Well that was something, wasn’t it?
When the Flames played arguably their worst game of the season on Thursday against Dallas, a game in which they scored late and found a way to get a point, you had to wonder if things were about to change after a torrid start to the season.
Are they dialing Darryl Sutter out? Has the league figured out their system? Was the other shoe always going to drop?
None of those questions are answered after tonight’s 6-0 victory over a tired New York Ranger club as it’s still early, but a 60 minute, dominant effort sure punts the ball down the field to be answered later.
The Flames were full marks from coast to coast in a game that was really never in doubt.
What a start to the season.
Looking forward to Edmonton fans whining about the Rangers being tired.
The Lineup
No change for the Flames, coming off back to back overtime losses on home ice.
In goal Jacob Markstrom, who gave up four goals against the Stars in a game with maybe one or two he’d like to have back. He’s had his goals saved above average drop from 8 and change to just under 6 in the last two contests, after being red hot the week prior.
On the blueline no change as well as Noah Hanifin lines up with Rasmus Andersson, Chris Tanev with Oliver Kylington, and Nikita Zadorov with Erik Gudbranson, Zadorov coming off a two point effort.
The forwards the same as well with Brett Ritchie out. Walker Duehr continues to sit and watch at the NHL level. So it’s Elias Lindholm with Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, Mikael Backlund with Blake Coleman and Tyler Pitlick, Dillon Dube between Milan Lucic and Andrew Mangiapane, and finally Sean Monahan between Trevor Lewis and Brad Richardson.
Line Metrics
xGF%
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk 64.2%
Coleman – Backlund – Pitlick 52.6%
Lucic – Dube – Mangiapane NA%
Lucic – Monahan – Lewis NA%
Hanifin – Andersson 51.3%
Kylington – Tanev 66.7%
Zadorov – Gudbranson 61.9%
Goals Saved + Avg
Markstrom 4.7
Fox Watch
Man that was entertaining.
The Dome as a collective were on their game tonight jumping all over the player that spurned them every time he touched the puck.
Adding to the drama was a first period goal by Adam Fox, which featured the player jumping into the glass in defiance to the home crowd, only to see the goal called back.
The jumbotron crew was ready to do their part as well putting his face on the screen when the goal was called off creating another boisterous reaction from the crowd.
Minutes later you couldn’t miss a “Fox You Suck!” chant taking over the proceedings.
And it never quit from there.
Monahan Pops Another
Great to see Sean Monahan pop another powerplay goal with that patented release in the first period.
A lot of things on the recipe list to start the season have gone the Flames way including;
- Jacob Markstrom of course being the number one goaltender he is
- 2 of the 3 young defenseman taking a step
- the top line continuing what we saw to wrap up last season
But Sean Monahan being a factor would be a huge lift for the team. Good to see him finding the net, and continuing to claw his way back to his post injury play. Would be great to see him force his way back into the top six.
Hostile Game!
Usually when you play a team from the other conference the game is very clinical.
There’s the odd body contact, the odd scrum but for the most part the teams are focused on the two points and not adding a brick to a rivalry wall.
Tonight though it was very different. Huge hits. A fight. Lots of after whistle animosity. Really added to the entertainment level of a Saturday Night game on Hockey Night in Canada.
Maybe the NHL should try and schedule the intra conference games in tight order as often as they can as a rule.
Tkachuk On Fox
This one was interesting to me.
Lots of talk over the past year about Matthew Tkachuk’s future in Calgary. That narrative has two parts; the player’s desire to be here which is largely unfounded, and then of course the contract and the qualifying offer and the value of the player.
So I thought it was interesting that Tkachuk went out of his way to target Adam Fox physically tonight.
They’re both American and are sure to play on many a US team at world events through their careers, but is Tkachuk personally pissed that Fox didn’t sign in Calgary? Is he just making sure he’s adding the fervor
from the crowd to get the game going?
Interesting either way.
Honestly I think it had a dampening effect on his game.
Markstrom Start
Wow … that’s four shut outs in nine starts to start the season, quite the feat.
The score was lopsided but don’t sleep on Markstrom’s start as he made about a half dozen circus stops to keep the Flames up when it was close, and then to preserve his doughnut when things got lopsided.
The monster size goaltender is moving very well in his crease, and seeing everything.
