Didn’t you get that feeling that this was going to be a final game of a trip story that was titled either “Jacob Markstrom Steal a 1-0 Roady” or “Flames Run Out of Gas and Waste Markstrom Start”?
Not today.
Sure Jacob Markstorm is the story with a 44 save shutout, no debating that, but the Flames came out and did their part too turning a 1-0 lead into the third into a 4-0 lead and victory against the heavily depleted Pittsburgh Penguins to sweep the road trip.
I’m a positive guy, to a fault by some, but I didn’t see this kind of trip despite the team playing better than their record suggested when they began the season 0-1-1. But 5-0-0 is now the second best road trip in team history, which is something else given some of those 80s teams.
The Flames are now first in the Pacific Division and … well first in the Western Conference.
Heck of a start.
Maybe Darryl should have been brought in sooner?
The Lineup
Gave five of a five game road trip, a trip where he’s used the same 18 skaters and two goaltenders each and every night.
Until tonight.
Something’s up with Noah Hanifin so he’s a scratch after missing the pregame skate after a day off. You never hear what’s what when it comes to injuries, but the summary view is upper body injury. That leaves a change to the pairings with Michael Stone coming into the lineup, but it’s surprising to see they chose to alter all two of the three
pairings rather than putting Stone in for Hanifin righty/lefty issue be damned. So three new pairings; Chris Tanev with Rasmus Andersson as the duo to take the brunt of the hard matchups (both righties), Oliver Kylington with Michael Stone, and then the third pairing stays the same with Juuso Valimaki playing with Erik Gudbranson.
Up front no change again, but at least we got an explanation from Darryl Sutter as to why Sean Monahan is on the fourth line; or at least one he was willing to share. The team wants to have Dillon Dube learn the ropes up the middle and with that they don’t have a spot for Monahan down the middle on the top three lines. Lets go with that … but still thinking there’s more to the story and Monahan is either recovering slowly to surgery, or had a setback that limits his ability to play in the top six.
Either way it’s the same trios; Elias Lindholm with Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, Mikael Backlund with Blake Coleman and Trevor Pitlick, Dillon Dube with Andrew Mangiapane and Brett Ritchie and finally Monahan between Milan Lucic and Trevor Lewis.
Great Start
Once again the Flames jump out to a good start as they pretty much controlled the first six to seven minutes of the first period save a shift or two, but didn’t find the net.
That’s been the story on this trip if not the season, which is certainly something that the avid Calgary fan has to get used to given starts in many games in recent seasons.
Easier to play with the lead than down, but this year’s team is taking that to a whole new level.
Top Corner Johnny
How many times is the little guy going to go far side top cheese?
It’s certainly becoming his go to move when he gets in on a partial break. Tonight I do wonder if his shot his the protruding stick of the Pittsburgh Penguin defenseman, but top corner is top corner, you can’t take that away from him.
Good to see him hit the scoreboard with a goal after starting the season with eight assists.
Scandinavian D
What a game from the Calgary Scandinavian Defense Core.
Rasmus Andersson moves over to his offside but handles the adjustment well logging 22 minutes and a +2.
Oliver Kylington is taken away from babysitter Chris Tanev but is just fine with Michael Stone putting up two points, his 3rd career 2 point game.
And Juuso Valimaki shows more poise than at any point in the last two seasons, moving the puck well as the game looks to have slowed down for him and allowing him to play his game. Finishes +1 in a huge road game.
Getting any of the three to step up this season was key to the Flames success. If all three step up? Completely different season.
Goaltending …
What can you say about Jacob Markstrom?
His dive across the crease paddle save was amazing, but honestly I was more impressed by how square he was to each and every shooter, literally never giving the Penguins a chance.
What a trip … shut out in Detroit, one goal against in Manhattan, and a shut out in Detroit.
Elite .. elite … elite goaltending.
Mike Smith Lite?
And besides the puck stopping, how about the puck handling night for Markstrom?
A great pass to Johnny Gaudreau that almost resulted in the 2-0 goal, but so many dishes to defensemen on dump ins that allowed the team to turn the puck around and take it back up the ice.
Thought Markstrom and Valimaki were noticeable with their communication.
Backlund 400
That’s 400 career points for Mikael Backlund, pretty much the least heralded first round pick in Flames history!
The guy has been a poster boy for the Calgary Flames in his career, and a consistent upper roster presence as the team has moved from the Iginla era into a rebuild and back into the modern playoff-ish team.
Not many guys taken in the 20s turn out to be lifers but Backlund has certainly been that for the Calgary Flames.
There was a lot of worry around his contract extension, but he looks as likely as ever for a 40+ point season. Money.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 35 / Penguins 45
Face Offs: Flames 50% / Penguins 50%
Powerplay: Flames 0-2 / Penguins0-4
Fancy Stats
Ran out of gas right? The Flames had a good start, but had the play carried to them for the most of the night as the Penguins put all kinds of pressure on Jacob Markstrom. Five on five they had 45% of the shot attempts with period splits of 46%/48% and 41% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 40%, and for high danger scoring chances the team had 41%, with a 7-10 split.
In all situations the Flames had 43% of the shot attempts, 41% of the expected goals, and 50% of the high danger splits. Border line steal for Jacob Markstrom, but the high danger splits being even is interesting; speaks to Sutter’s structure.
Individually the Flames were led by Matthew Tkachuk who had 59% of the shot attempts five on five, followed closely by Dillon Dube and Andrew Mangiapane who had 54% and 52% respectively. The only other player at or above 50% was Brett Ritchie and Juuso Valimaki at 52% and 50%. Five players finished under the 40% mark including Tyler Pitlick, Trevor Lewis, Oliver Kylington and Blake Coleman. Interesting to see that air tight third line exploited.
