The Flames had a lot going on in the last couple of days after their 5-1 setback to the Vancouver Canucks.
Called out on morning radio by former player Rhett Warrener, calls for a coaching change, questions on their character and work ethic.
So it seemed somewhat perfect that the Edmonton Oilers were coming to town, an opponent that is pretty much guaranteed to get a rise out of the locals.
Instead we got a conservative, but solid effort from both teams in a 2-1 victory for the Edmonton Oilers without a lick of fireworks.
The two teams get back at it tomorrow night in Edmonton, perhaps that’s the tonic to ignite a little passion between these two teams.
The Line Up
You’d expect some change coming off a stinker, with the whole city questioning the team’s mental resolve. Some of those moves were expected; a start for David Rittich. Some of those moves certainly not a shocker; Connor Mackey coming back into the lineup for Nikita Nesterov. And some out of left field; Sean Monahan a late scratch with a lower body injury.
The Cage
Finally a change in goal with David Rittich making his first start since a 3-2 loss in Winnipeg on February 2nd. Jacob Markstrom needs a rest, he was average the other night against Vancouver, really for the second time this season. Other than that he’s been the team’s best player. I firmly believe David Rittich is one of the best backup goaltenders in the league. We haven’t seen it yet, but his game is in there.
Jacob Markstrom
Goals saved above average – 4.93
David Rittich
Goals saved above average – -2.04
The Blueline
On the blueline Nikita Nesterov comes out for Connor Mackey, after playing the single game against Vancouver after sitting out the previous two. Interesting to see Geoff Ward put Mark Giordano back with Rasmus Andersson to handle the Oilers top lines. Giordano had a rough start to the season, but has righted the ship some of late, and meshing with left shooting Valimaki is an interesting wrinkle. Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev have been the backbone of the team defensively and remain together. With Mackey in the lineup, he lines up with Juuso Valimaki, so it’s Rick Ball’s turn to manage the tongue twister.
Giordano – Andersson
47% xGF in 181 minutes
Hanifin – Tanev
60% xGF in 236 minutes
Mackey – Valimaki
14% xGF in 14 minutes
Up Front
With Sean Monahan’s sudden departure from the lineup just minutes before puck drop the lines got really blendered. We’ve seen lots of shuffling this year, but this was taking it to another level. Johnny Gaudreau moves up to play Elias Lindholm and Dillon Dube. The modified 3M line is reunited with Matthew Tkachuk lining up with Mikael Backlund and Andrew Mangiapane. Sam Bennett centers a rough and ready line with Milan Lucic and Brett Ritchie. And finally Byron Froese between Joakim Nordstrom and Josh Leivo.
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Dube
New Combination
Tkachuk – Backlund – Mangiapane
68% xGF in 7 minutes
Lucic – Bennett – Ritchie
New Combination
Nordstrom – Froese – Leivo
25% xGF in 14 minutes
Toes vs Chemistry
Sometimes it’s not a bad thing to have a whole bunch of new looks on a roster.
Chemistry is really important and certainly a long term angle for a hockey club, but new faces create energy and a player getting on his toes and alert as opposed to complacent or in a routine that could dull the senses.
With Calgary’s top six completely remade it was interesting to see how they’d fare against their Provincial rivals.
The Start
Not a bad start for the Flames, which really points out how often they’ve started poorly this year.
Any time a 1-0 deficit and giving up the game’s first 7 shots seems like a decent start you know the team hasn’t been getting off the blocks with any kind of regularity.
The Flames righted the ship though and came at Edmonton for much of the final 12 minutes of the period with Mike Smith standing tall against some good chances form Andrew Mangiapane and Elias Lindholm.
I liked what Geoff Ward did with the forward lines after the first period.
Brett Ritchie let his man go (JP) on the first goal, and was demoted creating some new looks. Getting Ritchie down to the fourth line gave them room to put Dillon Dube back with Sam Bennett and Milan Lucic, with Josh Leivo moving up with Lindholm and Gaudreau.
Made way more sense.
Lindholm and Gaudreau have played together, the modified 3M line has played together, so why put Dillon Dube with Elias Lindholm and Johnny Gaudreau when he has familiarity with Sam Bennett and Milan Lucic?
Rectified at any rate.
David Rittich
Honestly a pretty good start for the Flame’s backup goaltender.
He had to be sharp early with the Oilers pushing in the first six or seven minutes of the game including seven shots and an early goal.
Can’t fault him for the first goal as Brett Ritchie didn’t get his man and JP had a point blank goal.
Can’t fault him on the second goal as he made the save but was taken out the play by his diving defenseman Noah Hanifin when the rebound went in.
Hopefully a confidence builder.
Consistency
Not a bad game from a showing for 60 stand point honestly.
They didn’t get the result in a grinding game without a lot of flash and dash, but they didn’t go to sleep for any prolonged periods of time.
Early they may have been on their heels, but I thought Calgary was the equal or better team for much of the final 53 minutes.
Just didn’t get the result.
Special Teams Battle
Neither team score a goal with Calgary going zero for three and the Oilers going zero for two.
Not what one would expect when these teams get together.
Digging down the Flames had an 8-2 edge in shot attempts, a 4-1 edge in scoring chances and a 2-0 edge in high danger chances with the man advantage as the Flames completely held the Oilers powerplay in check.
Containing the Big Two
No points for either Connor McDavid nor Leon Draisaitl, which would normally be a winning formula when you play the Oilers … but not when you only score a single goal.
Have to feel for David Rittich with no run support.
Both Oiler stars had two shots on goal, McDavid with 21.5 half minutes and Draisaitl with 20 minutes.
Sam Bennett Demoted
Anything with Sam Bennett creates controversy of late, so tonight will likely be no different with Byron Froese taking over his third period role and Bennett sitting for the third period.
Bennett was -2 on the night, which isn’t what you want in a 2-1 loss.
The first goal was on Brett Ritchie for not picking up his man, but the second goal had Bennett in a position to rescue the rebound with Noah Hanifin sliding but he went to the wrong side of the net.
Bad read, certainly contributed to the goal, but is that touchy move by Ward?
Mikael Backlund Steps Up
With Sean Monahan going down players had to step up and fill roles. No player was more impactful in filling those skates than Mikael Backlund.
No points, but almost 22 minutes of ice time, some great underlying metrics and 73% in the face off circle as the veteran Flame draft pick did all that could be asked to jump up and make himself noticed.
A bounce or two and he could have had a couple of points .. firing just wide in the first and setting up Mangiapane in the second.
Counting Stats
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 21 Oilers 25
Face Offs – Flames 54%
Special Teams – Flames 0/3 Oilers 0/2
Player Stats:
Points – One point apiece from Johnny Gaudreau, Mark Giordano and Rasmus Andersson, Andersson with the goal.
Plus/Minus – Johnny Gaudreau, Josh Leivo and Elias Lindholm were all +1 on the night.
Shots – Rasmus Andersson led all Flame skaters with five shots on goal.
Fancy Stats
Very evenly played hockey game. The Flames had 51% of the five on five shot attempts with period splits of 56%/38% and 58%. High danger scoring chances five on five were even at 7-7 and the expected goal split was 43% for the Flames.
In all situations the Flames had 56% of the shot attempts, 56% of the high danger chances and an expected goal split of 50%.
Individually the Flames were led by Matthew Tkachuk with 71% on the night. Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund and Rasmus Andersson all had 60+ nights for the Flames. Dillon Dube, Juuso Valimaki, Connor Mackey and Milan Lucic were all in and around the 30% mark at the bottom of the pile.
