Quite the story.
For the first time in franchise history, the Flames sweep all three NY games, and do it with flair in staging another comeback on Saturday afternoon in Long Island.
With the game tied at two late in the third period overtime looked inevitable, but the Islanders scored a go ahead goal making the sweep look all but lost.
But a goal soon after from Jonathan Huberdeau, and a Nazem Kadri goal in overtime turned what looked like a loss into a 4-3 victory to complete a road trip with three wins and a loss.
The Canucks lost, but the Blues won, moving the Flames above the Canucks and to within two points of the Blues with two games in hand.
The season story continues … team looks like they’ve finally hit a wall, only to see them run off three straight wins on the road in tough barns and keep things interesting with April a week away.
Who’d a thunk?
The Lineup
Some late news on scratches heading into this one with both of Mackenzie Weegar and Joel Farabee unable to go. That creates a few holes in the lineup.
Nazem Kadri centering the kids line with Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil, a new 2nd line of Morgan Frost between Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato, the shut down line with Yegor Sharangovich between Dryden Hunt and Blake Coleman, and then a fourth line with Kevin Rooney between Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka.
No change to the top four with Kevin Bahl with Rasmus Andersson and Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachael, and then a third pairing of Jake Bean with Daniil Miromanov.
Bit of a surprise with Dan Vladar getting the start on Long Island. I thought with two days between games we’d see Wolf again for game four of this trip.
Stats Dive
What a difference two hockey games can make
The Flames crumbled in the third period vs Vancouver, were meek against Colorado and had their heads kicked in in Toronto. The season seemed over, the teams metrics were heading into the toilet; it didn’t look like there was much point to the rest of the season.
Then they stroll into New York, win back to back games against the Rangers and Devils; both with elite play driving stats, and with this ten game segment looks as good as any segment they’ve had this season.
So far in 8 games in segment 7 the team has a 4-2-2 record, and a return to pre-Christmas underlying numbers.
Notice the move in metrics in the graph above; high danger splits, shot attempts and shot splits are back to where they were before Christmas, with only expected goals lagging (but improved from the previous segment).
Looks like they’ve found another gear, and at the right time of the year.
Vladar’s Start
Despite giving up two first period goals Dan Vladar was solid to start this one for the Flames. The Islanders had 5 first period high danger chances and put up 13 first period shots.
The Flames were better in the second period, generating more shot volume, but when they bent the Islanders had their chances and Vladar had to be strong.
Islanders with 1.85 in expected goals through 40, Vladar giving up the two first period goals.
Back and forth third period, the Islanders carrying the play. Vladar with a huge pad save on a wraparound with about 5 minutes to play, and then another in the last minute to get the game to overtime.
The Islanders finish with 3.02 expected goals, and Vladar gives up three … slight edge to Vladar, but more in the timing of the saves late.
Odds and Sods
A fairly thin roster gets extremely thin when you have two top nine forwards and your best defenseman out for today’s game. I’m honestly surprised they won two of the first three games on this rip without Mikael Backlund, but losing Farabee and Weegar felt like a road too far. … Fourth line burned for two goals against in the first period against the Islanders. Top three lines all had their moments in the first 20 though. … Matt Coronato with two more goals stretching him to 20 on the season. He’s been projected to 20 for most of the season but just went through a three or four week stretch where he was fighting the puck and with that his chances to score were drying up. No longer. Trip through his home state has done wonders for him. … Huska has something with the team’s current top six. All kinds of chemistry and zone time in both tries. Shame Backlund isn’t there to add that air tight shut down line as well. … Solid second period for the Flames. With the game heading to the third tied at two the Flames looking to win a period and complete a NY sweep. …
Fancy Stats
Unlike the games in Manhattan and Jersey, the Flames were not the better team in their third straight victory. They gave up too much, and they generated too little, and won the game on the balance of the goaltending between the two teams. The Flames, five on five, had 47% (49%/60%/31%) of the shot attempts, 33% of the high danger chances, and 33% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 50% of the shot attempts, 33% of the high danger chances and 40% of the expected goals.
Individually, the Flames were led again by Brayden Pachal with an xGF% of 53% on the night. He was joined by his defensive partner; Joel Hanley as the only player above 50% on the afternoon. The fourth line of Kevin Rooney, Adam Klapka and Ryan Lomberg were all under 20% all told.
