Didn’t see that coming.
The Flames grinding out what looked to be a 2-0 loss get two third period goals from the fourth line, force overtime and win it in a shoot out in the most unexpected fashion.
Their odds on a playoff spot improve a touch, as that was a likely loss on the schedule.
Goals from Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka on the same shift got them a point, and then Dan Vladar stopping all three in the shoot out and Yegor Sharangovich scoring gets them the two points.
Back at it tomorrow night in Utah.
Keep that train a rolling!
The Lineup
Just a change in goal from the overtime loss in Edmonton on Saturday night.
Nazem Kadri with Martin Pospisil and Yegor Sharangovich, Morgan Frost with Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato, Mikael Backlund with Joel Farabee and Blake Coleman. And finally a fourth line of Kevin Rooney with Adam Klapka and Ryan Lomberg.
On the blueline Joel Hanley with Mackenzie Weegar, Kevin Bahl with Rasmus Andersson, and Jake Bean with Brayden Pachal.
Back to Dan Vladar in net.
Stats Dive
Back to back losses with only one earned point doesn’t do much for your playoff chances.
The fact that St. Louis may never lose again makes the prognosis pretty bleak.
But some solace can be a taken from the Flames avoiding the worst case scenario; that is surrendering the 11th overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens.
Below is the current reverse standings heading into action tonight, the points the Flames would need to earn to tie that team, and the win percentage to get there.
Pretty much spells out how unlikely it is that the Flames pick will be 11th to 15th overall (they’d have to play .300 hockey), while also how unlikely it is to move out of the 16th or 17th overall position.
| Draft | Standings | Win % | Pace | Flames | To Tie | Tie % |
| 11 | 22 | 0.507 | 83.1 | 80 | 3 | 0.150 |
| 12 | 21 | 0.520 | 85.3 | 80 | 5 | 0.250 |
| 13 | 20 | 0.521 | 85.4 | 80 | 5 | 0.250 |
| 14 | 19 | 0.527 | 86.4 | 80 | 6 | 0.300 |
| 15 | 18 | 0.527 | 86.5 | 80 | 6 | 0.300 |
| 16 | 17 | 0.547 | 89.8 | 80 | 10 | 0.500 |
| 17 | 16 | 0.556 | 91.1 | 80 | 11 | 0.550 |
| 18 | 15 | 0.567 | 92.9 | 80 | 13 | 0.650 |
| 19 | 14 | 0.575 | 94.4 | 80 | 14 | 0.700 |
| 20 | 13 | 0.580 | 95.1 | 80 | 15 | 0.750 |
| 21 | 12 | 0.588 | 96.4 | 80 | 16 | 0.800 |
Vladar’s Start
Solid start for Dan Vladar once again.
The Flames didn’t give up much; only 1.38 in expected goals for Colorado through 40 minutes and the Avs with the two goals.
Calgary drives pretty hard in the third period, not giving Vladar a lot to do, but he comes up big when he needed to, was great in overtime, and perfect in the shoot out.
The Avalanche finish with 2.40 in expected goals and Vladar gives up the deuce.
Quality start.
Odds and Sods
Lots of talk about Zayne Parekh joining the Flames if his Saginaw Spirit get eliminated. With the Flames playing tonight and tomorrow night he can’t be in Calgary colours for more than 8 games, avoiding the burning of a contract year … unless they make the playoffs, which is unlikely. Even if that wasn’t the case I’m not even sure that burning a year is a bad thing. Maybe he does less with two years than three and gets a more team friendly bridge contract. … Hard working first period for the never quit Flames. They did well to spend as little time as possible in their own zone and generated a decent load of chances the other way. Victimized on a broken stick, creating a Makar goal in in the last 3.5 minutes. … Such a tough way to play. The Flames grinding it out in Colorado only give up four high danger chances to the Avalanche through 40 minutes. The downside? They only generate two of their own. You’re not going to win many hockey games with a three high danger count in a hockey game. Tough sledding …. That third pairing looked lost tonight. A few massive turnovers, and then the unfortunate Bean/Kadri collision creating the second Avalanche goal. … So who had back to back fourth line goals in the third period in a game when the Flames were generating zip? Exactly no one. That’s hockey though right? The Flames came to work tonight, and tipped things somewhat in the third period carrying the play and then getting two depth goals to tie it up. … Overtime is a track meet, with neither team scoring. The shootout with the only goal scorer Sharangovich. Crazy win for the Flames.
Fancy Stats
Pretty much a tale of two games once again. Through 40 minutes it was a grindfest with the Flames generating nothing. The third period was a huge push for the Flames, and in the end they took the expected goal split. The Flames, five on five, had 51% (35%/52%/67%) of the shot attempts, 55% of the high danger chances, and 61% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 48% of the shot attempts, 46% of the high danger chances and 51% of the expected goals.
Individually, the Flames were led again by the fourth line with all three of Kevin Rooney, Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka posting 87% or better in xGF% on the night. Morgan Frost was at 78%, Joel Hanley, Rasmus Andersson, Mackenzie Weegar, Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato were all in the 60s. Four players under 40%; Joel Farabee, Yegor Sharangovich, Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman.
