Under Darryl Sutter the Flames play to roll their regular roster and stay sharp for their upcoming playoff series against one of Nashville or Dallas (yeah calling it).
Tonight, the Flames were text book in limiting the chances of a desperate Vancouver team, and getting it done before their backup and their backup to the backup with Jacob Markstrom in street clothes.
The Flames were full money to be up 2-0, but Vancouver tied it up early in the third before the Flames took it away with three straight goals.
Elias Lindholm joined the 40 goal club, and Johnny Gaudreau passed Joey Mullen for all time best seasons in a memorable night at the Saddledome for a meaningless game for the Flames.
Next home game … game one!
The Lineup
Anyone expecting a bunch of healthy scratches from Darryl Sutter with the team clinching the division on Thursday haven’t been paying attention. Just one change to what’s been the regular lineup and that comes in goal.
On the blueline Noah Hanifin with Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylington with Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov with Erik Gudbranson.
Up front it’s Elias Lindholm with Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, Mikael Backlund with Andrew Mangiapane and Tyler Toffoli, Calle Jarnkrok with Dillon Dube and Blake Coleman, and finally Trevor Lewis at center with Milan Lucic and Brett Ritchie.
Jacob Markstrom is a healthy scratch however, and Dustin Wolf is backing up Dan Vladar.
Line Metrics
xGF%
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk 62.9%
Mangiapane – Backlund – Tofoli 43.7%
Dube – Jarnkrok – Coleman 45.9%
Lucic – Lewis – Ritchie 33.3%
Hanifin – Andersson 57.2%
Kylington – Tanev 58.3%
Zadorov – Gudbranson 56.6%
Goals Saved + Avg
Vladar -4.2
Canucks & Flames: Last 10 games
The Canucks have been pushing hard to stay in the playoff hunt, and with that have the 10th best win percentage in the last ten games at 0.700. They are 15th in CF% in that time frame, and have the 16th ranked xGF%. They’re getting it done though, with the 4th ranked team five on five shooting percentage and the 3rd highest save percentage for a smoking hot PDO of 1.052, second only to the Blues in the last ten games.
The Flames are 3rd for points in the last ten games at 0.850. They have the 4th ranked CF%, and the 12th ranked xGF%. They have the 9th ranked team shooting percentage and the 14th ranked save percentage. Their PDO is 6th at a pretty sustainable 1.022.
Vladar’s Start
Once again I thought Vladar was solid, and money as a back up goaltender.
If you wanted to nitpick it would be the Pettersson goal in the third period, but that was a well placed rocket from a very skilled hockey player, so personally I think you let it slide.
The Flames were very good defensively, and didn’t give up a whole lot, but Vladar just does what he does; very calming presence in the Flames net for a backup.
Such a great add.
Taking Care of Business
Another night that I just loved in their own zone in terms of limiting chances and not panicking when they had to chase the play down low.
Remember the bubble series against Dallas when the Stars figured out Ward’s collapse around the net system and just worked the perimeter until the Flames were exhausted and the delivered the death blows?
Not seeing anything like that down the stretch as the Flames refine their game.
They look ready to handle pressure in a playoff series.
Lindholm Hits 40
Just great to see these monkeys quickly falling off most of the player’s backs.
With Gaudreau hitting 100, then Tkachuk hitting 40 and 100, the focus was on two more milestones, and maybe three if you’re optimistic.
Tonight Lindholm on a powerplay in the second period put the Flames up 1-0 and secured his 40th goal of the season. You could tell from his reaction it was weighing on him.
That leaves Gaudreau with his quest for 40 just two short, and Andrew Mangiapane five short with three games to play.
Gaudreau Meet Mr. Mullen
Speaking of Johnny Gaudreau, for me he moved into some rare air tonight with his assist on the Elias Lindholm goal. That assist moved him to 110 points and a tie with one of my favourites, Joey Mullen.
Later an empty net goal moved him into sole possession of 2nd place all time for point produced in a season. And that’s it … he can add more points and pad his lead, but he’s not going to catch Kent Nilsson.
Many had high hopes when the Flames had this little guy in the fourth round that was making noise in the college hockey in the US, but literally none of us saw the best season in modern NHL Flames history from the guy.
Incredible to watch.
Kylington Skating
Just love me some Oliver Kylington, and so happy to be wrong about the player.
Since coming back from his injury he’s been really really solid, less bobbles with the puck, and less blown tires with his skates, and a difference maker in the transition game. He’s limited when the puck comes back to him; he doesn’t have a cannon and isn’t in the plus skill category for getting pucks through to the net.
But what a player when you need a burst of speed to close a gap.
Tonight in the second period when Johnny Gaudreau turned the puck over on a pressure cycle shift it looked like a two on one was forming. Instead Kylington just blazed towards the puck carrier and completely nullified the opportunity.
So impressive.
Here’s the Beef!
May not work against all teams. May not work all nights.
But tonight the fourth line was about 100 pounds more than the Canucks could handle on most shifts.
Some punishing cycle shifts, some good chances, and spending very little time in their own zone.
It was fitting that when Vancouver tied it with the fourth line on the ice, they stayed out and quickly put the Flames back up again.
Dube with Two Again
When Dillon Dube went off in the bubble I was pretty sure that it was a turning point on his way to being a 2o goal guy in the NHL season after season.
Didn’t see that last year.
Didn’t really see it this year.
But somewhere around early February the narrative seemed to change both from the player and from his coach, as Dube started talking in Sutter platitudes in press conferences, and soon after he starting filling the net.
Tonight two more to give him 16 on the season, and into a tie with Blake Coleman for that next wave of goal scoring for the Flames. (Just behind Tyler Toffoli if you look at his full season output)
A month ago the talk was about Tyler Toffoli, Blake Coleman, and Mikael Backlund.
Great to see Dube in the mix, and Calle Jarnkrok added.
Special Teams
Flames get the nod for the first period Elias Lindholm powerplay goal, the only special teams goal on the night.
Discipline was key, as the officials only called a total of three penalties with the Flames going 1/2 to Vancouver 0/1.
Standings and Record
Nothing much to play for for the Flames with the division locked up.
The win gives them 108 points on the season, 49 wins and a .684 win percentage. They are ten points up on the Oilers and 19 points clear of a playoff spot.
It also moves them a point up on the 2018-19 Flames with three games to go.
They are now the second best version of this franchise in 50 years and 49 seasons.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 31 Canucks 32
Face Offs: Flames 54% / Canucks 46%
Powerplay: Flames 1-2 / Canucks 0-1
Fancy Stats
For most of this game the score was closer than it should have been. The Flames were up 2-1 after 40 but should have been up 4-1. In the third the flood gates finally opened erasing a 2-2 tie and having the Flames walk away in the laugher that it should have been. Five on five the Flames had 64% of the shot attempts with period splits of 69%/63% and 59% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 60%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 65%, with a 13-7 split.
In all situations the Flames had 59% of the shot attempts, 68% of the expected goals, and 64% of the high danger splits. The right team clearly won.
Individually the Flames were led by Johnny Gaudreau, with an xGF% of 77% five on five on the night. Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk, Erik Gudbranson and Nikita Zadorov also had nights in the 70s. Chris Tanev, Oliver Kylington, Blake Coleman and Dillon Dube were in the 60s. Only four players finished under water in expected goal splits; Noah Hanifin, Tyler Toffoli, Rasmus Andersson and Milan Lucic.
