Two straight home games with 5-1 victories.
Two straight wins overall, for the first time this season as the Flames turn back the Jackets on Saddledome ice.
But don’t be fooled; this wasn’t a dominant Flames victory as much as it was a timely goal and expertly played contest by their number one goaltender Dustin Wolf.
The game was about Nazek Kadri, of course, who played in games 1000, and was awarded the silver stick before the game. He didn’t disappoint scoring on a two on one in the second period.
Flames host the Hawks on Friday night to see if they can stretch their only win streak of the season to three.
The Lineup
Although he was practicing on the fourth pairing yesterday, Yan Kuznetsov is getting into his first game of the season, and 2nd game in his career tonight.
Up front it’s Morgan Frost between Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato (tried this on night one but bailed on it quickly), Nazim Kadri with Connor Zary and Joel Farabee, Mikael Backlund with Sam Honzek and Blake Coleman, and a new fourth line of Yegor Sharangovich between Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka.
On the blueline it’s the same two top pairings; Joel Hanley with Mackenzie Weegar and Kevin Bahl with Rasmus Andersson. The third pairing of new comer Yan Kuznetsov with Brayden Pachal.
Dustin Wolf back in the nets playing well in a quiet night in Philly.
Stats Dive
Devin Cooley is slowly amassing a pretty solid start to his Calgary Flames career.
He’s only appeared in four games, but has yet to have a stinker of a period in any of those occasions.
Impressively, he’s built a goals saved above average of +4.3 in limited minutes (not adjusted for time).
Digging into Calgary goaltending by shot type:
Low Danger Shots/60
Cooley 10.7
Wolf 11.4
Similar shot load in low danger.
Low Danger – Expected Save %
Cooley .965
Wolf .972
Both goaltenders getting similar team defense.
Low Danger – Actual Save %
Cooley .976
Wolf .970
Low danger not the issue.
Medium Danger – Expected Save %
Cooley .883
Wolf .878
Both goaltenders getting similar team defense.
Medium Danger Shots/60
Cooley 6.3
Wolf 6.0
Similar shot load in medium danger.
Medium Danger – Actual Save %
Cooley .969
Wolf .800
Huge disparity in medium danger results.
High Danger Shots/60
Cooley 5.8
Wolf 6.9
Significant increase in % of high danger shots against Wolf.
High Danger – Expected Save %
Cooley .727
Wolf .702
Wolf facing more high danger shots (or more dangerous high danger shots?)
High Danger – Actual Save %
Cooley .769
Wolf .735
Smaller disparity.
Is Dustin Wolf not playing as big this season? Normal sophomore goalie jinx?
Wolf’s Start
Without Dustin Wolf playing extremely well to start the second period with the score 2-1, this is likely a different finish.
Instead of the Jackets getting awarded for running the Flames show in the first half dozen minutes of the middle frame, the Flames score two goals to take a three goal lead to the third period.
All told the Jackets have 3.86 in expected goals all situations and Wolf gives up just the one first period Columbus goal.
Kuznetsov’s 2nd NHL Game
Lots to like in the data, as Yan Kuznetsov was one of Calgary’s better players statistically both in expected numbers and in the fact that he had his first NHL point (assist) on the Adam Klapka goal.
Eye test had him handling the puck a bit like deflated beach ball on most shifts. Lots of tense moments and unnerved plays as the defensive defenseman tries to settle in.
In all fairness it wasn’t an easy game to play for a guy you’re not supposed to notice with his team getting hemmed in often.
Would like to see the player after five games; hopefully he gets a run to prove if he’s ready or not.
Nazem Kadri
It’s been a ride right?
That first season where it looked like he quit on Darryl Sutter at the end of the season, to back to back highly productive season that seemed to defy his years on the planet.
From a spooky contract that was untradeable to a player that is mentioned by Elliot Friedman every Saturday as one of the most sought after centers that may be available on the market.
On the ice and off, it’s never been boring.
The player brings it, he’s had a great rub off effect on some of the younger players, and he’ll be remembered as a great Flames when and or if he moves on.
Odds and Sods
Kadri doesn’t waste any time in getting after it with the first shift in his 1000th game. He takes a pass from Zadri humms into the Jacket’s zone and almost toe drags himself into a scoring chance. … The Flames do score on the next shift when Coronato lugs the puck around the zone before finding Huberdeau at the point; Huberdeau’s shot tipped in my Morgan Frost just 56 seconds in. … Thirty seconds later it’s 2-0 Calgary when Blake Coleman gets a shot through traffic after the Flames hemmed the Jackets in. … Frost with an electric move through the defense to draw a penalty. … Man it still hurts that Sean Monahan is no longer a Flame. … Jackets score shorthanded when Rasmus Andersson make a terrible call defending on a powerplay turnover. … Jackets build momentum after the shorthanded goal and take it to the Flames in middle ten minutes of the period, but Wolf stands tall. … The first period tonight didn’t even seem like the same sport as the game in Philly. Way better flow, way more action. Flames lead 2-1 through 20.
Columbus all over the Flames to start the second period. It felt like shift after shift the puck was in the Flames zone and Dustin Wolf under siege, but keeping his team up a goal. … Eight minutes in though Kadri finds his moment when he and Farabee break in on a two on one with Farabee finding Kadri who roofs it for a 3-1 goal on his big night. … The goal seemed to get the Flames going again as the fourth line strikes right after with Adam Klapka scoring on a two one one; 4-1 Flames. Klapka after scoring jumps into the glass sending four panes leaning towards the fans by about 20 degrees. Eek! … Monahan hurt with a handful of minutes left in the second in a pretty innocent board rub out from Rasmus Andersson. The player has never had any injury luck, glad he came back. … Honzek getting more and more fun to watch. Calgary has a player there. … Flames lead 4-1 after 40. Jackets with most of the underlying numbers pointing their way; 2.15 to 1.86 in all situations expected goals.
Jackets with an early powerplay chance to start the third period, forcing Dustin Wolf again to make several solid saves to keep his team up three. This game was not a three goal gap game. … Wolf show continues through the middle of the third period, with the tender and his post getting it done. … Matt Coronato is looking a lot stronger on his stick these days. Confidence returning? …. Flames get a mid period powerplay, and have a quick chance off a Kadri rebound, but fail to put the game away. .. Calgary hits the empty net when Mikael Backlund takes advantage of a Jacket turnover to put things away. Flames win 5-1.
Fancy Stats
Dustin Wolf saves the day? The Flames were thoroughly outplayed for most of the night, and especially the last half of the contest, but are bailed out by timely scoring and some elite goaltending from their stopper. The Flames, five on five, had 38% (47%/33%/29%) of the shot attempts, 41% of the high danger chances, and 45% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 41% of the shot attempts, x% of the high danger chances and 44% of the expected goals.
The Flames with 48% on the Moneypuck deserve-to-win-o’meter.
Individually, the Flames were led by Yan Kuznetsov with an xGF% of 69% on the night. He was joined in the 60s by Mikael Backlund and Morgan Frost. Two players under the 30% mark; Yegor Sharangovich and Adam Klapka.
