Sometimes things just don’t go your way.
Today’s matinee, a 3-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes, was just one of those games. The team has played many games more poorly this season and got points, but today they just couldn’t solve one of hockey’s hottest goaltenders; Darcy Kuemper.
A second period line brawl with the game 2-0 fueled an energetic Flames side to push hard in the third period, but it just wasn’t meant to be. The big issue is a two game losing streak, especially with the team heading to Vegas, a city in which they’ve never won, tomorrow night.
You don’t want to go streaking in the wrong direction.
Lineup Changes
Two big changes, with one in goal, with Cam Talbot heading back to the bench (he’ll start tomorrow likely) and David Rittich fresh off a week rest getting back in the crease. The other big change of course, is TJ Brodie to the sidelines after his collapse this week and Oliver Kylington taking his spot on the third pairing.
Up front a bit of a surprise as Bill Peters has been hinting at a Michael Frolik return to the 3M line, which will result in Andrew Mangiapane slipping down the lineup to the third line. Just my two cents but I’d stick with Mangiapane for 20 games and see what kind of chemistry that trio can develop.
With that said, a third line of Mangiapane, Derek Ryan and Sam Bennett does have a certain appeal to it.
The fourth line is unchanged with Milan Lucic, Mark Jankowski and Tobias Rieder. Alan Quine watches from the press box.
Rittich Stands Tall
Pretty even first period.
The Flames out shoot the Coyotes despite having one less powerplay, and with that a decent 0-0 road effort to start a game.
But if not for a huge save by David Rittich on a broken play two on one against Carl Soderberg, Rittich coming across and making himself big, the score is 1-0 and Calgary is playing from behind once again.
Big save from a guy that is clearly becoming a number one goaltender. The team doesn’t seem to be right this year, but adding a 27 year old goaltender to the core is huge for whatever this window is; good, bad or indifferent.
But About That Puck Handling …
Being an apprentice under a guy that was/is possibly the most skilled goalie stick handler of all time comes with a lot of perks; you get to watch and learn with every game and practice.
The problem is when you learn the opportunities to play the puck without having the same God given skill.
That ends up in chaos, as the David Rittich second period giveaway demonstrated with Patrick Stepan cashing in and giving the Coyotes a 1-0 lead.
You don’t want to be too hard on the guy as he was yet to give up a real goal, but shame to nuke his own shut out on a huge gaff.
Sportsnet Bobble
Want to add insult to injury?
Have your telecast go to the 1970s colour test screen (used to be what you saw when channels logged off for the night, millennials won’t believe that) seconds after the Rittich giveaway.
Great opportunity for fans to just sit there stewing for two reasons.
The Melee
Odd to see such a kerfuffle after basically nothing given the amount of times I’ve seen way more fierce shifts in hockey result in guys just skating away.
It all started behind the net when Jason Demers got his stick up on Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau, furious, comes back out and cross checks Demers who promptly dropped like a sack of wheat and stayed down. Gaudreau even angrier at what he perceived as a dive pushed on Demers back, and when Matthew Tkachuk came on the scene goaltender Kuemper took it as an opportunity to put his stick around his throat and take him down in a head lock.
Not to be out done, Tkachuk gets up and grabs Kuemper and drops the goaltender with a right cross to the mush all while David Rittich fought hard to get his turn to battle his counterpart in a scrap.
As I said, pretty odd string of events off of a pretty harmless exchange.
More on the Lines
So Michael Frolik is a team worst 44% CF%, turned the puck over on the second Coyotes goal, and his line was -2 on the night.
Meanwhile, Andrew Magiapane gets moved to the third line and that line pretty much dominates the second half of the game. I’m in the thinking that Peters needs to leave the second line with Mangiapane alone as I think he has been the only guy save for a glimmer from Austin Czarnik to find chemistry with the duo this season.
Sure Mangipane helped give the team a solid third line for one of the few occasions this season, but is it worth nullifying both Tkachuk and Backlund?
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 37 Coyotes 24
Face Offs – Flames 53%
Special Teams – Flames 0/3 Coyotes 1/4
Player Stats:
Points – Not hard to guess this one, every player with nada.
Plus/Minus – Matthew Tkachuk, Noah Hanifin and Travis Hamonic were all a team worst -2 on the day.
Shots – Rasmus Andersson led the way with six shots on goal, one more than Sean Monahan.
Fancy Stats
The Flames pretty much took this game over after the Coyotes made it 2-0 midway through the second period. They finished at 60% in five on five shot attempts by the end of the game on period splits of 50%/60% and 70%. Scoring chances five on five 58% Calgary, with the five on five xGF% 64% in Calgary’s favour.
In all situations (Coyotes with the extra opportunity), Calgary had 63% of the shot attempts, 59% of the scoring chances and an xGF% of 59%.
Pretty solid game for the most part, with nothing by way of finish.
Individually, Derek Ryan and Andrew Mangiapane finished above 80% on the night with scores of 82% and 81% respectively. Sam Bennett and the called up Oliver Kylington were in the 70s, an interesting note for Kylington given his partner was Michael Stone who sits at a team worst 46.88% on the season. At the bottom end, only five players had sub 50% nights, and they were Michael Frolik (44%), Mark Jankowski, Tobias Rieder, Michael Backlund and Noah Hanifin.
