This season isn’t going to end in glory (sorry for the spoiler).
The Flames are in the hunt, especially with another win over the Boston Bruins, a 3-2 overtime win Thursday night at the Saddledome. But they likely won’t find their way to the post season with the number of teams left to leap, and the number of players that are likely on their way out.
But that hasn’t stopped this from being a very entertaining season; even more so when compared to the dreary death watch we saw last campaign.
The Flames received excellent goaltending again from Jacob Markstrom, and an over time goal from Nazem Kadri to post the victory and even their four game homestand at 2-2-0.
Next up the Oilers on Saturday night.
The Lineup
No necessity for change, that is no player transactions with the trade deadline two weeks away that would require a chance to the lineup. Jakob Pelletier is nearing healthy but deemed not ready tonight, maybe possible for the Oilers game on Saturday.
The Flames moved away from the Zary at center experiment so the lines are back to the expected; Yegor Sharangovich with Jonathan Huberdeau and Andrei Kuzmenko, Nazem Kadri with Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil, Mikael Backlund with Andrew Mangiapane and Blake Coleman, and finally the current fourth line with Kevin Rooney between Dryden Hunt and Walker Duehr.
On the blueline it’s the usual; Noah Hanifin with Chris Tanev and Mackenzie Weegar with Rasmus Andersson and Oliver Kylington lining up with Brayden Pachal.
Jacob Markstrom in goal again for the Flames after shutting the door in the last 50 minutes against Winnipeg.
Line Metrics Coming In
xGF%
Huberdeau – Sharangovich – Kuzmenko 75.6%
Mangiapane – Backlund – Coleman 57.1%
Zary – Kadri – Pospisil 57.7%
Hunt – Rooney – Duehr NA
Hanifin – Tanev 53.8%
Weegar – Andersson 48.1%
Kylington – Pachal 83.3%
Goals Saved + Avg
Markstrom +17.3
Vladar -6.7
Wolf -8.8
Trend Tracker
Some quick hits on the stats front …
The Kylington / Pachal pairing is already the 6th most deployed pairing of the season. They sit only ten minutes behind Zadoron / DeSimone and should pass that pairing tonight. Next up is Zadorov / Weegar which would take a couple more games. Who would have picked Kylington in a top 5 most deployed pairing at the beginning of the season?
Jacob Markstrom’s stumble against Detroit (he had help) broke up a huge run for the goaltender as he climbed from bottom third of the pack in goals saved above average to top three in three months. His game against Winnipeg was back in the right direction, but he sits 4th behind Aidan Hill, who passed him recently. A good outing tonight would have him back in third and chasing down Thatcher Demko. He sits 2nd league wide in high danger save percentage, a whisker behind Connor Ingram.
Andrei Kuzmenko finished near the bottom of the team in xGF% against Winnipeg on Monday. But there’s more to the story. His slide happened after the demotion, not before it. He still has a 71.8% mark when playing with his regular linemates; Jonathan Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich. He’s only 29.5% without them, and the pair are only 45.5% without Kuzmenko. Still not sure why Huska made that double switch and promoted Dryden Hunt. Hunt played well, but he isn’t a top six forward.
Zary Skill
Connor Zary just has so much skill. You really notice the little plays he makes on a game by game basis. Tonight on that first period Pospisil goal his take off the skate in tight to the net was a thing of beauty. It’s hockey 101, but not something everyone can do in traffic in a fast pace NHL game close to the enemy cage.
All game long he used his less than massive frame to protect the puck and create offence by being able to delay.
Damn good hockey player and a heck of a late first round pick.
Kuzmenko Pine Again?
Wasn’t that Andrei Kuzmenko’s best game as a Flame?
Some good shooting opportunities, a great spin move, some good puck distribution and an assist on Kylington’s goal. Pretty much standing out all night.
So it was a bid of a surprise in the third period to see him left out of what looked like a shortened bench in favour of … yep Dryden Hunt.
Sigh …
Not trying to start an anti Ryan Huska discussion, Lord knows the player came to Calgary because he couldn’t gel with his coach in Vancouver. But not sure I saw him as one of the bottom three forwards in this one.
