It seems like a familiar script.
Get up on home ice, lose the lead, go to overtime, lose the game.
It’s happened three times this year on home ice, but tonight was at least a little bit different … an honestly I mean a little bit.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, once they tied the game with about seven minutes to play in the third period had plenty of opportunities to keep the script very much on queue, but Jacob Markstrom bailed the team out.
The shoot out went seven rounds with Markstrom making six saves, allowing Mikael Backlund’s 7th round snipe to stand up as the game winner as the Flames conclude this three game mini home stand with a 2-1-0 record with a 2-1 shoot out victory on Monday night.
Now it’s off to California for back to back games on Thursday and Friday.
The Lineup
The Flames conclude a brief three game homestand with the Penguins invading tonight, and being the Penguins they’re likely the marquee match up the trifecta, and with that we see Jacob Markstrom once again; he’s started all three games on this homestand, and every game at home this season to be honest.
No change on the blueline as Noah Hanifin lines up with Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylington plays with Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov is paired once again with Erik Gudbranson. Juuso Valimaki sits again, though today we learned he’s waiver exempt and could be sent to Stockton for some playing time. Given how well Valimaki played after his last AHL stint that might be a very good idea.
Up front no change as well as we learned that there was to be no additional punishment for Milan Lucic after his hit on Dylan Demelo on Saturday night. So it’s Elias Lindholm between Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, Mikael Backlund between Blake Coleman and Andrew Mangiapane, Sean Monahan between Dillon Dube and Tyler Pitlick, and a fourth line of Lucic on the left side of Brad Richardson and Trevor Lewis.
Line Metrics
xGF%
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk 63.5%
Coleman – Backlund – Mangiapane 75.0%
Dube – Monahan – Pitlick 54.2%
Lucic – Richardson – Lewis 42.3%
Hanifin – Andersson 57.3%
Kylington – Tanev 61.2%
Zadorov – Gudbranson 50.0%
Goals Saved + Avg
Markstrom +9.7
Crosby Complaint
Well that was odd.
One of the two officials made what was clearly the wrong call in assessing Chad Ruhwedel for a high stick when the stick was under control by Blake Coleman.
But then we heard that Sydney Crosby was complaining about it, suddenly all four officials huddle and each player is assessed a minor.
Right call for sure, and no big deal for this writer, but have we ever seen that before? One of the things Kelly Hrudey always jokes about is “have you ever seen an official change his mind?” something he utters when he sees someone complain about a call.
Yet tonight it worked.
I’m aware Toronto is involved on five minute majors after the Vegas/San Jose playoff debacle a few years ago, but a minor penalty with a call changed? Does that happen if one of the best players of all time isn’t upset about it?
Back On Point
Thought the Flames played a spot on game for the most part again.
With some better finishing; honestly something I thought Calgary would struggle with this season, they would have won all three games without a whole lot of tension.
But the puck just didn’t go in. A squeaker on a fluke goal over the Blackhawsk, a one goal loss to the Jets despite out playing them, and tonight a solid 65 minute effort that should have ended in Jacob Markstrom’s 6th shut out of the season but for a double deflection in the the third period.
Have to love the consistency of this group. Game in and game out.
Markstrom’s Night
Triston Jarry was the story of the night.
The Flames out shot the Penguins 32-22 and had a huge lead in high danger chances at 15-4.
But how nice was it to have an answer at the other end even though he wasn’t getting the work.
A fluke goal to tie it up off of Tanev’s skate, a huge save in overtime, and then stopping six of seven in the shoot out to give his team the win.
You’re goalie isn’t going to win the goalie battle every night, but even in a game where the other guy is the story it’s nice to have that steady foundation there when you need it.
Special Teams
The Flames never had a powerplay.
In the first they had a powerplay coming, but as I said above Crosby was able to get it overturned (the right call with help of video anyway).
Late in the third the Penguins got a man advantage on a Mikael Backlund calf roping exercise and tied the game up on the puck off of Guentzel and then Tanev to send the game to overtime.
So special teams go to Pittsburgh, something we don’t see all that often from the Flames this season.
Standings and Record
The win moves the Flames back into first spot in the conference if you go by points (I don’t), or 2nd place behind Edmonton with a .705 win percentage compared to Edmonton’s .750.
Calgary now has a 13-4-5 record good for 31 points in 22 games, and points in 18 of 22.
Said numerous times already but how nice is it to have these points banked instead of chasing the season from the drop of the puck? Sure the Flames lost their season opener, but the consistency since that loss has been eye opening.
Have to hand it to Darryl Sutter.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 32/ Penguins 22
Face Offs: Flames 44% / Penguins 56%
Powerplay: Flames 0-0 / Penguins 1-1
Fancy Stats
The Flames did a heck of a job of containing the Penguins pretty much the whole night, giving up so little and generating lots of chances. With some finish this game isn’t remotely close, and probably in the range of a 4-1 victory for the home side. Five on five they had 67% of the shot attempts with period splits of 59%/70% and 72% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames only had 75%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 73%, with a 11-4 split.
In all situations the Flames had 68% of the shot attempts, 75% of the expected goals, and 79% of the high danger splits.
Individually the Flames were led by Chris Tanev, Dillon Dube and Sean Monahan, all with 75% of the five on five shot attempts when on the ice. Matthew Tkachuk, Tyler Pitlick, Oliver Kylington, Johnny Gaudreau and Erik Gudbranson also had nights in the 70+% zone. Six other players had nights in the 60s, and not a single player finished under the 50% mark as the Flames pretty much ran the table.
