Well that was something.
The Flames were playing a solid road game, but were down two goals heading to the third period, before exploding for four in the third in skating away with a huge come from behind 5-3 victory in Jersey on Thursday night.
The win keeps the Flames in the final wild card spot race, and moves their record on this trip to 2-1-0.
Additionally it’s a double win as they handed Jersey 0 points which is key to the Devil’s draft position which belongs to the Flames.
Quite the night?
Season turner/definer?
The Lineup
No point in any wholesale changes with the effort the Flames put forward on Tuesday night in Manhattan. The minor switch is in goal with Dustin Wolf getting the start over Dan Vladar, who may still be sleeping in his crease in MSG.
Same 18 skaters and same configurations up front and on the blueline.
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 Joel Farabee 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 Mackenzie Weegar, and then a third pairing of Jake Bean with Daniil Miromanov, Brayden Pachal sitting again.
Dustin Wolf looks to bounce back after a rough one in Toronto.
Stats Dive
Quick look at the team’s special teams after they got filled in on their first game on this road trip.
The powerplay continues to be middling, which is pretty decent when you think of what the team has for personnel. The Flames are ranked 18th overall with a 21.5% proficiency rate. The 10th place team in powerplay success is hitting at a 24.0% clip. That’s a difference of 6 goals on the season and what 2 wins?
On the penalty kill side the Flames are ranked 27th with a 74% success rate. The 10th ranked team has a 81.6% kill rate, exposing the Flames to 15 additional goals down a man on the season which would mean something like 6 wins.
The combined 100 club (PP+PK) has the Flames ranked 23rd at 95.5%.
When it comes to opportunities, the Flames are ranked 18th in differential between times up a man and times short at -5. The most advantaged team is the Detroit Red Wings at +42, followed by Seattle and Colorado. The most picked on team is Los Angeles at -36, followed by Chicago and the Rangers.
Wolf’s Start
Wolf gives up the rebound goal on a wrap around in the first period. Didn’t see a replay that actually showed the puck loose, so it may have been a wedge goal, which can sometimes be called back.
Wolf solid in the first though, as Jersey had the better of the play. Devi’s with a 5-4 edge in high danger chances, and 1.19 in expected goals in the first period (all situations).
Second Jersey goal also an own goal, this time off of Kevin Bahl’s pants on a shot headed 24 inches wide.
One of those nights.
Wolf beaten really for the first time towards the end of the second when Cotter walks around him. Not much chance with both defensemen beaten.
All in all it’s a sub night for Wolf with the Devil’s generating 2.61 in expected goals in all situations and Wolf giving up three, but the two own goals should certainly be taken into account.
Odds and Sods
So hard to come away from that Rangers game with a good pulse on the team. They played great. The Rangers didn’t have a chance, but I’m sure I’m not the only onlooker that wondered how the Rangers could be that bad? If only every opponent would just lay down like that. … I certainly didn’t like the Meier hit on Hanley but I don’t think it was a five minute major. Too much shoulder and not enough numbers for me. … Calgary’s first powerplay unit looked great moving the puck around, much more high to low play and less around the umbrella. Really had the Jersey PK chasing. … Not surprised that Martin Pospisil left the game after that head contact with Tatar. Looked ugly. The broadcast missed the severity of hit originally. Shame too as that line with Kadri and Zary was the team’s best in the first period. Pospisil, of course, has had concussion problems through his career so fingers crossed. … Colour me surprised to see Pospisil back for the second period. Glad. … A lot of guys in his corner, but I just don’t see an NHLer in Adam Klapka. Just doesn’t have the speed, hands or processing time to play a role at this level. If he wasn’t huge he wouldn’t even get a look. … Great player but this team will not be compete ready if Blake Coleman is on the second powerplay unit. Same went for Mikael Backlund before his injury as well. Not enough offensive depth. … Good to see Zary with the third period goal. He was absolutely stoned twice in the game by Markstrom. Getting Zary going would mean a lot to the Flames playoff push. … Have to hand it to the Flames in that third period. That’s a serious desperation level 20 minutes with an outstanding result. Season turning?
Fancy Stats
The Flames came to play. They didn’t get results until the third period but they carried the play and were thwarted by a lot of blocked shots, and their general lack of finish. In the last 25 minutes of the game they just took over and ran the Devil’s over. The Flames, five on five, had 63% (64%/51%/79%) of the shot attempts, 60% of the high danger chances, and 66% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 60% of the shot attempts, 56% of the high danger chances and 57% of the expected goals.
Individually, the Flames were led again by Ryan Lomberg with an xGF% of 90% on the night. Once again that’s a player with single digit minutes, but you have to give the fourth line credit as they’ve been at the top of the heap for three of the last four games despite not spending a lot of time on the ice. Joel Farabee, Adam Klapka and Kevin Rooney all in the 80s. Only four players under water; Jonathan Huberdeau, Morgan Frost, Matt Coronato and Kevin Bahl.
