It’s a cliche but that doesn’t make it any less true; points in October matter just as much as points in April.
A bad start can lead to a bad season, and conversely a blazing hot start can set up a huge season for a hockey team.
Last night’s 3-2 come from behind shoot out winner in Dallas doesn’t save the Flames from the former or solidify the latter, but it does provide an important result along with the comeback against L.A. on Tuesday. The Flames could be 1-3-0 at this point with a lot of head scratching. Instead, although they’re far from firing on all cylinders their start reads as 2-1-1 which allows a coaching staff some breathing room to work on things.
Calgary erased a 2-0 early third period Dallas lead on goals by Elias Lindholm on a powerplay and Noah Hanifin on a rush to send the game in overtime, where Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau stood tall along with goaltender David Rittich who go the game to a shoot out with an overtime penalty shot stop.
Line Up Changes
Lots of change after the team’s 4-3 overtime loss against the Kings on Tuesday night.
Out of the lineup is Oliver Kylington, though I wonder if his removal has more to do with promoting Rasmus Andersson and getting the correct lefty righty pairings than an admonishment of the young Swede’s play. Andersson as I say is promoted to the top pairing with Mark Giordano and Michael Stone sees his first action of the season, on the right side with TJ Brodie.
Up front they start how they finished with Andrew Mangiapane; Calgary’s possession darling to start the season, lining up with Matthew Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund. Sam Bennett skates with Derek Ryan and Milan Lucic. And finally Mark Jankowski between Michael Frolik and Tobias Reider.
David Rittich gets the start for the fourth straight game to start the season.
The Mangiapane Opportunity
Two nights ago the opportunity was Sam Bennett’s, but a team wide lethargic start to the game led to some blendering and with that Bennett slid back down the lineup. He didn’t do himself any favours with some late penalties, including the one that led to the King’s powerplay winner in overtime.
Andrew Mangiapane only played 17 minutes total in the first two games, with Bill Peters referring to the winger as playing well and needing more ice time. His move up the roster against the Kings played a role in the team’s comeback so it’s only natural he’d lineup tonight on the second line again.
Tonight the line with Mangiapane inserted finished +1, scoring the game tying goal, and had a few noticeable shifts. Mangiapane finished with the +1 but no scoring points. Certainly a passing grade, and one has to hope it’s more than just a one game trial to see if the young guy fits.
The Andersson Promotion
Not good?
Certainly won’t blame the failure of any of the Calgary defensemen to have a good night on Rasmus Andersson, but the switch up seemed to leave most of the defense corps in disarray.
The maintained pair of Noah Hanifin and Travis Hamonic were all right, but the two new pairs (Brodie – Stone and Giordano – Andersson) didn’t have their best nights, Giordano dragged below the 50% mark in shot attempts as a measure.
I like Michael Stone as a depth add, but maybe this team needs TJ Brodie in the top pairing a little while longer.
Speaking of Noah Hanifin
Who is this guy?
We’ve heard reporters pull information out of the young defenseman as to how he’s watching Mark Giordano, especially on the offensive side of the puck. It looks like that and some off season work on his shot have made the ex Hurricane a different player. His jump up in the play gave Mikael Backlund an outlet when his most likely option was a forced shot into a huge goaltender for an empty net goal. But it’s not just the early season production, it really looks like Hanifin is taking a step towards being a clear top four play driving defenseman this year.
That Lindholm guy worked out pretty well too, this Carolina/Calgary trade could turn out to be a franchise course altering move.
Off the Blocks
Progress right?
The Flames didn’t exactly run the Dallas Stars out of the building to start the game, but they did run up a 6-1 shot advantage and carried the play for the game’s first five minutes; a much better start than we’ve seen so far this year.
They did take a penalty mid period that gave the Stars some momentum, but managed to kill it off and survive the first period with a scoreless draw.
All in all, a step in the right direction.
Sam Bennett Turnover
The guy seems to be a lightning rod for good and bad on a regular basis, so his start to this season should come as no surprise.
Early he needed more ice time and fans clamoured for a move up the roster.
Then he got the opportunity, it didn’t last long and he took two penalties that led to an over time loss.
Last night another silly penalty and a terrible toe drag turnover that created a three on two for the Stars and the game’s first goal.
To me the solution is simple. His identity is an up and down guy that is tough to play against. Simplify the puck game, up the energy and just let the points come. He’s killing himself with some bad decision making.
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 29 Stars 36
Face Offs – Flames 36%
Special Teams – Flames 1/2 Stars 1/4
Player Stats:
Points – Michael Backlund, Matthew Tkachuk, Elias Lindholm, Mark Giordano and Noah Hanifin all pick up a point tonight to lead the way.
Plus/Minus – Backlund, Tkachuk, Magiapane, Hanifin and Stone were all +1.
Shots – Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau led with 5 shots.
Fancy Stats
The Flames held the fort, but were on the heels most of the way. Final shot attempts finished 56% for the Stars with Calgary period splits of 50%/35% and 46%. A lot of the Dallas attack was shot attempts without sustained scoring chances however, which could be seen by the tight 8-7 margin for the Stars in terms of high danger chances.
In all situations, the Stars with over twice the powerplay time in the game had 61% of the shot attempts and 59% (13-9) of the scoring chances.
Individually, not a good night for Calgary skaters as well, as you’d imagine. Mark Jankowski led the way with 75% CF%, but that comes with a qualifier as he only hit the ice for five minutes. Noah Hanifin had a 61% mark, and his defense partner Travis Hamonic was 57%. At the bottom TJ Brodie, Michael Stone and Sam Bennett all finished with less than 30%.
