Now that’s a statement game.
The Flames counted out by many with this daunting six game road trip on the schedule, especially after the listless home game against San Jose, showed up everyone by playing the perfect road first period on the way to a 3-1 over the high flying Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.
The Flames received a huge effort from the fourth line, the third pairing and the back up goaltender in starting the trip on the right foot, all somewhat unexpected.
The win moves the Flames back into a playoff spot, as they move to Tampa for a game on Thursday night.
Count these guys out at your own risk.
The Lineup
Two interesting changes as the Flames start their grueling six game road trip in Washington.
Kevin Bahl is back, which is huge for the Flames, but the more interesting wrinkle is the scratch of Jake Bean for Illya Solovyov, who slides down from a top four role.
The other interesting move is giving Dan Vladar the start in game one of the trip in a very tough city.
On the blueline it’s Kevin Bahl with Rasmus Andersson, Joel Hanley with Mackenzie Weegar and a third pairing of Illya Solovyov with Brayden Pachal.
Forward lines are same as the win over the Sharks; Matt Coronato up on the top line playing with Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau, a reunited third line with Mikael Backlund between Connor Zary and Blake Coleman. The Philly guys; Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee with Yegor Sharangovich, and then a somewhat elevated fourth line with Martin Pospisil with Kevin Rooney and Adam Lomberg.
Pre Game Stats Dive
This segment of the Flames season has been their worst to date.
And with four substandard games on the docket and a hellish 6 game road trip to round out the set of ten, the Flames will have to improve their current play dramatically or the segment will be brutal and their season likely lost.
Through four games the Flames have a 1-2-1 record, but it’s the drill down stats that are the most concerning.
| SH% | SV% | CF% | SF% | GF% | xGF% | HDCF% | PDO |
| 8.7% | 93.3% | 47.0% | 44.9% | 51.4% | 47.8% | 50.3% | 102.0 |
| 5.8% | 95.2% | 52.6% | 52.9% | 57.7% | 48.7% | 49.7% | 101.0 |
| 6.3% | 88.8% | 53.8% | 51.9% | 37.8% | 52.1% | 51.5% | 95.1 |
| 7.8% | 95.0% | 54.5% | 51.3% | 62.1% | 53.5% | 49.4% | 102.8 |
| 7.9% | 92.4% | 49.8% | 49.1% | 50.0% | 47.7% | 43.6% | 100.3 |
| 4.4% | 89.7% | 48.3% | 49.8% | 30.0% | 43.7% | 43.7% | 94.2 |
The Flames are well off their season averages in shooting percentage, save percentage, and are well under water in high danger splits and expected goals five on five.
When you can’t finish, aren’t getting the save and are getting out played things are bleak!
Zayne Watch
On Saturday Zayne Parekh had “an off game” in only scoring a goal and not adding any assists.
The shame when a blueliner doesn’t post a two points or greater game. Embarrassing.
That moved his pace needed to get to 103 points and best the modern era best of 101 by Ryan Ellis back in 2011 from 1.46 to 1.50.
On Sunday Parekh was back to his norm posting two assists and sending his pace needed back to 1.45.
He has 11 games to play and needs 16 points.
| Month | GP | Goals | Assts | Points | G/G | P/G |
| 9/1/2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 10/1/2024 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 0.3 | 1.2 |
| 11/1/2024 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 0.5 | 1.7 |
| 12/1/2024 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 0.3 | 1.2 |
| 1/1/2025 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 1.1 | 2.1 |
| 2/1/2025 | 10 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 0.5 | 2.2 |
Vladar’s Start
Very little to do in the first period, which I’m sure suited the rusty backup goaltender just fine.
More to do in the second for sure, and Dan Vladar was rock solid. So too were his teammates who blocked many a shot, and cleared many a rebound.
He may want the Ovechkin goal back, as he looked a little unprepared, but that doesn’t sour a solid road start for Dan Vladar tonight.
Lots of criticism for Huska for starting Vladar, but now he’s 1-0-0 on the trip with a backup start out of the way.
The Capitals generate 3.35 in expected goals in all situations and Vladar gives up the single.
Great game by Dan Vladar.
Odds and Sods
Really like the move of giving Illya Solovyov a look in the third pairing. He doesn’t have to enter the NHL as a top four defenseman, shelter the kid and let him beat out Jake Bean and win a job. … Great start for the Flames in tonight’s game. About as solid of an opening 10 minutes that you could ask for against one of the top teams in the league. … Fourth line led the way with three great shifts, scoring a goal on their third when Martin Pospisil “steered” the puck into the net off his shin pad. They called it a good goal because there wasn’t a distinct kicking motion. I thought there was, but I also thought it had to be a goal if it goes in off a shin pad and not a skate. … Calgary’s strong play in the first continues and they get rewarded when a gassed Matt Coronato hangs in to backcheck when his linemates head off, has a cleared puck pop out to him creating a partial break; scoring with his patented ripper to the top corner. Flames up 2-0 after one in one of their best periods of the season. Honestly can’t believe that was the same team that played San Jose on Sunday night. … Coronato’s goal was his 15th of the season. That would put him on a 24 goal pace of he played 82 games, but still has him on 23 goal pace with the remaining games. I’ve said it a few times, but man does he remind me of Joey Mullen. … Can’t fault the Flames at all for their second period. Washington had more chances and shots on goal, but then they had two of the three powerplay chances, and the Flames opportunity was a complete whiff. The Flames did a great job of getting in lanes and blocking shots. High work ethic road period again. … Ryan Huska started the fourth line in all three periods tonight. … Things get tense when the Capitals move the game to 2-1 on an Alex Ovechkin goal on a powerplay, Vladar a little slow to get over. The Flames put it away though when Jonathan Huberdeau converts a well deserved Nazem Kadri rebound to put things away. … If you’re the Capitals, sitting 2nd overall, do you let your number goaltender tough out an injury in the third period? Crazy.
Fancy Stats
The Flames were pretty much perfect to start the game, built up a 2-0 lead and then fought off the expected push by the Capitals the rest of the way. Expected. The Flames, five on five, had 43% (63%/16%/46%) of the shot attempts, 47% of the high danger chances, and 58% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 40% of the shot attempts, 39% of the high danger chances and 44% of the expected goals.
Individually, the Flames were led by Kevin Rooney with an xGF% of 79% on the night. He was joined by his linemate Ryan Lomberg with a 77% night. Three other players in the 70s; Ilya Solovyov, Morgan Frost and Joel Hanley. Only five players under water five on five; Rasmus Andersson, Mikael backlund, Connor Zary, Kevin Bahl and Blake Coleman.
