It was a tale of three periods for the Calgary Flames in their 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night at the Saddledome.
A first period with jump that saw them get into an early 1-0 lead, a second period that was as flat as Deerfoot Trail, and then a third period that was fierce and effective until a late goal put things away for the visitors.
The loss snaps the Flames point streak at four games, and puts an end to a pretty ridiculous travel program that saw them jet setting from left to right across the map between games. In their own beds tonight with no travel before their game on Saturday against the Predators.
First Line Woes
The first line has really gone quiet in the past half dozen games after a red hot November. This happens with any and every productive line but through most of the past few games it was pretty obvious to pinpoint the reason; they were forcing it.
Johnny Gaudreau especially was trying to will plays to happen that just weren’t there, often resulting in turnovers and very little by way of offence.
Tonight however I thought Gaudreau looked like he was back to his game, but the other winger on the line Micheal Ferland had a night he’d like to put behind him quickly. He turned the puck over in the neutral zone resulting in the Shark’s first goal, and then turned it over two times on one shift in the second leading to a powerplay that led to the Shark’s second goal.
Bear down buddy.
Powerplay Powerless
Other night of terrible powerplays including 30 seconds of a two man advantage where they literally did nothing.
Structurally I liked that they moved Johnny Gaudreau over to the right side on the half wall, but I still think they’d be better to promote Dougie Hamilton to the right side with either TJ Brodie or Mark Giordano at the top of the umbrella.
Details
Much of the Flames struggles tonight came by way of those little details that are mostly unrecognizable to most hockey fans, but deadly when it comes to the out comes of games.
The grey zone, the area just inside your own blueline and just outside the opposition blueline is where games are won and lost and tonight the Flames lost in both regions miserably. Pucks that should have been out were turned over, and pucks that should have been in were put to the opposing defensemen and not behind them, killing the forecheck.
A very good indication of a tired hockey team.
The Bouncing Bennett
No points again tonight, but once again he was very noticeable getting in on pucks and having jump on every shift. It’s amazing how much a few points has meant to his overall game and confidence. He was set up by Ferland in the third with a blue chip chance, set up Ferland with a pass and was a difficult player to play against all night. I’d hope that he’s gotten over that mental hurdle with recent production so he can stay in this zone if he goes a game or two without hitting the scoresheet.
Line Scrambler
Have to hand it to Glen Gulutzan for waking up his team after a frightful second period. Towards the end of the middle frame he moved Johnny Gaudreau from the first line to the third line and Sam Bennett from the third line to the first, essentially creating three second lines that gave the team a tonne of jump in the third period.
Gaudreau’s goal came from a Garnet Hathaway pass, and as I mentioned above Ferland and Bennett seemed to get on the same page as well. Great way to shake up the doldrums and get the team back into the groove.
Smith on Home Ice
The Sharks were only credited with three five on five scoring chances, but they scored two goals through the wickets of Mike Smith on home ice.
The nightly tally was a .897 save percentage, which isn’t to say he played poorly, but the trend has continued where he doesn’t seem to get the breaks for results on home ice. The Flames now sit 8-9-0 at the Saddledome this season, one of the principal culprits in the team not being solidly in a playoff spot by now despite some pretty solid play. Both the team and Smith have to find that “our house” feel soon to turn the home record around and make ground in the Pacific.
The Non Call
The puck was in the net before the whistle blew, don’t have a problem with that.
However if the officials new that Braun’s trip on Johnny Gaudreau would have resulted in a Sharks go ahead goal with just over three minutes to play they would have called a penalty. Referees hate deciding games, at least most of them do, so at that point they were likely more worried about the Flames turning the call into a powerplay goal than that of the Sharks marching down the ice and winning it.
Calculated risk and they lost. Happens.
Fancy Stats
The Flames had 57% of the five on five shot attempts, and 53% overall including the Shark powerplay which was effective, and the Flames powerplay which was a giant whiff once again. Scoring chances were 15-3 Calgary five on five and 15-6 overall, so yes if you do the math you will see another night without a scoring chance on the man advantage.
Individually, Travis Hamonic had his eye test match his stats summary as he led the team with 67% shot attempts and was clearly money on the second pairing. Sam Bennett was next in line at 65%, while TJ Brodie, Michael Frolik, Troy Brouwer and Mikael Backlund were all over 60%. Only four players were sub 50% on the night including Curtis Lazar at 33%, Micheal Ferland at 43%, as well as the third pairing of Stone and Kulak.
