No way to sugar coat it, the Flames are hurting right now.
A really solid game against Edmonton with a blow third period lead on some strange bounces, a game put away against Seattle before a complete collapse, but tonight they were never really in it.
Terrible first period.
Terrible start to the second period.
Not enough in the third to make up for the sins of the first 40 as they go down for the third straight game by a 4-1 score.
One more game on the homestand before they head out on the road for three games.
Thank God.
The Lineup
Two losses in a row, so some changes, some obvious and some by necessity.
Up front Adam Ruzicka comes out for Keven Rooney, after the big center had a pretty vanilla first outing of the season against Seattle. On the blueline Chris Tanev is a scratch with an undetermined injury or ailment; Connor Mackey takes his place. And in goal, starter Jacob Markstrom returns to the cage for the Flames looking to snap the mini skid.
So up front it’s Nazem Kadri between Jonathan Huberdeau and Andrew Mangiapane, Elias Lindholm with Milan Lucic and Tyler Toffoli, Mikael Backlund with Dillon Dube and Blake Coleman, and a new fourth line of Kevin Rooney with Trevor Lewis and Brett Richie.
On the blueline no change to the top pairing of Noah Hanifin with Rasmus Andersson, Mackenzie Weegar slides over to the right side to play with Nikita Zadorov, leaving Mackey to line up with Michael Stone.
Markstrom, as I mentioned in goal.
Line Metrics
xGF%
Huberdeau – Kadri – Mangiapane 69.1%
Lucic – Lindholm – Toffoli 80.0%
Dube – Backlund – Coleman 55.6%
Lewis – Rooney – Ritchie NA
Hanifin – Andersson 49.3%
Zadorov – Weegar 52.0%
Mackey – Stone 61.3%
Goals Saved + Avgb
Markstrom +3.5
Vladar -3.6
Trend Tracker:
The Flames coughed up a game against Seattle, yet Sutter kept the lines together. Part of the reasoning may be the play driving of the top three lines with 70%, 80% and 55% in a limited sample size, those numbers great exceed what we were seeing with the previous setup. … Hanifin and Andersson seem to be continuing some of their spotty play from the Oilers series last Spring; currently under water. … With the tough third ;back up Dan Vladar now sports a -3.6 gsaa on the season.
Tough Start Again
More of the same from the Flames off the hop, as they slept through the first period much like they did on Tuesday against Seattle.
If Jacob Markstrom wasn’t ready to go it would have been much worse, as the Flames starter was money in the first turning away two or three great Nashville scoring chances before the visitors finally hit the scoresheet in the last minute on a goal by former Flame Mark Jankowski.
More harsh words after a first period.
This team needs to get out on the road.
Not Much Better in the 2nd
Terrible start to the second period, so clearly the trash can kicking from Sutter didn’t get their attention.
Sleepy through the first five minutes giving the Predators opportunities and two quick goals making it 3-0.
Was that the game?
The Flames push back for the last 60% of the period generating more than Nashville did; who can blame them they’re up three and sitting on it.
The Flames hit iron twice but come up empty.
This team needs to get out on the road.
Huberdeau After the Spot Light
Was honestly expecting Jonathan Huberdeau to light it up tonight after all the talk and his honest answers yesterday.
Didn’t happen.
I’m not on that train, he’ll be fine … the adjustment is coming and getting on the road will help a lot.
But tonight Huberdeau was pointless, =1 and only 15% expected goals.
Rough night.
Top Line In General
Thought the newly formed (two games) top line was terrible tonight.
Huberdeau as I’ve said, had a rough night, but he wasn’t alone. A rough game by Nazem Kadri and a rough game by Andrew Mangiapane as all three turned the puck over often, failed to make simple plays, had trouble keeping on their blades and pretty much had a miserable night overall.
May have to see the blender again before Saturday.
Markstrom Excellent
This game was at least interesting down to the wire with the goalie pulled and a “chance”.
Could have easily been long over before that point though if it wasn’t for Jacob Markstrom.
Gave up the game’s first three goals but honeslty didn’t have a chance on any of them.
Hanifin / Andersson Rough Night Again
With Chris Tanev out it’s not the night to do it, but maybe it’s time to find some new pairings?
Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson struggled against the Oilers in the playoffs last year, and seem to be having difficulty to start this regular season as well.
They’re the team’s bottom pairing when it comes to play driving; though they do tend to take the toughest minutes.
Tonight a -2 night and under water significantly again.
Special Teams
The Flames powerplay continues to struggle.
After a great start to the season, the man advantage unit has sputtered in the last three games, playing a prominent role in the team’s three game skid.
Tonight 0/3 with only two high danger chances on the night.
The Predators scored once on four chances to take the special teams edge.
Standings and Record
With their third straight loss the Flames are now 5-4-0 and on a skid.
They are third in the division in win percentage, and 6th in the conference.
Still not a terrible start, but hardly the team’s best start that was the discussion a week ago.
Did I mention this team needs to get out on the road?
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 30 Predators 32
Face Offs: Flames 43% / Predators 57%
Powerplay: Flames 0-3 / Predators 1-4
Fancy Stats
Clearly score effects in play as the Flames lay down to start the game, and then wake up with about 32 minutes to play and get back into it with the Predators sitting on a three goal lead. Five on five the Flames had 52% of the shot attempts with period splits of 27%/57% and 67% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 38%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 50%, with a 8-8 split.
In all situations the Flames had 53% of the shot attempts, 45% of the expected goals, and 50% of the high danger splits.
Individually the Flames were led by Nikita Zadorov, as the big defender continues his hot start to the season with an xGF% of 65% five on five on the night. His defense partner, Mackenzie Weegar was also in the 60s. The top line was at the bottom of the pile with numbers averaging about 20%.