Jacob Markstrom’s Start
Stop me if you’re heard this before …
“Best player on the ice”
Markstrom was that again.
The Flames could have been up 3-0 after a period but a gaff by Markstrom kept it closer at 2-1.
He more than made up for it the rest of the way, and was unbelievable in overtime.
Solid numbers again tonight … .939 save percentage, stopping 31 of 33 shots. In terms of expected goals the Bruins had 3.65 and of course he only gives up two.
Game Flow
Calgary jumps all over the Bruins, who played the night before in Edmonton, a game that went to overtime. It’s literally all Calgary for 95% of the first period, and a bit of a crime that they only left the period with a one goal lead. The Flames open the scoring when Oliver Kylington takes a pass from Andrei Kuzmenko and puts it under Ullmark’s arm. The Bruins tie it up on a strange one. Markstrom comes out of his net to play a puck (good move), but then coughs it up (bad move) and Coyle ties it up. The Flames go back out front when Martin Pospisil cleans up some crease garbage on a Connor Zary backhander. Flames full marks for a 2-1 lead.
Much more of pedestrian start to the second period, as the teams played chip and chase in both directions without a lot by way of scoring chances. Things turn towards the Bruins on a second period powerplay to Mackenzie Weegar, but the push was met by some serious goaltending as Jacob Markstrom made a handful of ten bell saves to keep the game 2-1 Flames. Boston gets more zone time and a few more chances in the second half of the period but can’t beat Markstrom; Flames hold their 2-1 lead.
Third period starts with a little more zip, as the Bruins push to tie the game. The period spins on a close call at one end; Andrei Kuzmenko nearly pulling off a wrap around only to have a puck flipped out and by Mackenzie Weegar for a partial breakaway and Charlie Coyle’s second of the game. All tied up. The Flames find their second wind in the last five minutes of the period and almost win it on an Andrew Mangiapane tip.
Overtime was breathtaking. Honestly. Calgary with possession but no real bluc chippers early, the Bruins then dominate but are foiled by Jacob Markstrom. Kadri wins it after a Markstrom save sends the puck the other way.
Odds and Sods
We saw some pretty odd Markstrom foibles leading to goals last year, and the covid year in the Canadian division. Tonight was different. Good call coming out, but then a terrible play once he did. In the end … same result. … Great to see Oliver Kylington hit the sheet in back to back games. The ear to ear smile just says so much. The guy is having a blast. Looks like he’s in a good place, which is good as the team is going to need him when they pitch their second pairing before March 8th. … That slashing penalty in the second period to Pastrnak was terrible. Brutal call. … On the other side I loved how they officials ignored about four different trips that were incidental and/or accidental in the game.
Special Teams
Not a lot of special teams in this one.
The Flames kill off all three Bruin chances; the Bruins kill off Calgary’s only chance.
By time though, the Flames only had 44 seconds of extra man time, the Bruins 4:44.
Clearly the Flames get the edge in special teams.
Standings and Record
They’re still in it.
They’re a gutsy team and they just refuse to throw in the towel regardless of who they’ve traded, or who they play to trade.
The win allows them to keep pace with the St. Louis Blues who also won, sitting three points back with the Blues having a game in hand. Looks like the Kraken may win tonight and stay ahead of the Flames in win percentage as well.
So tight. …
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 29 Bruins 33
Face Offs: Flames 47% / Bruins 53%
Powerplay: Flames 0-1 / Bruins 0-3
Fancy Stats
The Flames had great numbers five on five, fueled heavily by their dominant first period. From there the Bruins took over but didn’t manage to tip the scales for the game overall. Five on five the Flames had 54% of the shot attempts with period splits of 67%/43% and 46% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 57%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 57%, with a 13-10 split.
In all situations the Flames had 50% of the shot attempts, 44% of the expected goals, and 48% of the high danger splits. The all situations expected goal totals came out at 2.85 to 3.65.
Individually the Flames were led by Connor Zary posting a xGF% of 83.6% five on five. He was joined in the 80s by Mackenzie Weegar. Nazem Kadri, Martin Pospisil, Rasmus Andersson and Yegor Sharangovich were all in the 70s. Three players under 30% on the night; Kevin Rooney, Walker Duehr, and Mikael Backlund.
