Not sure what else I can say.
We’ve written this script over and over again in the last two weeks with the injury depleted Flames limping towards the finish line in a season that won’t come soon enough.
The crew out shot and out chanced their opposition, but the exemplary goaltending by Sergei Bobrovsky and the iffy goaltending by Jon Gillies turned what could have been a tight game into a 5-1 triumph by the Jackets.
The Flames have now lost six in a row as they can’t find that April 7th gun shot soon enough.
Like Me Some Nick Shore
This guy is simply a solid hockey player. He actually made some above average plays in offensive situations that didn’t make him look out of place as a top nine (focus on the bottom three of the top nine designation) forward. He moves the puck well, he sees the ice well, he uses his teammates.
The guy hasn’t had a rock solid career to date so I’m guessing the RFA phase won’t be a big issue, but he’s a great replacement for Matt Stajan as the fourth line center.
Perfect actually.
Bennett Continues To Push
Man am I harping on this, but the Flames need to step away from the plank when it comes to moving Sam Bennett. His path has been anything but straight to date, but its coming around and they’d best ride it out and reap the rewards of developing a high end prospect that requires patience.
Tonight he didn’t hit the scoresheet, and that’s both good and bad, as he failed to pick up points but also didn’t register any offensive zone penalties so there’s that.
He did lead the team with five shots on goal but he was also 6-1 in terms of high danger scoring chances.
He’s snake bit, he may always be snake bit, but generating chances in the show is a skill and he has it.
Rasmus Andersson Watch
This kid is NHL ready.
The Flames don’t have a defenseman that is better than Andersson at finding that streaking forward in the seam. He sees the ice well, is hard to play against in his own zone and is similar to Dougie Hamilton in getting pucks through to the net in the offensive zone.
Tonight he was -1 with two shots on goal and a career high 19 minutes. I think they’re using him more and watching. He’s passing the test.
Jon Gillies the Starter
Well that didn’t go well.
David Rittich goes down to Stockton and gets shelled in his first AHL start since November, and Jon Gillies comes up and surrenders five goals on only 28 shots to register a .821 save percentage night.
Sure the Flames were iffy in their own zone early, but a goalie has to make the tough ones too, and he didn’t make many in failing to make an impression on Flames brass on the night.
Gulutzan Support
Was interesting to see the support for Glen Gulutzan coming from different sources in the media in the past few days. None of the mentions have come from Eric Francis articles which is notable to me, as I’d wonder if the team had a plant going on if he was in the works.
Really brings to light the decision that Brad Treliving has to make this off season. What happened this year? Brutal shooting percentage caused by bad luck or a system that keeps shooters form finishing? A terrible powerplay from a setup that doesn’t work, utilization that misses the mark, or bad bounces that are sure to correct? Collapses and rapid goals against because of a lack of character or a team that wants it too much?
I know what the fans want, but it will be interesting to see what the general manager does.
Character Question
Additionally lots of talk in the media about the Flames character, or lack thereof.
Have to say I like the reaction by the team and the coach to the suggestions they have an issue in the dressing room. Players like Sam Bennett and Mark Giordano were more than pissed at the suggestion that the room lacked hoomspa (word trust me) and Gulutzan; his head in a noose, offered him and himself up as being complicit for the plight and not his room, something somewhat interesting given the current circumstances.
Fancy Stats
The Flames had 64% of the five on five shot attempts, a total that included 68%o f the scoring chances and 70% of the high danger scoring chances. In all situations the Flames had 61% of the shot attempts 58% of the scoring chances and 67% of the high danger chances; this was not a 5-1 loss by any means except well … Flames.
Individually, the Flames were led by Tanner Glass (limited ice time) at 83%, Dougie Hamilton 81% and Matt Stajan, Mark Giordano, Sam Bennett and Troy Brouwer all in the 70s. Only Mark Jankoski and Michael Frolik were under the 50% mark on the night.
