Territorially this was a win by all accounts.
Well not by all accounts, as the key one, the scoreboard went the other way for the Flames, losing a 2-1 game to the Kraken on home ice coming out of the Xmas break.
The Flames were certainly the better team in the second half of the game, but just couldn’t find that go ahead goal in a 1-1 tie.
The Kraken did, and the Flames despite pushing just couldn’t get it equalled.
Tough loss against a winnable opponent.
The Lineup
Flames make the single change, scratching Adam Ruzicka for Walker Duehr. And a return to the usual top nine after Andrew Mangiapane’s demotion for a message before Christmas.
So a top three lines of Elias Lindholm with Andrew Mangiapane and Yegor Sharangovich, Nazem Kadri with Martin Pospisil and Connor Zary and Mikael Backlund with Jonathan Huberdeau and Blake Coleman. A new fourth line of Dillon Dube between AJ Greer and Walker Duehr.
No change on the blueline; Mackenzie Weegar with Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin with Chris Tanev, and Nick DeSimone with Dennis Gilbert.
Jacob Markstrom gets the start.
Line Metrics Coming In
xGF%
Mangiapane – Lindholm – Sharangovich 45.5%
Huberdeau – Backlund – Coleman 49.7%
Zary – Kadri – Pospisil 59.4%
Greer – Dube – Duehr NA
Weegar – Andersson 47.3%
Hanifin – Tanev 55.6%
Gilbert – DeSimone 65.9%
Goals Saved + Avg
Markstrom +6.2
Vladar -4.6
Wolf -5.2
Trend Tracker
Three of four Flames lines, their most common of the season are now under water through the season.
One of their top defense pairings has never been above the break even point.
Neither a good sign if you want to win hockey games.
The bright spots are the Hanifin/Tanev pairing and the Kadri line, but the Kadri line has been slipping as well. They were at 69% a few weeks ago and have now slipped under the 60% mark.
Average team with average numbers.
Markstrom Start
His strong play continues.
Beat in the first period on a breakaway with Yamamato doing the honours, and then pretty much shuts the door.
The winning goal probably one he would think he should have as he’s beat short side, but with a pass option he had to lean to some degree to not be exposed if it went laterally.
A .905 night with a 2.37 expected goals against total.
Pretty good effort.
Tough Night for Top Pairing
Through two periods the Chris Tanev / Noah Hanifin pairing were sitting in single digits for expected goals splits; way too much time in their zone getting filled in.
A great third period brings both players well up the list as they finish, but still well under water.
The Tanev/Hanifin pairing has been money for the Flames since they were reunited, but the Xmas break seemed to bring a little rust to their game.
Huberdeau Moving Puck Well
I thought Jonathan Huberdeau had a very good night for the Flames.
Some very deft passes that should have resulted in more.
I counted about six offensive zone passes putting a teammate in a shooting position that easily could have resulted in a goal, yet he gets another zero on the board once again.
Said it a few weeks ago, his expected goals when on the ice compared to his actual goals is a gap like I’ve never seen. Tonight he added to that discrepancy.
I think the player will get it worked out, but it may not be this season.
Puck just isn’t bouncing his way.
Game Flow
Pretty evenly played first period with both teams pretty much sawing off most of the metrics including the scoreboard. The Kraken open the scoring on a breakaway after a Calgary chance. The Flames tie it up with a crease play finished by Nazem Kadri on a Calgary powerplay. A little rust but a decent period for both teams after the break.
The Flames the better team in the second period despite the lack of scoring. Calgary with some early powerplays and a few really good chances including a cross crease play from Connor Zary to Elias Lindholm that’s taken away by a great save by Dreidger. The Kraken get a few late period chances, but overall the second period belongs to Calgary.
Calgary pretty much in control for the first few minutes of the third period with the game still tied at 1-1. Then an expiring Flames powerplay leads to the Kraken gaining momentum with a good shift, and soon after it’s 2-1 Seattle. The Flames regain their composure and throw the kitchen sink at the Kraken through the middle of the period. Calgary continues to poor it on, but just can’t find the equalizer.
Odds and Sods
Had to see the Adam Ruzicka scratch coming, he hasn’t done a whole lot this season, and certainly lately. Walker Duehr had to play sooner or later though, so maybe it’s a one game sit and he’ll be back. … Great shift from Jonathan Huberdeau after a penalty kill on a line with Nazem Kadri and Walker Duehr. Maybe that’s something they should look at. Huberdeau made a great neutral zone pass early in the shift, and then two great cross zone passes setting up scoring chances to complete the 40 second skate. Good sign. … Speaking of Walker Duehr, he just didn’t do enough to stay in the lineup in my opinion. Weak on the puck a few times, some turnovers. Just don’t know where this player has gone.
Special Teams
Flames win the special teams battle with a first period powerplay goal on a brutal Kraken turnover.
The Flames go 1/4 while killing both Kraken powerplays.
Win the special teams battle and you often win the game, but not tonight against Seattle.
Standings and Record
Things really starting to slip away for the Flames despite having a recent five game point streak.
Their back to back losses now have them five points out of a playoff spot with even games played with the Nashville Predators.
The Kraken pass them in the standings with tonight’s win, the Flames now sit 13th in the West with a .471 win percentage.
Calgary now holds the 7th highest lottery odds.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 37 Kraken 21
Face Offs: Flames 67% / Kraken 33%
Powerplay: Flames 1-4 / Kraken 0-2
Fancy Stats
Calgary had a huge edge in shot volume and zone pressure, but when they broke down they broke down giving up more high danger quality chances than they generated themselves. Five on five the Flames had 55% of the shot attempts with period splits of 47%/61% and 59% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 49%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 42%, with a 8-11 split.
In all situations the Flames had 60% of the shot attempts, 60% of the expected goals, and 50% of the high danger splits. The all situations expected goal totals came out at 3.52 to 2.37.
Individually the Flames were led by Jonathan Huberdeau posting a xGF% of 77% on the night five on five. Three players were in the 60s including; Mikael Backlund, Rasmus Andersson, and Mackenzie Weegar. The fourth line had a rough night with all three of Dillon Dube, Walker Duehr and AJ Greer in the mid teens.
