rookie. In the 80s we saw Mackenzie Weegar and Yegor Sharangovich. Four players in the 70s; Connor Zary, Jonathan Huberdeau, Brayden Pachal, and Morgan Frost. Three players under 30%; Rasmus Andersson, Adam Klapka and Ryan Lomberg.
