These Flames just don’t give up right?
In Boston, down two goals heading into the third period … that should be over.
Instead the Flames score two third period goals, and actually carry overtime for the most part before dropping the contest 4-3 in overtime Boston.
The Flames move to 6-4-2 on the season and 1-0-1 on this three game road trip.
Bottom five team? Don’t tell the Flames that, they have their own plans.
The Lineup
Anthony Mantha to the IR, and it looks like Kevin Rooney steps in to take his place with no other alternatives until Dryden Hunt arrives.
So it’s Nazem Kadri with Connor Zary and Andrei Kuzmenko (Calgary’s three biggest play drivers?), Yegor Sharangovich with Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil, a very effective third line of Mikael Backlund with Blake Coleman and Matt Coronato, and a new fourth line of Kevin Rooney with Justin Kirkland and Ryan Lomberg.
No change on the blueline; top pairing with Rasmus Andersson and Kevin Bahl. Mackenzie Weegar with Daniil Miromanov and Brayden Pachal with Tyson Barrie.
Back to Dustin Wolf in goal after his strong start in Montreal.
Pre Game Stats
How many games does Tyson Barrie need before he gets credit for having off the charts playing driving stats? He is 66% in xGF% through 6 games and sits +8% over the next closest player on the roster.
He’s playing third pairing minutes and is sheltered, but the numbers are solid.
Justin Kirkland is on the other end with 41% through 10 games. The feel good story isn’t all that good when you really dig into the data.
Matt Coronato … the highest xGF60 on the team five on five through his 8 games at 3.29 / 60. Next closest is Mikael Backlund at 2.98.
Tyson Barrie leads in xGA60 at 1.48, a half goal better than Yegor Sharangovich.
Wrangler’s Beat
Hey Jacob Pelletier scored a goal!
Not that sounds a little condescending but the guy has had a good start to the season with 10 assists, so scoring himself is a good start to unwinding the reverse Cy Young numbers.
The Wranglers keep rolling with a 10-1 record with elite goaltending, and enough offence to go around.
Their red hot scoring start has cooled with all of Pelletier, Duehr and Kerrins moving towards the point per game pace and not the two points per game pace they had in the first four games.
The Flames recalled Dryden Hunt today to join them in Boston with Anthony Mantha out with a non disclosed injury.
Wolf’s Start
Think he’d like that first period goal back, right? Over slid, committing 100% to the shot on Hampus Lindholm leaving him the wide open cage for an easy backhand goal.
Little chance on either goal in the second period, to be frank. The Bruins scored on a point blank chance and then an cross ice unchecked tip in.
Overall the Bruins were given 3.7 in expected goals and in the end Wolf gives up four.
Not a bad night at all.
Odds and Sods
Interesting first period in that it looked like Calgary was going to get run out of the building, but then found their legs and were likely the better team for the final half of the first 20. The Tyson Barrie goal was a weak one for Korpisalo, but the rob on Coronato probably makes it even Steven. … I like the switch in net decisions to go with the hot hand a bit instead of just alternating night in and night out. Dan Vladar gets a shut out and gets the next game, then Wolf is solid in Montreal and gets the repeat performance as well. … I’ve always felt that it should be one or the other; a penalty or embellishment, not both. Seems like the lazy way out. Did Johnson trip Backlund 100%, why does it matter that Backlund sells it? Conversely, if Backlund was barely tripped and launched himself then its a penalty on Backlund only. My view anyway. … Matt Coronato has arrived. His spinorama move on the way into the Boston zone in the second period? Player that is feeling it, calming down enough to play within NHL speed. … Martin Pospisil had a rough night. Sure he didn’t take a sketchy penalty, in fact he drew one, but he got slashed on the wrist, took a head shot, and then a punch from Brad Marchand. In the fabric though right? … Can’t blame Dustin Wolf for either of the second period goals, the Flames were on the wrong side of the puck for five minutes and paid for it. … Connor Zary may not have the flashy stats that we’ve seen lately from Coronato, but he’s coming of age as well. Looked like a 10 year vet in overtime tonight.
Fancy Stats
The Flames held in there all night against a veteran Bruins team. For spells of time they looked a little behind the play, but overall they were able to square things and make it interesting. The Flames, five on five, had 51% (50%/55%/47%) of the shot attempts, 47% of the high danger chances, and 50% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 48% of the shot attempts, 41% of the high danger chances and 41% of the expected goals.
Individually, the Flames were led by Matt Coronato with an xGF% of 90% in his first game back in Boston. Three players were in the 70s; Mikael Backlund, Jonathan Huberdeau and Blake Coleman. Ryan Lomberg and Justin Kirkland were both at the bottom of the pile under 20%.
