Just continue to be impressed with the Flames character this season.
So much energy.
So much resolve.
The Flames put up their third straight win against NHL juggernauts with the Calgary 6-3 win in Edmonton over the Oilers on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night.
The Flames got two goals and an assist from Noah Hanifin, who did nothing to hurt his trade value on national television.
The win moves the Flames closer to the Blues, but still three points out of the final playoff spot.
Great run of hockey in an every intriguing season.
The Lineup
Some strange comings and goings in Flames land this morning.
Jacob Markstrom isn’t 100%, and will back up tonight. Isn’t getting the night off with a recall, and is on the bench. Is that Oiler-itis? Is that pulling him for trade reasons? Or is it nothing?
Additionally Andrei Kuzmenko is sick, which might explain his limited use against Boston in the third period.
So look for Yegor Sharangovich with Jonathan Huberdeau and the sparkplug Jakob Pelletier back in the lineup. 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.
Dan Vladar gets the start with Markstrom backing up as I said.
Line Metrics Coming In
xGF%
Huberdeau – Sharangovich – Pelletier NA
Mangiapane – Backlund – Coleman 56.1%
Zary – Kadri – Pospisil 59.1%
Hunt – Rooney – Duehr 50.0%
Hanifin – Tanev 53.6%
Weegar – Andersson 48.7%
Kylington – Pachal 55.4%
Goals Saved + Avg
Markstrom +18.1
Vladar -7.1
Wolf -8.8
Trend Tracker
Only 27 trios have played 300 or more minutes together this season. The Oilers have the best play driving line of the bench at 71.2% xGF%. That’s Backlund level from last season.
The Flames have two of the 27 with the Kadri line sitting 8th league wide with 59.1%, and the Backlund line 18th at 56.1%.
It’s interesting … 26 of the 27 lines are above 50% which you’d expect – why keep a line together for that much time that isn’t working? The exception is the Capital’s line of Down between Malenstyn and Kubel.
On the blueline 35 pairs have played 500 or more minutes together. The Oilers have the number one duo as well with Ekholm and Bouchard at 63.3%.
The Flames have the 12th best pairing with Hanifin and Tanev at 53.6%, and the 25th best pairing of Andersson and Weegar at 48.7%.
Only 20 pairings are above 50% and have played together for 500 minutes.
Dan Vladar’s Start
Solid.
He made the key save at the right time to keep momentum at bay and the Flames in the driver seat.
His numbers were solid; he had a .911 save percentage on the night and matched his expected goal against with his actual numbers.
Great start for Calgary’s backup, or soon to be starter?
I’m Going to Miss Noah Hanifin
Felt like the player was the target for fans that see offence and offence only when analyzing hockey players.
But even that crowd has subdued as Noah Hanifin just continued to improve, and with that have a greater impact on each and every game.
Tonight he scores two goals and adds an assist, and with the trade deadline approaching they could easily be the last two he scores in a Calgary uniform.
His 11 on the season is a new career high, and he certainly did nothing to lower his trade value with the deadline fast approaching.
He’ll be missed.
Was a great Calgary Flame.
Game Flow
Flames came to play! Pretty much all Calgary from the drop of the puck as they put pressure on and score on their first shot when Noah Hanifin breaks up an Oiler rush sending Walker Dueher away, Duehr puts a puck in a good spot for Nazem Kadri to deflect it and it’s 1-0 Calgary. The Flames make it 2-0 when Connor Zary makes a deft little pass into the zone to Martin Pospisil who beats Skinner to the glove side. And it’s 3-0 Calgary when Mikael Backlund finds Noah Hanifin in the slot and he beats Skinner blocker side. Oilers and their fans in shock. The Oilers get back into it late in the period when Vladar scrambles back to his net after getting clipped by Draisatl (with limited assistance from Kylington), and Hyman finds a rebound. The period wound down with two exchanges between the two teams leading to some face rubbing. Flames up 3-1 after one.
