The Flames were making hay through the first 12 games of the season by working hard, following a system, and playing close attention to details.
Most pundits had the team as a bubble team at best so their torrid 7-1-3 start had more than a few gob-smacked to say the least.
But something happened in the last two games, now both regulation losses with tonight’s 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadieans … or at least in the last four periods through the two games.
They’ve either been figured out or they’ve slipped off the recipe that they were so closely following to a T.
Tonight a decent first, though not great, and then two straight periods that just aren’t enough if you’re looking to win. They got what they deserved, and it will be interesting if that gets their attention and back to what was working previously.
The Lineup
Changing things up after the team’s first regulation loss in 11 contests certainly feels like decent timing, but honestly I think the changes likely have more to do with Sean Monahan rounding into shape, or just a coach trying to get the player’s thinking again after a good run of success.
Either way lots of changes up front for the Flames tonight.
In goal Jacob Markstrom, which comes as somewhat of a surprise given the back to back nature of the games, and the fact that the Flames play the superior team tomorrow evening. This game had a Daniel Vladar feel to it, but Sutter continues to keep us wondering.
On the blueline no change with Noah Hanifin lining up with Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylington lining up with Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov with his 6th straight game after getting scratched five times with Erik Gudbranson.
Up front no change to the top line as Elias Lindholm continues to center Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. From there it gets interesting though. Sean Monahan moved out of the bottom six to center the new built second line with Blake Coleman and Andrew Mangiapane. Honestly it’s good to see all three of those players getting a bigger stake in games. A new third line with Mikael Backlund centering Dillon Dube and Trevor Lewis. And finally Milan Lucic back to the fourth line to play with Brad Richardson and Tyler Pitlick.
With Pitlick and Lucic on the fourth line I doubt we see much time disparity between any of the 2-4 lines.
Line Metrics
xGF%
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk 64.9%
Coleman – Monahan – Mangiapane NA
Dube – Backlund – Lewis NA
Lucic – Richardson – Pitlick NA
Hanifin – Andersson 55.5%
Kylington – Tanev 67.7%
Zadorov – Gudbranson 66.7%
Goals Saved + Avg
Markstrom 6.6
Monahan Even Strength Point
Well that was fast.
Darryl Sutter moves Sean Monahan up the roster, and just like that he has his first even strength point on the season with a first period primary assist on Andrew Mangiapane’s goal.
The Flames look deeper with Monahan playing with linemates that can score, as lately we’ve seen very little happen despite the player looking more effective on the forecheck and cycle.
That gives Monahan 6 points in 13 games and keeps him close to that 40 point pace on the season. Not the things of top line centers, but a bounce back of sorts.
Good Start Result
The Flames scored first again, which has been huge on the season to date, but I wouldn’t say they were great in the first 20 minutes.
The Flames popped out to a 1-0 lead when Mikael Backlund tipped home a point shot early in the first period, but from there they gave up more than they generated from a shot and high danger standpoint.
The late goal by Mangiapane certainly set the game up for a good start despite leaking chances at a greater rate than we’ve seen to start the game.
The Flames gave up more against San Jose as well, hopefully not becoming a problem.
Changes Work For Most
The changes up front had an interesting result.
The middle six lines had some jump with the Monahan, Mangiapane, Blake Coleman line leading the way offensively most of the night and the new third line with Backlund, Dube and Lewis controlling the game from a possession standpoint.
Ironically the top line, the only line not altered was the line that struggled the most getting filled in five on five although they certainly had some grade A chances.
Special Teams
With only one chance with the man advantage the Flames didn’t necessarily lose the game by going 0-1 on the powerplay, but they did lose the game by taking two many penalties and giving up two while down a man.
Down 0-2 in special teams won’t win a lot of 3-2 hockey games which was required on the night with the score tight as the play.
A third period bank goal by Suzuki was the difference after Gallagher scored in the second to tie the game up, also on a powerplay.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 26/ Habs 28
Face Offs: Flames 46% / Habs 54%
Powerplay: Flames 0-1 / Habs 2-5
Fancy Stats
The Flames just didn’t have it tonight. They didn’t look good five on five, they didn’t have the forecheck going, they didn’t come in waves and they didn’t generate a whole lot that was dangerous. Five on five they had 55% of the shot attempts with period splits of 55%/50% and 62% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames only had 46%, and for high danger scoring chances the team had only 46%, with a 6-7 split. Needless to say with that level of non-event hockey the game was won on special teams.
In all situations the Flames had 49% of the shot attempts, 29% of the expected goals, and 37% of the high danger splits. Keep in mind the Flames had only 15% of the powerplay time in the game.
Individually the Flames were led by Mikael Backlund with 84% of the five on five splits while on the ice. Dillon Dube, Trevor Lewis, Andrew Mangiapane and Blake Coleman were all over 70% on the night. Sean Monahan and Chris Tanev were over the 60% mark. The top line of Lindholm, Tkachuk and Gaudreau were all under the 35% mark and had a rough night.
