The Flames are finding a way to lose hockey games.
They found a way against Carolina and Pittsburgh despite challenges, but although they outplayed the Oilers on Saturday night, and again tonight against Seattle, they surrendered leads and found a way to end up on the wrong side of the score board.
Tonight the Flames erased a 1-0 first period deficit to lead 2-1 in the second and then 4-2 in the third before giving up three straight goals late to lose a game that looked ready to be put on ice.
They’re leaning offensively, which leads to quality chances against and they don’t seem to have the early season goaltending to bail that out.
Back to the drawing board on Thursday night against the Nashville Predators.
The Lineup
It wouldn’t be the first time.
Darryl Sutter walks out a brand new set of four lines for a practice, and then reforms three of them back to the original state for puck drop.
Tonight though, he kept with what was on the ice Monday.
Four new forward lines consisting of; Nazem Kadri with Jonathan Huberdeau and Andrew Mangiapane, Elias Lindholm with Milan Lucic and Tyler Toffoli, Mikael Backlund with Dillon Dube and Blake Coleman, and Adam Ruzicka getting his first action of the season between Trevor Lewis and Brett Ritchie. Kevin Rooney was a healthy scratch.
On the blueline it’s status quo with Noah Hanifin with Rasmus Andersson, Mackenzie Weegar with Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov with Michael Stone.
Dan Vladar gets his second start of the season.
Line Metrics
xGF%
Huberdeau – Lindholm – Toffoli 52.2%
Mangiapane – Kadri – Dube 50.8%
Coleman – Backlund – Lewis 54.3%
Lucic – Rooney – Ritchie 42.9%
Hanifin – Andersson 48.0%
Weegar – Tanev 52.7%
Zadorov – Stone 58.6%
Goals Saved + Avg
Markstrom +3.5
Vladar -0.3
Trend Tracker:
I kept the old lines together for stats, as the new lines would all read “NA” with no time on the board. … Three of the four existing lines (before tonight’s change) were above water, but none blowing the doors off. Middling with the Flames losing their possession game to some degree on this homestand. Ironically the Edmonton game, despite being a loss, was a step in the right direction. … Will be interesting to see if Dan Vladar can get his GSAA into the positives with tonight’s start against the Kraken.
Trap Game
A team can go over all the details.
It’s not Edmonton, but it’s a big two points, and you have to be ready.
And then … completely lay an egg to start the first period.
Luckily tonight the damage wasn’t extensive, as the Kraken only managed one first period goal, but it could have been worse without Dan Vladar playing well, especially when killing a five on three.
The second period tough, was a complete about face.
The Flames peppered Joey Daccord with shots through the full twenty, came from behind to take the lead, before a relatively late goal by the Kraken tied it up again.
Sadly the real estate gained was eventually given away once again.
Dumbest Challenge Ever?
Honestly don’t know what Dave Haskstol could possibly be thinking.
Flames all over you, they just score to go up for the first time and you challenge that for goalie interference? It wasn’t even close. I honestly can’t believe it took three minutes to review.
Nazem Kadri takes the puck to the net and follows his rebound across the crease with his skate glancing Joey Daccord’s pad.
That’s a hockey play all day every day.
Silly challenge.
Big Z In the Mix
Fight in the first to help get his team going.
Big goal in the second to tie the game up.
Then a give away to help surrender the Flames lead.
Can’t say the big guy isn’t involved!
Nikita Zadorov has had a good early season, which started in camp and then rolled it’s way into the regular season. He already has two goals on the campaign, a great start for a guy that doesn’t get many.
Not much of a fighter though, which was evident in his first period bout.
New Lines 5 on 5 Goals
Funny to see all three of Elias Lindholm, Jonathan Huberdeau and Tyler Toffoli all getting their first five on five goal of the season, 30% of the way into game after a switch to the first and second lines.
Toffoli with a great pass to Zadorov to tie the game up in the second, and then Huberdeau out with Kadri when Kadri scores his 5th of the season and survives the coach’s challenge.
Dube / Mangiapane Switch
I had a sinking feeling Darryl Sutter was pulling a fake job and would revert to his regular lines for the game tonight.
He didn’t.
But he did alter the plan early when he switched Andrew Mangiapane off the first line to the third, with Dillon Dube taking his place.
Really feel those two are key to the Flames season. If they can find a mix with a duo each they really propel the Flames forward with depth up front.
Ruzicka’s Play
Not sure he got enough done to play again on Thursday.
Helped on the forecheck and the screen on Trevor Lewis’ goal, and wasn’t to blame for the Zadorov turnover that resulted in a minus, and had good underlying numbers.
But was -1 and not all that noticeable to be honest.
Thought he suffered not being in game shape, through no fault of his own.
Vladar’s Second Start
The Flames had their breakdowns putting pressure on the backup, but in the end 5 goals against on 26 shots isn’t what you need from your goaltender.
The Flames goaltending this season has been what it is … neither a help nor a hindrance. We saw it again tonight.
Tonight Vladar was very good early, and then when the Flames took over the game he was unable to come up with the big save. But as I said turnovers created a lot of high danger chances against as well.
Toffoli 400 Points
Whether it’s conditioning, starting the season in Calgary and not coming over in a trade, or what … Tyler Toffoli has looked like a very different player to start the season
Tonight a great assist and then a go ahead third period goal that looked like a game winner, which was his 400th point in the NHL.
Seemed to gel tonight on a line with Elias Lindholm and Milan Lucic.
Special Teams
For the second straight game, the Flame’s powerplay was dreadful.
Tonight 0/4 while generating just two high danger chances for and giving up two as well, one of which ended up in their net for a shortie.
The Kraken 1/4 on the powerplay to easily take the special teams battle again tonight.
Standings and Record
The Oilers win, the Knights win … not a good night for Calgary to cough up a two goal third period lead.
By points the Flames are now the 2nd wild card team in the West, surrendering their top three spot in the Pacific to the Kraken with tonight’s loss. But in terms of point percentage the Flames are 4th in the conference behind Vegas, Edmonton and Dallas.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 40 Kraken 26
Face Offs: Flames 62% / Kraken 38%
Powerplay: Flames 0-4 / Kraken 1-4
Fancy Stats
Another game where the Flames had all the numbers, but nothing in the result as the Kraken found a different path to victory than Edmonton did on Saturday night, but the result was the same; Flames control the game in shots and chances, but can’t get it done. Five on five the Flames had 60% of the shot attempts with period splits of 48%/69% and 60% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 68%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 67%, with a 10-5 split.
In all situations the Flames had 60% of the shot attempts, 62% of the expected goals, and 63% of the high danger splits.
Individually the Flames were led by Trevor Lewis, with an xGF% of 84% five on five on the night. How many nights is this guy going to lead the way, incredible start to the season for a guy with limited offensive skill. Michael Stone was also in the 80s. Nazem Kadri, Adam Ruzicka, Andrew Mangiapane and Dillon Dube were in the 70s. Not a single Flames player was under water. Odd odd game.