Things didn’t let up in the second … The Oilers score an early one, Zach Hyman’s second of the game on a breakaway after Blake Coleman turfed McDavid on the half wall. Gave you that feeling that the Oilers had woken up and the game was about to change. Not so fast. The Flames score back to back goals to conclude the period, Dryden Hunt on a great pass from Jonathan Huberdeau, and then Noah Hanifin with his second of the night on a great pass by Connor Zary. The period featured a spirited fight by Janmark and Coleman in answer to Coleman’s dusting of their captain.
Things a touch quieter in the third period, but just a touch. The Flames put it away when the Oilers pull the goalie with 7.5 minutes to play and Blake Coleman moves himself within range of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick with an empty netter. A late turnover in the Calgary zone leads to a Janmark goal to finish the scoring. More rough stuff of course, Evander Kane tossed for crosschecking Nazem Kadri with the puck nowhere near. Flames win the game 6-3, their third win in a row.
Odds and Sods
Great replay on that first Calgary goal with Connor McDavid engaging in the backcheck, then quitting and watching Kadri put the puck in. Good effort. … Was honestly disappointed to see Jakob Pelletier bounced for Dryden Hunt on the Sharangovich / Huberdeau line. Pelletier does so many smart things with the puck, was really looking forward to seeing him with his “dad”. Having said that Dryden Hunt had his best game as a Flames so maybe just maybe it’s good that I’m not the one making decisions. … Noticed the Flames Heritage jersey has those annoying strings that go nowhere on a jersey. Hate that. … At the all star game McDavid mentioned Calgary and LA as games he gets up for. You could see it tonight. Two skirmishes in the first period, one with Tanev and then one with Rasmus Andersson, the Andersson mealy driven by McDavid finish high and then not letting up. … I’ve never been the “everyone is out to get us” guy when it comes to watching broadcasts. I’m never as rattled as many fans seem to be on their team being slighted. But even I couldn’t help but notice Ron MacLean after the second period in his summary of things. First he brings up Ekholm getting crosschecked twice by Huberdeau. Bieksa mentions he started it. MacLean agrees and says it should have been even up and wasn’t, completely ignored the extra two coming from Cory Perry jumping Weegar when he was already engaged with another player. … Nice little HNIC clip of Evander Kane trying to make sure Rasmus Andersson never sires another child. The douche bag count on that Oiler roster is just through the roof in modern times. …. Guys with big nights; Hanifin with the three points as discussed, but Connor Zary and Jonathan Huberdeau also had two assists. … Thought Dan Vladar was really solid in the nets for the Flames.
Special Teams
The Oilers with the edge on special teams tonight, but by a whisker.
Calgary scores once on four opportunities and the Oilers do the same but on three chances to garner the better percentage.
The Oilers had 0.79 expected goals to the Flames 0.36.
Standings and Record
What an interesting season.
The team has moved their number one sniper, their first line center, their 5th dman and are about to lose two of their top four defenseman and maybe their goaltender but they’re still in it.
The Blues “blew” it against the Hawks today and the Flames win, and with that they are only one point back with the Blues having a game in hand.
However the Blues are no longer the target with the Predators winning. The Flames are three points back of the Predators with even games played.
That’s the issue with teams between you and your target. Get a good outcome and make up zero ground.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 31 Oilers 36
Face Offs: Flames 50% / Oilers 50%
Powerplay: Flames 1-4 / Oilers 1-3
Fancy Stats
The overall play driving stats weren’t in the Flames favour as they got up three goals early and score effects tilted the final numbers in the Oilers favour. Five on five the Flames had 35% of the shot attempts with period splits of 50%/20% and 31% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 40%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 32%, with a 7-15 split.
In all situations the Flames had 41% of the shot attempts, 57% of the expected goals, and 31% of the high danger splits. The all situations expected goal totals came out at 3.98 to 3.03.
Individually the Flames were led by Andrew Mangiapane posting a xGF% of 63% five on five. Only four other players were above breakeven; Kevin Rooney, Blake Coleman, Walker Duehr and Mikael Backlund. The Kadri line had a rough night despite scoring two of the goals as all three players were under 20%.
