Another gutsy performance by the Flames, this one though ending in a 4-1 loss as the Edmonton Oilers score two short handed goals to bookend Calgary’s only snipe as they popped two early ones in the first.
The Flames came to play, at least they did once they settled in, so no point in questioning effort or attitude, something we’ve seen of late.
Good news I guess is that the team seems pretty dialed in again as Darryl Sutter seems to have made his mark. Bad news of course is the predicament they find themselves in with the Habs erasing a 2-0 third period Senator lead to win in overtime.
It’s not over until it’s over, but lets face it … it’s over.
The Line Up
Not a single change to the lineup after the Flames 3-1 victory on Thursday night. I’d like to see an adjustment or two up front to be honest, but I guess you can’t argue with going with a winning lineup. The Flames are a respectable 6-3-0 in their last nine, which keeps things interesting, but with the Canadiens winning in Winnipeg last night it’s likely too little too late.
-The Cage
Right back to Jacob Markstrom again tonight, as the goaltender continues to rack up quality start after quality start. Hockeyreference.com has a quality start % rate for each goaltender and Markstrom’s percentage is at .541, which is a step back from the last two seasons in Vancouver, but certainly nearing those numbers.
Jacob Markstrom
Goals Saved above average -7.3
Louis Domingue
Yet to play
The Blueline
No change on the blueline as Mark Giordano goes with Chris Tanev, Nikita Nesterov with Rasmus Andersson, and Juuso Valimaki with Michael Stone. Thought the second pairing of Nesterov and Andersson were great against Edmonton on Thursday, with Nesterov really stepping up physically. His hit on McDavid had more stick in it that I originally though, but good to see him stood up nonetheless.
Giordano – Tanev
59% xGF in 185 minutes
Nesterov – Andersson
43% xGF in 42 minutes
Valimaki – Stone
52% xGF in 96 minutes
Up Front
No change up front as well. Elias Lindholm with Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk; a line that I thought was pretty dominant on Thursday. Sean Monahan with Andrew Mangiapane and Brett Ritchie; a line that had trouble finding any flow. Mikael Backlund with Milan Lucic and Dillon Dube, thought Dube gave them a spark. And finally Derek Ryan with Joakim Nordstrom and Buddy Robinson.
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk
57% xGF in 69 minutes
Mangiapane – Monahan – Ritchie
61% xGF in 3 minutes
Lucic – Backlund – Dube
45% xGF in 40 minutes
Nordstrom – Ryan – Robinson
57% xGF in 6 minutes
~ Data from NaturalStatTrick, and Moneypuck
Scary Start!
Clearly getting down 2-0 isn’t a good start, but it could have been worse!
Some big saves from a ready Jacob Markstrom for sure, but how about that first shift of the game.
First Chris Tanev deflects the puck off his own post, then he and an Oiler combine to send the puck across the crease on the rebound behind Markstrom only to have Mark Giordano swoop in and keep it from going off the post and in.
Could have been ugly.
Calgary got back to back powerplays midway through the period, and with that turned the momentum around and finished the period with some moxie but the damage had already been done.
The top line especially had a moribund first period, getting hemmed in their own zone and a goal against. The trio didn’t have a single first period five on five shot attempt. That’s not good!
Oiler’s Thirds?
Not that I can blame them given the other choice are those loud orange numbers, but how are the Oilers using a third jersey more than their primary home jersey this year?
Thought there were rules and guidelines on how the team can roll out each set through this 56 game season.
Either way glad Calgary isn’t walking out the black C home jerseys more often, so thankful for that.
To me the Oilers best dark jersey has always been their original blue jersey from the 80s, can’t believe it’s not in the current rotation.
Flames Stars Come to Play
We’ve said it often, your best players have to be your best players.
Tonight I thought most of Calgary’s best players had solid nights in a great effort in Edmonton.
Johnny Gaudreau with a goal and a cross bar, Matthew Tkachuk with a key assist and all kinds of spit and fire, Elias Lindholm driving the play both directions. Solid games from Mark Giordano and Chris Tanev, and a great night in net again for Jacob Markstrom.
Sure wish we saw this more often earlier in the season.
Tkachuk vs Smith
Just love how Tkachuk gets under the skin of the opposition.
His battles with Mike Smith including a slash to the back of the legs made for good entertainment.
When you establish a habit of being a bit of a snake it’s funny to see the assumption of snake behaviour even if the actual behaviour doesn’t happen. Late in the second Tkachuk takes a shot on goal and then drives near the net … near … and has Tyson Barrie lose his mind and come after a player that literally stopped short of touching a goaltender or digging for a rebound.
Third period more of the same as he goes off with Barrie again after Barrie cross checks him and then applies the can opener, Tkachuk replying with a hard slash.
He’s been off all year, but solid in back to back games against Edmonton.
How Does No-one Surrender a Pick for Derek Ryan?
Such a solid hockey player, and a I dare say one of the best fourth line players (centers) in the National Hockey League.
He makes players around him better, and doesn’t quit on any shift.
Imagine a playoff bound team being able to walk out an option like that in a playoff series?
Happy to do his thing killing penalties and playing a fourth line shift, but if injuries arise (nudge … they always do) he can move up the roster and fill a bigger role and excel.
Silly shame on you 16 playoff teams. Shame!
Team Stats:
Shots – Flames 30 Oilers 29
Face Offs – Flames 35%
Powerplay – Flames 0/3 Oilers 1/2
Player Stats:
Points – Three Flames players in on the only Calgary goal; Johnny Gaudreau with the goal, Matthew Tkachuk and Chris Tanev with the helpers.
Plus/Minus – Only one plus player in the lineup and that’s Chris Tanev with a +1 night.
Shots – Mark Giordano was busy as he led the Flames with seven shots on goal.
Fancy Stats
After the first period tonight the Flames pretty much dominated the game five on five posting 61% for shot attempts with period splits of 35%/85% and 58%. In terms of high danger chances the two teams squared up at six apiece. Expected goal splits fell Calgary’s way with 56% on the night.
In all situations the Flames had 61% of the shot attempts, 43% of the high danger chances and an expected goal split of 45%, as the Oiler’s powerplay was substantially more dangerous than the Calgary counter.
Individually the Flames were led by the fourth line as they had an incredible night both visually and statistically. Joakim Nordstrom was in the apex position with 93%, followed by Buddy Robinson at 93% (slightly less) and Derek Ryan at 88%. Sean Monahan, Andrew Mangiapane, Chris Tanev, Juuso Valimaki, Mark Giordano and Michael Stone also had big nights, all finishing in the 60s. Only two players finished the game under water; Elias Lindholm and Milan Lucic.