Don’t think he was the better goaltender in either of the last two games, both overtime losses, but his overall body of work has been outstanding this season.
Kylington Keeps It Going
I think the little guy has done enough to buy some trust from Darryl Sutter.
And by that I mean he creates enough that you can overlook the odd over zealous play and mistake.
Oliver Kylington played far from an air tight game, he coughed up the puck on a couple of occasions and likely tested the anger bank of his head coach.
But he also skated the puck very well, and continued his point streak on the team’s third goal when his shot missed the net but banked perfectly to Brad Richardson.
Sutter is now dummy, it’s not all roses with Kylington, but he’s batting over .500 in impact and making a difference.
Flames Top Line Dominant
Johnny Gaudreau with two goals and an assist.
Matthew Tkachuk with a highlight reel goal and three helpers.
The quietest of the trio, Elias Lindholm with two assists.
The Flames top line just keeps getting better and better. All kinds of creativity offensively, but also spending very little time in their zone.
The Flames may lack that generational guy that is moving the needle across the league, but hey have one of the best top lines going to start the season.
Lucic On 30 Goal Pace!
No I’m not suggesting the big lug is going to score 30.
But his share of bounces to start the season is certainly suggesting 10-15 is possible and a great story that continues to roll out after his trade from Edmonton.
With James Neal bought out and applying his trade in St. Louis, Milan Lucic has quietly moved back into a third line role in Calgary and seems to have found better chemistry with Andrew Mangiapane and Dillon Dube than was enjoyed by Brett Ritchie.
If that continues to be the case he may cement himself a home and create a great story in year three in Calgary.
What a trade … keep an eye on Jack Beck goal totals!
Shesterkin Finds His Nemesis
Igor Shesterkin has had a great start to the season, well at least against anyone not wearing a white C and league leading uniforms.
Lighting up the league with road victories, goals against average and save percentage the Russian stopper has given up 11 goals to the Flames in two starts, kicking a huge dent in his numbers on the season.
Luckily he’s done with the Flames until the cup final.
Dube Finding Next Gear?
Some pretty dominant shifts and great underlying numbers from Dillon Dube as he finds chemistry on a line with Milan Lucic and Andrew Mangiapane and learns the center position.
If this continues it’s a master stroke by Darryl Sutter as he moves an up and down winger to the middle only to have him find his game and bolster the Flames up the middle.
Dube was noticeable with the puck tonight, almost sharing the limelight with Mangiapane for ragging the puck and controlling the cycle.
Exciting times in the depth conversation.
Foot On the Pedal
What an impact from a coaching staff to have this team this focused this season.
Even at the best of times the Flames were apt to take the foot off the pedal when they got up a few goals and entered a third period.
Tonight they just kept coming in waves after killing off an early third period Ranger powerplay, adding three more goals and another 12 shots to their totals.
The Rangers honestly didn’t have a chance.
Special Teams
Once again the Flames win the battle of the special teams scoring once on three opportunities, while blanking the Rangers on their three chances.
Sutter isn’t too fussed on percentages, but he believes scoring a powerplay goal per game is huge in terms of winning hockey games.
To start the season he’s 100% bang on.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 37/ Rangers 22
Face Offs: Flames 49% / Rangers 51%
Powerplay: Flames 1-3 / Rangers 0-3
Fancy Stats
Another dominant game by the Flames in terms of possession and they were consistent in applying pressure throughout the 60 minutes. Five on five they had 60% of the shot attempts with period splits of 69%/59% and 52% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 66%, and for high danger scoring chances the team had 55%, with a dominant 11-9 split. Nine is actually a big number for this team to give up on the year, so give credit to Jacob Markstorm for steering home a shut out.
In all situations the Flames had 58% of the shot attempts, 58% of the expected goals, and 56% of the high danger splits.
Individually the Flames were led by the third line with Andrew Mangiapane, Dillon Dube and Milan Lucic posting 79%, 76% and 69% of the five on five shot attempts when they were on the ice. Matthew Tkachuk, Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Johnny Gaudreau, Oliver Kylington, Chris Tanev and Rasmus Andersson were all at or over the 60% mark. Only four players finished under water; Tyler Pitlick and Mikael Backlund in the 30s, and Sean Monahan and Trevor Lewis just short of 50%.
