A sloppy game from the start, you just had that sinking feeling the Flames would find a way to lose this one.
The Flames got better as the game went along, and looked like they were going to seize things in the third period, before a return to sloppy play and some iffy goaltending at times cost them in the end.
The 5-4 loss to the Capitals snaps a home point streak at 13 games, and a five game point streak overall.
These games happen.
The Lineup
Despite the back to back situation, the Flames are only making one change for tonight’s game.
Sutter did a great job of managing ice time last night and rolling four lines and three defense pairs, so with that an no travel he didn’t feel fresh troops were needed evidently.
So up front it’s Elias Lindholm with Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, Mikael Backlund with Trevor Lewis and Blake Coleman, Adam Ruzicka with Andrew Mangiapane and Tyler Toffoli, and finally Sean Monahan with Milan Lucic and Dillon Dube. Was last night the best set of four lines we’ve seen this season?
On the blueline it’s Noah Hanifin with Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylilngton with Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov with Erik Gudbranson.
In goal a change, with Daniel Vladar coming in for Jacob Markstrom.
Line Metrics
xGF%
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk 62.6%
Lewis – Backlund – Coleman 60.0%
Mangiapane – Ruzicka – Toffoli 59.1%
Lucic – Monahan – Dube 58.0%
Hanifin – Andersson 58.2%
Kylington – Tanev 57.9%
Zadorov – Gudbranson 58.0%
Goals Saved + Avg
Vladar -3.2
Who They Playing?
The Washington Capitals are a middling team five on five by most metrics. They sit 14th in CF% with the 15th ranked CF60, and the 12th ranked CA60. Their expected goal splits are similar at 14th overall, with the 16th ranked offence. They do a decent job of protecting against the high danger stuff, as they’re ranked 9th in expected goals against.
The Caps finish well, they’re ranked 10th in team five on five save percentage, and 10th in team save percentage despite reports that they’re hunting for a goaltender.
They have the 25th ranked powerplay and the 12th best penalty kill.
Line Shake Up
So much for the line rushes being an indication of lines …
Off the hop Sutter made changes to the bottom three lines putting Backlund with Coleman and Toffoli, Ruzicka between Mangiapane and Dube, and Lewis back to the fourth line with Monahan and Lucic.
Really feels like the Monahan experiment may be running out of steam, doesn’t it?
Kylington Needs to Chill Out
Another game with some wild swings in Oliver Kylington’s game.
He has so much talent, he does a lot of good in skating his way out of trouble and transitioning the puck … even scored a huge go ahead goal in the third period last night.
But once again bobbles with the puck, and issues staying on his skates. At one point I thought he didn’t have the processing speed to play in the NHL, now I wonder if he needs to quiet his brain down a bit so his hands and feet can get in tune.
Vladar and the Bouncing Puck
Wouldn’t hang this loss on the goaltender with the way the team played in front of him for stretches, with that said it wasn’t Daniel Vladar’s best start of his young career.
One thing for sure though, it was an adventure both by his inability to corral pucks and also due to some terrible bounces, including one off the glass that almost resulted in a tap in.
All told 4 goals against on 26 shots for a .846 night.
His goals saved above average slipped another two last night to -5.5, and his save percentage to .900 on the nose.
Rough Night for the Fourth Line and 2nd Defense Pair
Pretty woeful night for the fourth line of Monahan, Lucic and Lewis.
Milan Lucic through the puck up the middle and fell on the Cap’s first goal, Sean Monahan got stripped in the slot on a breakout play for the second. Those two goals took what looked like a batten down the hatches and beat a road team from the East when you don’t have your best into a tight game and an eventual loss.
The Kylington – Tanev pair had a rough one too, both finishing with -3s on the night.
Special Teams
The Flames only got the one opportunity and didn’t get a whole lot done.
Defensively they were perfect in killing all three Capital’s chances including the first two where the Caps didn’t even register a shot.
So with that you give the Flames the edge in special teams; they’ve been amazing killing penalties on home ice this year.
Standings and Record
The Flames missed an opportunity to use a game in hand to further distance the rest of their division with the Knights losing as well, and the Oilers and Kings not in action.
But truthfully they were likely due for a stinker again and the loss didn’t do any real damage to their place in the standings.
They’re still up four points on the Kings, now with just two games in hand.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 35 Caps 27
Face Offs: Flames 46% / Caps 54%
Powerplay: Flames 0-1 / Caps 0-3
Fancy Stats
Overall the Flames had a decent game when it came to the metrics, they carried most of the stats and were the better team five on five. But when they broke down they really broke down giving Vladar little chance on the five on five goals he gave up. The first two momentum changing goals were completely on giveaways. Five on five the Flames had 57% of the shot attempts with period splits of 42%/57% and 70% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 58%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 71%, with a 12-5 split.
In all situations the Flames had 52% of the shot attempts, 45% of the expected goals, and 63% of the high danger splits.
The Flames were lead individually by Elias Lindholm who had 74% of the five on five shot attempts when he was on the ice. Matthew Tkachuk was just behind at 71%. Six players had a night in the 60s including; Johnny Gaudreau, Blake Coleman, Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, Tyler Toffoli and Mikael Backlund. Only five players finished under water; Sean Monahan, Milan Lucic, Trevor Lewis, Adam Ruzicka and Andrew Mangiapane.
