Through their five game losing the streak the Flames were close; losing four of the five while gaining a point.
The common theme though was a lack of goal production form a team that couldn’t generate enough offensively.
Tonight they didn’t blow the doors off the Sharks when it came to generation, but they were ready to pounce on huge Shark mistakes to score five times in a 5-2 victory in San Jose on Sunday night.
The Flames snap their losing streak, and move to within one point of the Oilers in even games, as they look forward to the Sharks again on Tuesday night in San Jose.
The Lineup
Five game skid will usually result in change, which I guess it did after game four, but no changes after loss number five.
The big move on Friday was Dillon Dube and Jonathan Huberdeau swapping places creating a whole new look in the top six. So it’s Elias Lindholm with Dillon Dube and Tyler Toffoli, Nazem Kadri with Jonathan Huberdeau and Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund with his usual linemates of Adam Ruzicka and Blake Coleman, and a new fourth line with Milan Lucic playing his second straight game in place of Brett Ritchie and lining up with Radim Zahorna and Trevor Lewis.
On the blueline, Chris Tanev remains sidelined, so it’s Noah Hanifin with Rasmus Andersson, Nikita Zadorov with Mackenzie Weegar and Connor Mackey with Michael Stone.
Jacob Markstrom gets his fourth straight start in the nets.
Line Metrics
xGF%
Dube – Lindholm – Toffoli 59.3%
Huberdeau – Kadri – Mangiapane 37.9%
Ruzicka – Backlund – Coleman 60.2%
Lucic – Zahorna – Lewis 74.9%
Hanifin – Andersson 49.9%
Zadorov – Weegar 53.7%
Mackey – Stone 53.4%
Goals Saved + Avg
Markstrom +3.4
Vladar -2.5
Trend Tracker:
Another game against St. Louis where the Flames controlled the play, but didn’t generate enough by way of high danger chances, and while giving up more didn’t get the saves to take it home. Pretty much the story of the season … Individually it was good to see Connor Mackey take a step forward, sure he scored twice, and gave up a pizza, but his overall game look more landed and confident. … Top pairing with another stride in the right direction and almost at the break even point. … Jacob Markstrom lost two full goals against his goals saved above average stat.
Good to See Mackey Back In
It’s a trickle, but thinking that Connor Mackey is starting to figure it out.
So it’s good to see Sutter giving Mackey a chance again after his big giveaway against the St. Louis Blues.
Mackey has seen the ice in now four straight games, and seem to be finding his mojo … would be huge if he could emerge and become the team’s every day 6/7 option.
Late Line Up Changes
What looked like a set line up changed late with Radim Zahorna unable to go with non-Covid related illness.
That meant the Flames went with seven defensemen with Dennis Gilbert dressed ahead of the forward.
Gilbert, with a punch to the face in a second period bout didn’t last long sending the Flames back to six defensemen for the most part.
Later on Nikita Zarorov took a shot off his wrist and lefts as well.
Solid First
Could play a much better first period than what Calgary walked out tonight.
Score may have been tied at 1-1 with the Sharks scoring a goal a few seconds into the only powerplay of the period, but the rest of the stanza was played in the opposite zone.
Calgary had a 10-4 edge in shots, 78% if the shot attempts and a 4-1 edge in five on five high danger chances.
The Flames have struggled to generate high danger chances this season, but the Sharks and their loosey goosey defense were the perfect tonic.
Markstrom Start
First off … new mask?
No issues with Jacob Markstrom tonight as the starter takes the win with two powerplay goals against and a .923 save percentage.
The Sharks had a 2.86 expected goals on the night, but Markstrom keeps them to two … so check mark for Markstrom on the night.
Wasn’t needed to save their bacon, but was solid in what he faced.
Lucic Scores
Fifty games without a goal.
Done.
Milan Lucic after sitting out three straight games, was back in against St. Louis on Friday and finally scores a goal this season tonight when he had a shot bank off Erik Karlsson to make it 2-1 Calgary in the second.
The reaction from the guys on the ice and bench may add some credence to the intangible things that players bring to the lineup, but that’s another argument.
High Sticking
I’ve said this a few times, but I’ll say it again now.
The league really needs to change how they assess high sticking penalties. The rule as it stands (as far as I can tell) is two minutes, unless the guy bleeds a lot then it’s four, and it’s five if it’s egregious.
So how does that make sense?
Tonight Tomas Hertl literally chopped Elias Lindholm in the face because he was pissed he took a cross check to the ribs off a face off.
That is literal intent to injure and it only garners two minutes?
Change the rule … two minutes for an accident, four minutes for carless stick control and five minutes for an intent to hurt someone. Who cares if someone has a bleeding lip.
Stupid rule.
Lindholm Rolling
The Flames have had Nazem Kadri and Tyler Toffoli pretty much through the season to date.
Not so much Elias Lindholm, Jonathan Huberdeau and Andrew Mangiapane … completing the team’s top five when it comes to production.
Tonight Lindholm with two back breaking third period goals to extend his point streak to eight games and maybe suggesting he’s about to pop back to last year’s Elias Lindholm.
Both shots were convincing of a guy looking to continue, then later in the third he takes a pass from Milan Lucic and almost finishes the hat trick.
Getting your number one center going is huge, maybe we saw a sign of that awakening.
Special Teams
Too many penalties, and giving up two Shark goals means the Flames lose the special teams battle.
The Flames go 1/4 on the night while the Sharks go 2/7, making this very much a five on five win for the Flames.
Still too many penalties, a problem of late.
Standings and Record
The win keeps the Flames tied for the final playoff spot in the West with 34 points (tied with the Avalanche) despite playing an extra three games.
The real target as it stands, the Edmonton Oilers who are a point ahead with even games played.
If the Flames are going to be in a playoff spot at Christmas like Darryl Sutter suggested, they’ll need a few more points this week.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 25 Sharks 26
Face Offs: Flames 45% / Sharks 55%
Powerplay: Flames 1-4 / Sharks 2-7
Fancy Stats
Pretty much all Calgary tonight as they rolled over the Sharks five on five, putting all kind of pressure on the Sharks in all three periods. Five on five the Flames had 63% of the shot attempts with period splits of 77%/50% and 63% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 59%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 50%, with a 10-10 split.
In all situations the Flames had 57% of the shot attempts, 53% of the expected goals, and 48% of the high danger splits with the Sharks having more powerplay time. The all situations expected goal totals came out at 3.19 to 2.86.
Individually the Flames were led by Noah Hanafin posting a xGF% of 81% on the night five on five. His defense partner, Rasmus Andersson was next up with a 75% night, followed by Andrew Mangiapane and Mikael Backlund with 70% nights. Only five players were under water on the night including; Michael Stone, Adam Ruzicka, Connor Mackey, Trevor Lewis and Nikita Zadorov.
