In a way it was the right finish to what looks like a season.
Another game with a good start.
Another game with 40+ shots.
Another game they found a way to lose in a campaign that has been filled with such instances in the last half of the season.
Tonight the Flames out shot the Coyotes by a 44-30 margin, but gave up a late goal off a Travis Hamonic tip and then two empty net goals in surrendering 5-2 to the Coyotes to get swept on a two game mini trip that was needed keep a season alive.
The pattern is getting to be too much.
Nothing But Winning Now
The math is terrible, they’ll need a pile of help, but the path is there if you believe the projections; the Flames need to find 16 points in their final nine games.
That means a win tonight and then seven more in the final eight games.
So clearly dropping another game in a heartbreaking fashion can’t do wonders for the psyche in the dressing room.
They’re now down to blemish free hockey, a 8-0 sweep and even with that they’ll need a lot to go right on the out of town scoreboard.
It will take the optimist of optimists to steer this season to a playoff spot.
Silver Lining In the Standings
The partially good news, if you want to call it that is their position in the standings. They are unlikely to be caught by any other clubs meaning the Islanders are pretty much locked into their chances of winning the lottery on the Flames pick.
The Islanders, as it stands, have roughly a 9% chance of winning one of the top three spots with Calgary’s standing, meaning 81% of the time they’ll end up either 12th or 13th.
The Flames won’t be caught by the Rangers to the lowest they will drop is one more spot, and they may reel in the Devils and or the Jackets to drop another percentage point off the Islanders chances.
The best news comes in some Oiler points of late, as they’ve moved ahead of the bottom six teams and look to have slotted themselves in a 21% chance of landing one of the top three spots. Enough for Oiler luck to chase down?
The Era of Rasmus?
I think ideally you would like a full roster at this time of year, with the team being down to its last out of the season. That just isn’t the case though, as TJ Brodie was unavailable after getting trucked by Reeves yesterday in Vegas.
A side discussion could be had about Brodie’s season, and whether or not his absence in his present state is a loss or a gain, but regardless it does give the team and the player a preview and perhaps arrive at an answer as to Rasmus Andersson’s readiness for next season should the Flames move some depth and see the player promoted.
These games still matter. A good showing from Andersson tonight and perhaps longer could really avoid the need to use preseason games to gauge a player’s ability to make a leap in the fall.
The result? Kind of a mixed review. He finished last on the team in corsi at 36%, helped somewhat by a pretty scattered night by Brett Kulak. He was -1, thanks to a giveaway by Micheal Ferland, and finished with one shot on goal and two blocks.
Not a complete disaster, but certainly not the rave reviews that would have decisions sealed from the top.
Repeat Start
No it wasn’t a 20-6 edge in shots, but the Flames had more than enough net presence and scoring chances to take a two or three goal lead in the first period once again.
Two Monahan thwarts, a Troy Brouwer denial and a Dougie Hamilton post highlighted yet another strong start for the Flames while coming up empty.
The goal that was scored was waived on a delayed penalty whistled dead, the referee close to the scene deciding that Hjarmalsson touched the puck. On replay it really looked like Frolik was the player in control and the goal should have counted.
When the Coyotes responded they did generate some tension in the Flame’s zone as well however.
Giordano
How many games would the Flames lose in a season if they all brought the same effort as their captain on a night in and night out basis?
Not many.
This isn’t meant to disparage the team, they’re a hard working group, but there’s hard work, and then there’s that unique athlete that is able to dig another layer deeper and do that little bit more on every shift. Giordano is that guy.
Bennett to the Top Line
I thought Bennett was great on the top line tonight despite the trio’s tough night overall.
Both Gaudreau and Monahan finished the game -3 on the backs of some empty net goals, but Bennett was even with the “third” assist on the Calgary second goal. Additionally he almost stuffed a puck and was foiled on two other occasions.
Given the mistake made by Ferland and the strong night by Bennett, I’d guess he’ll remain with the top line at least for now.
Lefty Righty
The lefty righty rule in Calgary was finally broken tonight as the injury to Brodie resulted in Michael Stone playing the left side of the second pairing with Travis Hamonic.
He coughed a puck up early but then settled into the usual Michael Stone night without much of a noticeable difference playing on his off side.
Was that a look to see if Stone could go up the roster if they decided to move Brodie in the off season? Perhaps. Either way the game wasn’t a good measuring stick with the result and the second pairing on the ice for the game winner.
Out of Town
About as bad as you can imagine.
The Flames drop a game with a late heart-breaker, and the Kings score with less than a minute to play to send a game in overtime in Minny and then win it in the extra session.
Typical.
Fancy Stats
The Flames had 54% of the shot attempts with period splits of 50 / 52 and 63%, but the scoring chances were even at 13 apiece. In recent games the Flames have been generating the same level of chances but limiting the opposition to single digit attempts against which speaks to the desperation that left Smith on his own too much of the night.
In all situations the Flames had 56% of the shot attempts and 55% of the scoring chances on the night.
Individually, it was a rough night for the third line as I stated with Andersson and Kulak at the bottom with 36 and 40% respectively. Hot on their heels was the second pairing with 41 and 44% and the third line in the 40s as well. Dougie Hamilton had a monster night with a goal an assist and 72% of the shot attempts, followed by Matt Stajan at 71% in his 999th game. Good nights from the first and second line rounded out the leader board including a 56% night for Bennett on the top line.
