They’re alive!
For now anyway.
The Calgary Flames can’t win four in a row or force the Wild to lose three in a row in one hockey game. All they can handle is the game in front of them, and handle it they did defeating the Minnesota Wild 4-2 on Friday night.
The Flames got goals from Mikael Backlund, Yegor Sharangovich, Nazem Kadri and Adam Lomberg in building a 4-0 lead early in the third period and then held off a late surge by the Wild.
The win moves the Flames to within 3 points of both the Wild and the Blues with three games to play.
The season is over on Thursday. Have to hand it to them that’s it’s still interesting heading into Sunday.
The Lineup
The Flames without a single change for the most important game of the season. Ordinarily that would be fine, but with a struggling powerplay and Zayne Parekh in the fold that’s enough to drive a fan base crazy.
Nazem Kadri between Jonathan Huberdeau and Adam Klapka, Matt Coronato returning to a line with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman, and then the Philly guys; Forgan Frost and Joel Farabee with Yegor Sharangovich. And finally a fourth line of Kevin Rooney with Adam Klapka and Pospisil.
On the blueline no change; Joel Hanley with Mackenzie Weegar, Kevin Bahl with Rasmus Andersson, and Jake Bean with Brayden Pachal.
Wolf starts again for the desperation Flames.
The Task
Winning four games in a row is a tough ask.
They’ve done it three times this season though, so not impossible, but clearly having to win the last four on demand is a tougher order than just at anytime over an 82 game schedule.
Their first four game streak was to start the season against what turned out to be three non playoff teams.
Their second four game streak came against, once again, three non playoff teams, four if they pull it off and make Minny another one.
Their third four game win streak was, once again, against three non playoff teams on their most recent trip through NY and a game against Seattle.
The demand now will include three playoff teams and a much harder road.
If you had told me that going into tonight’s game the Flames would be 7-2-5 for 19 points in their last 12 games I would have assumed they head already made it.
Wolf’s Start
The Flames were pretty air tight through 45 minutes of hockey, with the Wild only posting three high danger chances in the game’s first 40 minutes.
With the score 4-0 things got more interesting leaving Wolf to make some saves to keep the game a two goal margin.
Through 60 minutes the Wild with 1.81 in expected goals in all situations and Wolf gave up two, so he held serve.
Odds and Sods
I’m not a fan of the hyperbolic social media fan reaction to things. I understand the frustration of not getting Zayne Parekh in the lineup, but wish it didn’t go beyond wish and hope and into insults and a petulant smarter than everyone else attitude. People have reasons, it’s ok not to disagree with them but keep it classy. But I’d have him in tonight. They need to help on the powerplay and going with a 11/7 mix would make his utilization smooth. It’s still an entertainment business, and this isn’t an average prospect. … The Flames came ready to play tonight. They didn’t get that early early goal, but they pushed hard and gave up little setting the tone for the night. Mikael Backlund gets the Flames on the board with a flutter puck rebound that jumps over the goaltenders pad. … Calgary with 6 high danger chances in the first period, that is high for a team that is lucky to get 8 for 60 minutes on most nights. … The Flames pretty much put things away in the second period with two goals; Yegor Sharangovich with a great out of the air hand / eye goal and Nazem Kadri on the powerplay. … Another solid game for Yegor Sharangovich, as the winger continues to find his game. It’s interesting to see him as high as 15 goals on the season as his campaign has had more of a “9” feel to it. Tells you why in most season’s he’ll be a 20 goal guy. … Adam Klapka on the top line again tonight which had it’s good and bad. Great on the forecheck. Not so great handling the puck. Made a brutal choice in the third period costing Wolf the shut out. … Calgary rounds out the scoring with a third period Ryan Lomberg breakaway goal to make it 4-0 and put things away. The Wild scores back to back goals midway through the period to make things interesting. … It’s interesting with all the talk of bringing in young players for weaker veterans, that most of the bottom third of the team had really good games statistically. Pospisil, Bean, Rooney, Hanley, Pachal and Sharangovich were all over 70% in expected goals.
Fancy Stats
Dominant game from the Flames in a game they needed to have. They ran the play pretty much from the drop of the puck, and then found the production to pay off their efforts. The Flames, five on five, had 56% (64%/67%/36%) of the shot attempts, 62% of the high danger chances, and 69% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 53% of the shot attempts, 53% of the high danger chances and 68% of the expected goals.
The Wild brought most of those numbers back in the third period when things were no longer in doubt (score affects).
Individually, the Flames were led by Martin Pospisil with 90% in xGF% on the night. Braydan Pachal, Yegor Sharangovich, Morgan Frost and Jake Bean were all in the 80s. Only three players under water on the night; the top line of Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau and Adam Klapka.
