This was never going to be easy.
The team was always going to be challenged to score, even if they out played their opponents from pretty much whistle to whistle.
Through two games on the schedule we’ve seen exactly that. An eye popping total of 90 shots on goal through two games but only four goals to show for it and ultimately only one point as the Flames blew a third period 2-1 lead tonight to the Anaheim Ducks, losing in overtime by a 3-2 score.
A little more finish and they win.
A little more puck luck and they win.
But sometimes a lack of overall finishing talent trumps luck and there’s not a lot you can do.
We will see.
The Lineup
The Flames had Tyler Pitlick and Brad Richardson both take part in the morning skate, so the team is getting healthier in the bottom six. Neither are expected to play tonight, however.
With the return of Blake Coleman the Flames have eight of their top nine in the lineup. I’d assume Coleman will move into the top six, but the team is looking to keep the continuity from last week’s practices and the top six as is for now.
So with that it’s the same top line of Elias Lindholm between Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, a second line of Sean Monahan between Andrew Mangiapane and Dillon Dube, and a new third line with Mikael Backlund between Coleman and Milan Lucic. The fourth line would feature Glen Gawdin between Trevor Lewis and Brett Ritchie. Amazing how much deeper that looks with Coleman back.
On the blueline it looks like Oliver Kylington is the scratch, leaving Juuso Valimaki to skate with Erik Gudbranson on the third pair, Noah Hanifin with Rasmus “Heat Butt” Andersson, and Chris Tanev with Nikita Zadorov in the middle pairing.
Jakob Markstrom gets the start in goal.
Kylington Gate
Honestly I get it.
It’s way more exciting to see a young player with upside get a chance than a tired out old warhorse with very little surprises expected. I’ve been at this web community thing a long time, and you see it every generation of the team … I’ve always called it the Dustin Boyd syndrome.
So it was good to see some Darryl Sutter comments clarifying why Kylington is scratched tonight.
Fans won’t like it. But if Sutter gets the best out of Kylington in the end it will all be worthwhile. That is if he doesn’t demand a trade in frustration!
Either way it sounds like he’s going to get his chance. Hopefully he listens to the marching orders and stays within his lane; the team needs his skill set.
Rasmus Coming Out Party
Before the game Darryl Sutter through some shade Geoff Ward’s way as he’s been apt to do, about his handling of the defensemen last year. Basically said he set up some to fail and specifically Rasmus Andersson with the anointed first pairing job and running the powerplay.
He later went on to say Andersson is the team’s number one defenseman in a lot of ways, and that he’s ready now.
Yeah I guess so.
Andersson played 26+ minutes tonight, almost a full six minutes than any other skater as he locked down 17 minutes of solid five on five hockey, and another nine minutes on special teams.
Many have said that a Rasmus Andersson bounce back was key to the team’s fortunes this season. So far so good on that front.
Blake Coleman Debut
Was good to see Blake Coleman in Calgary silks for his first regular season game and he didn’t disappoint.
Sprung in the first period with an exhausted Ryan Getzlaf chasing, Coleman made short work of the Duck’s captain before beating John Gibson under the arm for his first goal in Calgary colours.
I think he may have run out of gas in the second half of the game and isn’t fully up to game speed, but he was solid in his first showing, leading the team in most possession stats as expected.
Play driving beast, for one game at least.
Valimaki Escapes the Dog House
Juuso Valimaki had a blunder on his first shift and I know I personally braced myself for a repeat of what we saw Saturday night with Oliver Kylington … that is tough love.
But tonight that wasn’t the case as all six defenders finished the game with reasonably similar five on five ice time; a disparity of two minutes from top to bottom.
From the early gaff Valimaki settled down and got plenty of pucks to the net. He also looked a little more poised than usual in transition.
He and pairing partner Erik Gubranson were on for the game tying goal but it certainly wasn’t Valimaki’s fault. Honestly it was less about Gudbranson and more about the lack of back support from a forward to be honest.
Another Rough Night for Tanev and Zadorov
I’m not as itchy on the trigger finger as some, but that’s two rough outings for a pairing with arguably Calgary’s best defenseman.
With Erik Gudbranson off to a somewhat surprising good start, the third pairing has more than held their own with sheltered matchups, but what are the Flames going to do with the second pairing.
With success they promote one of Kylington or Valimaki, but where does that leave the third pairing if Zadorov moves down?
Some really good news early with the play of some of the younger defensemen, but if they can’t solidify that second pairing soon you have to think we may see some change, and maybe even a Connor Mackey promotion.
It’s early.
Split Focus
I’m like many that I expected more change this off season.
Didn’t happen.
So with two key players looking at contract issues this season for me was always a case of split focus.
On one hand I always cheer for the team to win, and enjoy seeing winning hockey, but man I can’t get past the fact that this whole thing might go a little easier if the team struggles and their fate becomes obvious.
So it’s interesting to see the team play really well in the first two games of the season but only find one point.
Always a silver lining right?
Fancy Stats
The Flames won the battle of the possession stats for their second straight game to start the season. Five on five they had 61% of the shot attempts with period splits of 58%/59% and 67%. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 68%, and for high danger scoring chances the team had 69%.
In all situations the Flames had 61% of the shot attempts, 68% of the expected goals, and 71% of the high danger splits.
Individually the Flames were led by Blake Coleman who had 74% of the shot attempts five on five. Other players with good nights included Erik Gudbranson, Juuso Valimaki, and Milan Lucic who had 72%, 70% and 70% respectively. Trevor Lewis, Brett Ritchie, Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund, Noah Hanifin, Andrew Mangiapane, Rasmus Andersson and Dillon Dube were all over 60%. At the other end of the pile, Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov each had a rough night with 46%% of the five on five shot attempts. Glen Gawdin was the only other player under the 50% mark.
