Completely outclassed again.
Dustin Wolf pulled, as the Leafs completely run over the Flames by a 6-2 score on Monday night, a game on Prime.
The loss is the Flames third in a row (they picked up one point in the three games) putting the season in jeopardy as the losses line up and the chances of securing that final playoff spot seem to dwindle.
Have to wonder if a setback in Manhattan and Jersey this week change their plans to the end of the season.
Guess we will see …
The Lineup
The Flames got run over against the Avalanche on Friday, and midway through that game Ryan Huska abandoned his starting lineup and went with a completely revamped top nine forwards. That had the team more competitive in the third period, and it appears he’ll continue that look into tonight’s game in Toronto.
So look for Nazem Kadri with Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil, Morgan Frost with Matt Coronato and Blake Coleman, third line of Yegor Sharangovich between Joel Farabee and Dryden Hunt, and then a fourth line with Kevin Rooney between Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka.
The Backlund injury and the Zary suspension have the Flames looking … a little thin.
On the blueline a return to the normal dressed xi; Kevin Bahl with Rasmus Andersson and Joel Hanley and Mackenzie Weegar, and then a third pairing of Jake Bean with Brayden Pachal; Miromanov sitting again.
Dustin Wolf gets the start in goal goal again.
Stats Dive
The theory I’ve been running with all season is simple.
The Flames work hard. Damn hard. But when other teams start to match their work ethic things fall apart quickly. As a season progresses teams continue to ramp up, but a team with limited talent doesn’t have said ramp at their disposal as they’re already laying it all on the line.
An elite goaltender can mask this phenomena, but only to a point.
As the graph above shows, the Flames had a fortuitous start to the season, then played 30 very solid games catching many an opponent by surprise.
But the last 25 games have been a different story altogether with the team’s expected goal splits and high danger share falling off a cliff.
That isn’t winning hockey, I don’t care who tends goal.
Wolf’s Start
Just not his night.
First time Dustin Wolf has been pulled this season, which is something given how many more starts the player has had this season.
The Leafs had 3.01 in all situations expected goals through two periods, but scored on Dustin Wolf five times. The Flames gave up 14 high danger chances through the 40 minutes.
Dan Vladar gave up a third period goal on a 0.27 expected goal total.
Not the best of nights for Calgary goaltending.
Odds and Sods
Not the best of starts for the Flames, as they get pinned in on the second shift and surrender the first goal of the game to Max Domi just two minutes in. The Flames get two powerplay chances, but don’t generate enough, giving the Maple Leafs momentum, which results on a bit of an onslaught on Dustin Wolf for the rest of the period. After a few blue chip saves the Flames force a turnover resulting in a Rasmus Andersson goal in the last minute. Flames escape period one tied at one mainly due to Dustin Wolf. … Rasmus Andersson with his first death stare since February 6th, a home loss to the Avalanche. … It continues to be tough to watch Yegor Sharangovich. He did clear a puck from in front of Wolf in the first period, but every other touch was a complete tire fire. His confidence is just shot. I know that’s not news to anyone. … Leafs powerplay goal to go ahead, followed by what looked like a Flames powerplay goal from Morgan Frost, but no. Frost’s goal overturned on an offside challenge. Never saw a replay that definitively showed it off side but I assume they had a look we didn’t see. It sure seemed offside. … The Leafs pretty much put it away with goal number three against the goal starved Flames when four Calgary Flames (Huberdeau, Kardi, Bean and Pachal) all stand out front of the net on a dump in but none of the four pick up Nick Robertson. … Nightmare period comes to an end with two Auston Matthews powerplay goals. Game really over. … Is it me or is Lanny McDonald getting more entertaining with every year since retirement? He and Sittler between periods with some great laughs. Such a great ambassador for the hockey team. Glad he’s a Flame. … Is there a player on the Flames that creates as much and receives so little as Morgan Frost? Goal called back tonight, but so many strong touches and created so much with zero points. Seems to be his story in a Calgary uni..
Fancy Stats
Blown out on the scoreboard, and equally blown out on the spreadsheets in press row as the Flames were completely caved in tonight by a far better team. The Flames, five on five, had 57% (35%/61%/86%) of the shot attempts, 22% of the high danger chances, and 35% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 59% of the shot attempts, 26% of the high danger chances and 41% of the expected goals.
Individually, the Flames were led by Joel Farabee with an xGF% of 64% on the night. Four other Flames players were above the break even point; Nazem Kadri, Kevin Bahl, Yegor Sharangovich and Jonathan Huberdeau. Four players under 20% on the night; Brayden Pachal, Morgan Frost, Matt Coronato and Blake Coleman.
