When you play a trash period it’s hard to win a hockey game.
For the second straight game against the Pacific fodder Kings the Calgary Flames mailed in a period completely, and it cost them the hockey game.
Just over a week ago the Flames were out shot 20-3 in the first period, almost recovered but lost the game in overtime.
Tonight they were out shot 20-3 in the second period, but gave up three goals, a lead that was insurmountable in losing a listless and disappointing 4-1 setback in Los Angeles on Saturday night.
Can’t imagine Bill Peters will be happy with that one. Will be more than a little interesting to see how they respond in Anaheim tomorrow night.
Line Up Changes
Only one change in the Flame’s lineup tonight, and that’s due to injury with Andrew Mangiapane coming out with what is thought to be a concussion which came on an ugly fall on Thursday night against the Wings. Replacing him in the lineup is Tobias Reider.
The injury leaves the cap challenged Flames with no healthy forward scratches, and only Michael Stone as an extra.
Milan Lucic takes Mangiapane’s place on the third line with Derek Ryan and Sam Bennett. Reider slots into Lucic’s spot on the fourth line with Mark Jankowski and Austin Czarnik.
No changes to the defense pairings and David Rittich starts game number eight of nine on the season.
Rough Start Again
For the fifth time in nine games to start the season the Flames give up the first goal of the game, and quite early, this one coming just a minute and a half into the first period.
The team did stabilize however, and carried most of the middle of the period, coming very close on a few different occasions, especially on their two powerplays.
The season is still early, but they need to nip this in the bud. No point in playing from behind every night.
Horrific Second
Just don’t get that second period.
The Flames play an above average first period, they took it to LA for the most part, and then come out and get completely outclassed to the start the second.
They should be able to beat the Kings, but spotting them a 3-0 lead early in the second in both meetings with the Kings this season isn’t the way to do it.
Giving them a 4-0 lead was certainly not a step in the right direction.
David Rittich’s Performance
When a goalie gives up four goals in two periods he clearly didn’t “have a night”, but in this case I’m not sure how much onus I’d put on the stopper.
I didn’t love how he handled the second goal, but the Flames were under siege in the second and he did what he could.
Was interesting watching to see if they’d flip Cam Talbot into the net and do a re-set for David Rittich tomorrow night in Anaheim.
What’s Up With the Big Boys?
In the playoffs the Flames best players were clearly outplayed by the Avalanche.
Tonight in L.A. it was pretty much the same things. Goals for Kovalchuk and Kopitar and nothing from the Flames top two lines as they were pointless and thoroughly outplayed for most of the game.
Usually an LA matchup drags Matthew Tkachuk into the game, and the team feeds off it. Tonight not a single firework when the game was in doubt and a pretty meek night for the Flames best players.
Not enough.
Face Off Woes
Another night on the wrong side of the split in the dots.
Last season the Flames were money in the face off circle with Derek Ryan, Elias Lindholm, and Sean Monahan leading the way, as the Flames finished third in the league for face offs.
Through the start of this season, the exact opposite. Monahan is off to a good start but the rest of the crew has been between average to terrible. The team is ranked third last in the early part of the season.
Peters is a big faceoff guy, you need the puck to get things done. Not happening.
Powerless Play
Calgary’s powerplay could have altered the course of this game with three chances in the first period.
Instead they come up empty, and then add insult to injury by adding a back breaking shorthanded goal in the second period to take the game away.
Last year the Flames powerplay (and penalty kill) was a sore spot, and it doesn’t look like Ward’s unit is getting it done again this season.
Doughty / Tkachuk
After a quiet night things finally got going on the Doughty / Tkachuk front when a melee broke out late in the third period.
Tkachuk taking the puck down the wall was hip checked by Drew Doughty in a pretty obvious attempt to suplex the Flames winger. Tkachuk when crashing down grabbed Doughty, then climbed on top of him and delivered a cross check as Kyle Clifford jumped in as the third guy. From there a third King came in only to see Giordano go airborn to take him off the pile just as Rasmus Andersson dove in and grabbed Clifford to settle a score from earlier in the night.
At least there was that to watch in a miserable game.
Team Discipline
The Flames have had a tough start to the season when it comes to staying out of the box.
Through nine games, they’ve only had one night with more powerplays and another where the chances were even. Tonight they give up seven minors including two from their goaltender in a game that got away from them.
Just not good enough.
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 36 Kings 28
Face Offs – Flames 52%
Special Teams – Flames 2/5 Kings 0/2
Player Stats:
Points – One guy with a point. Mikael Backlund on a penalty shot in the third period ruins Johnathan Quick’s shut out bid.
Plus/Minus – Some players actually managed to post a flat/zero on the night, quite the feat in that mess.
Shots – Elias Lindholm led the way with three shots on goal.
Fancy Stats
Funny night for underlying stats as the Flames second period was atrocious enough to completely offset a pretty decent first and third period. The final five on five shot attempts finished at 50% with period splits of 61%/33%/and 61%. Jekyll and Hyde right? High danger chances finished 6-8 with the Kings running up a 7-0 margin in the second period.
In all situations the Flames had 48% of the shot attempts.
Calgary finished with 48% in xGF% on the night.
Individually, the Flames were led by Sam Bennett with 82%, but on only 7 minutes of ice time. Milan Lucic, Tobias Reider and TJ Brodie were in the 60s. Derek Ryan, Matthew Tkachuk and Michael Frolik finished under 40%.
