Wouldn’t that be a playoff series?
The Flames came from behind three times to force overtime; the third of three games to enter extra time between the teams, before winning it on an Elias Lindholm strike through former Flame David Rittich.
The game was tied when Matthew Tkachuk tied the game with 0.1 seconds left on the clock.
The loss for the Predators moves them into a tie with the Stars with even games played for the final playoff spot.
Will be an interesting week.
With two fights and a lot of scrums the Flames were on their toes to send a message should the Predators be their first round foes.
The Lineup
No change from Saturday night in terms of skaters and the goaltender.
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 back on the bench and is backing up Dan Vladar.
Line Metrics
xGF%
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk 63.1%
Mangiapane – Backlund – Tofoli 43.3%
Dube – Jarnkrok – Coleman 44.1%
Lucic – Lewis – Ritchie 40.0%
Hanifin – Andersson 57.0%
Kylington – Tanev 58.5%
Zadorov – Gudbranson 56.8%
Goals Saved + Avg
Vladar -4.9
Canucks & Flames: Last 10 games
With a playoff spot still doubt the Predators haven’t exactly been lighting up. In terms of points percentage in the last ten games they are ranked a rather pedestrian 20th overall right at .500. They have the 10th best CF% in that stretch however, and the 14th ranked xGF%. Huge execution issue as they are ranked last overall in team shooting percentage five on five, and 23rd in team save percentage.
The Flames over the same ten game span are ranked 4th in points percentage at 0.850. Their play driving (CF%) is also 4th overall, and their xGF% is ranked 10th. Team shooting percentage is at 7th overall, and team goaltending at 16th.
Was That a Plan?
Have to wonder if Nashville mocked up a strategy of taking it to Calgary physically.
If so … not sure it worked.
In fact it might have backfired.
The Flames got more and more fired up with all the rough stuff, and it really played into their game.
The Predators lead the league in hits, fights and penalty minutes to this is what they do, but in tonight’s game I honestly felt they handed the opposition; one which had nothing to play for, all the reason to want to win the game badly.
Tkachuk Hilarious
What a game from Matthew Tkachuk.
He highsticks Duchene on what looked like a careless accident, sort of takes a spear, goes nuts and doesn’t get his fight and then puts on a show in the penalty box.
On the night he delivered two or three circus hits, and had the Predators completely flumoxxed all night.
Then sure … why not … ties it up with 1/10 of a second left on the clock to send it into overtime.
When the Drew Doughty incident created a lot of focus on the player in his second season I think it effected Tkachuk in the playoffs.
Don’t see that happening this year.
Dube Again and Again
Now up to 18 on the season with yet another two goal game.
He now has four two goal games in his career, but three in his last six games.
He’s feeling it.
And talk about timing with the third line winger poised to add some playoff depth scoring.
I’ve said it often in the last ten games, but a grouping of Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund, Tyler Toffoli and Blake Coleman is a pretty good second wave. Adding another player to that wave is paramount.
Markstrom on the Bench
Have to chuckle at Jacob Markstrom on the bench. The guy is a real team guy.
When the team was leaving the bench after the first period he was visibly fired up from the rough stuff … high fiving everyone including the trainer on the way off the ice.
When Elias Lindholm scored the game winner he was all over his town-mate in the celebration.
Great addition to the crease, but also the dressing room.
Lucic Involved
Man that was interesting to watch.
Matthew Tkachuk was clearly stirring the stew of a potential playoff series, but not far behind him was Milan Lucic.
When Lucic first joined the Flames there were some disappointed fans at the fact that Lucic wouldn’t get involved in key games against the Edmonton Oilers.
He doesn’t look to have that problem with the Predators.
A fight that he won decisively, and numerous impact hits including a really late message sending crusher on Matt Duchene that put the Flames down a man trailing with just under three minutes to play.
Flames kill it off … Tkachuk ties it … Lindholm wins it in overtime … and message gets even more sent.
Vladar Rough Night
When one side has 33 saves and your side has 19 you quite likely got out goalied. Might not be the case in this one though.
A deeper dive is a very low event game with six high danger chances each way, so an overtime game was certainly expected.
I think Vladar would love to have the fourth one back, but other than that it was great Nashville passing, and some good fortune that led to the other three goals.
Bottom line he showed up and steered home a win against a potential playoff partner as the back up goaltender.
Speaking of Backups
Jussi Saros left the game with about six and a half minutes to play with what looked like a leg injury.
Former Flames David Rittich came in and didn’t get much work to start as the Preds were on a powerplay.
Matthew Tkachuk scores on the first shot he faced, and just like that we’re off to overtime. Tough situation for Big Save Dave to come into.
The bigger story though is Saros health, as a series with Rittich as a starter is very different than Nashville having their starter.
Special Teams
Were the Flames undisciplined? Likely.
Was it worth it?
Clearly.
The Predators scored two powerplay goals on seven chances, the Flames one on five … so the Predators win the battle of the special teams tonight.
But not sure that matters much in Sutter’s dressing room.
He hates penalties, and wants to aim for three or less per game … something tells me he’ll be good with a few tonight with a pending playoff series.
Standings and Record
With the overtime loss the Predators clinch a playoff spot with the Knights losing in overtime to the Stars.
That puts the Knights down to their final out with a four point deficit on the Stars and two games to play. Any point by the Stars gained or the Knights lost and you get a Dallas playoff birth.
Calgary’s win tonight and Dallas’ win also keeps the Flames first round playoff matchup completely in the air.
Oh and the Flames move to 50 wins and 110 points as they continue to build on the second best season in Flames history.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 38 Predators 23
Face Offs: Flames 43% / Predators 57%
Powerplay: Flames 1-5 / Predators 2-7
Fancy Stats
The Flames had full control of five on five play in this one, despite their opposition having everything to lose. In terms of high danger chances it was a low event game, but the Flames had the puck a lot which could be seen in shot attempts and expected goals. Five on five the Flames had 57% of the shot attempts with period splits of 44%/55% and 67% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 54%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 60%, with a 3-2 split. Only two high danger chances against five on five all night!
In all situations the Flames had 62% of the shot attempts, 61% of the expected goals, and 50% of the high danger splits.
Individually the Flames were led by Matthew Tkachuk, with an xGF% of 82% five on five on the night. Trevor Lewis also had nights in the 80s. Johnny Gaudreau and Rasmus Andersson were in the 70s. Andrew Mangiapane and Mikael Backlund had tough nights with only 18% xGF%.
