Break up the Calgary Flames?
Some timely goal scoring and some top notch goaltending proved to be too much for the Vancouver Canucks despite hosting a tired team that arrived at 230AM to their hotel rooms in a 5-2 win by the Flames.
The victory gives the Flames their first three game win streak of the season, as they start out a long road trip that heads to Tampa for a game on Wednesday.
The Flames got goals from Morgan Frost, Connor Zary, Kevin Bahl, Yegor Sharangovich and Blake Coleman.
Dustin Wolf was air tight in net.
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 chart below is the goals / game for his rookie season compared to his start this year.
After a great start, he fell on hard times (was a healthy scratch once) and was seeing his season slip away. Then he found it again … and with that he’s actually at a higher goal per game pace by game number this year than he was last year.
Additionally, his goal / game pace now is actually higher than at any point last season.
If you project the current pace to 81 games he lands on 29.5 goals on the season.
Given the trajectory of his season I think 30 looks very possible, 25 pretty much a guarantee, and 35 not out of the question.
Solid turn around to his season.
Wolf’s Start
This could have been a different game if not for Dustin Wolf’s play in the last 5 minutes of the first period, and the first 5 minutes of the second. Vancouver had all kinds of pressure, shots and opportunities but were blanked by Wolf through the ten minutes.
From there the Flames took it away with three straight goals.
He gave up a goal on his first shot, and then a third period goal but that was all that got by him in picking up the win.
A bit of a goalie battle internally with Devin Cooley picking up back to back wins. Wolf answers.
Vancouver with 3.02 in all situations expected goals, but only beat Wolf twice.
Odds and Sods
Flames with a solid first shift, as the Huberdeau trio locks into a forecheck and enjoys some zone time. … But it’s the Canucks that open the scoring on their first shot of the game wit Hronek taking advantage of a two on one and beating Wolf high glove side. … Matt Coronato wearing a full face bubble tonight after the Rantanen hit from behind last night. Sure looks like a broken nose to go with stitches. … I really liked Beecher’s first shift tonight. He may be more at home at center. … The Flames tie it up when Coronato makes a smart pass across the blueline to Andersson who puts a puck in the deflection area of Morgan Frost. Game tied at one. … Andersson now has ten points in his last 5 games to move into a tie for 12th in league scoring by blueliners. He’s tied for 6th in defenseman goal scoring. Making a pretty good trade return case. … The Flames go up 2-1 when Connor Zary cruised through the crease and found a loose puck after a Mikael Backlund attempt; his first goal since the curtain lifter. You could tell by his reaction it was a monkey off the back goal. … Flames with the lead after 20 with some solid goaltending by Dustin Wolf; expected goals in the first 1.39 to 0.93 for Vancouver.
Neither player will become a core piece, but it’s sure good to see both Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee play more like the 1/2 point per game players the Flames thought they were acquiring. Frost has 13 points in 24 games after his goal tonight, Farabee back of the mark but coming on with three goals in his last three games. … Vancouver with some early pressure in the second period, but Wolf stands tall. … Calgary gets a powerplay and moves the puck pretty well but can’t find that third goal. … Calgary goes up 3-1 when Kevin Bahl completes a great cycle shift on a pass from Nazem Kadri. Evander Kane gets an unsportsmanlike call right after. That’s not easy to do right after getting scored on, the refs usually have a bit more rope. Have to wonder what he said to Andersson. Have to wonder what Andersson did to receive the attention … Flames make it 4-1 when Sharangovich converts a Rasmus Andersson point shot. Andersson with his third point of the night. … Wouldn’t be surprised to see Sharangovich at 20 goals this season despite the horrendous start. He found it last year and almost made that mark with a late push. … Flames up 4-1, expected goals through 40 at 1.84 to 1.64 for Calgary. Not a great night for Lankenen.
Flames with a methodical start to the third period up three goals. Not giving up much and keeping it simple … Wonder how many times Jason York said “stick on puck” in a five minute span early in the third. … Coleman pretty much puts it away with a shorthanded goal to make it 5-1, a two point night for Coleman giving him 300 in his career. … Vancouver with a quick powerplay goal right after making it 5-2. … Morgan Frost with a filthy move around a Canucks defender only to put the puck off the crossbar. … Vancouver pulls the goalie with just under five minutes to play in an attempt to erase a three goal deficit. … Neither team score on the extended empty net period, Flames win the game 5-2.
Fancy Stats
Solid road game for the Flames. They gave up some shot volume, but kept things to the perimeter and won the battle of the high danger stuff in disposing of the Vancouver Canucks. The Flames, five on five, had 40% (38%/56%/29%) of the shot attempts, 63% of the high danger chances and 53% of the expected goal split. In all situations they had 41% of the shot attempts, 55% of the high danger chances, and 47% of the expected goal split.
The Flames with 46% on the Moneypuck deserve-to-win-o’meter.
Individually, the Flames were led by Mikael Backlund and Connor Zary with an xGF% of 85% on the night. Blake Coleman was just behind at 73%. Kevin Bahl and Rasmus Andersson were in the 60s. Two players under 30% on the night; Ryan Lomberg and John Beecher.
