Hockey can be such a wacky sport.
The Flames completely dominate for the entire 60 minutes but find themselves tied 3-3 in the third period and down a man for two minutes with just under ten minutes to go.
Could have gone very very badly.
Instead the Flames get some big saves from Jacob Markstrom, turn the tide and then fill the net with four goals in the final eight minutes to win going away with a 7-3 victory, their second straight regulation win in San Jose.
Just like that they’re even with Edmonton for the final playoff spot in the West, and maybe finding some momentum.
The Lineup
So up front it’s Elias Lindholm with Dillon Dube and Tyler Toffoli, Nazem Kadri with Jonathan Huberdeau and presumably Milan Lucic, Mikael Backlund with Blake Coleman and Andrew Mangiapane, and a fourth line of Trevor Lewis with Adam Ruzicka and Trevor Lewis. This has the feel of a way to start a game, and likely not to finish in my mind. I think Ruzicka is being demoted for some disinterested evenings. We will see.
On the blueline a much healthier look than anticipated with Noah Hanifin with Rasmus Andersson, Mackenzie Weegar with Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov with Michael Stone.
In goal right back to Jacob Markstrom looking to beat the Sharks back to back. Would have to think we’ll see Dan Vladar on Thursday or Friday with back to back games in L.A. (Kings/Ducks)
Line Metrics
Lines below left as is from the previous game.
xGF%
Dube – Lindholm – Toffoli 64.8%
Huberdeau – Kadri – Mangiapane 38.7%
Ruzicka – Backlund – Coleman 63.6%
Lucic – Zahorna – Lewis 37.6%
Hanifin – Andersson 51.0%
Weegar – Tanev 56.6%
Zadorov – Stone 52.8%
Goals Saved + Avg
Markstrom +4.4
Vladar -2.5
Trend Tracker:
Hey look at that! The Flame’s top pairing moved past the 50% mark for what I’d assume is the first time this year. Individually we’ve seen some great play out of both members of the pairing, but as a pair and against top opposition they have been under water perpetually. Great sign. … Jacob Markstrom had a solid game in San Jose on Sunday night, adding a goal to his goals saved above average mark. He has a ways to go to get back into the top ten starters though, as that line is drawn at 7.9 (he’s at 4.4). Not as far back as you’d think though.
Found First Line?
You don’t expect the team to find a line that can compete with last year’s top line; that was lightning in a bottle.
But through the first 31/82nds of the season they have really struggled to find a scoring line that can consistently be a threat, and it’s cost them dearly.
Have they found it now?
With Sunday night’s two quick goals in the third, and then tonight two quick goals in the first it’s the first time we’ve seen complete dominance from a line pretty much all season.
Perhaps Lindholm-Dube and Toffoli may be the ticket.
Fastest Two Goals
Always cool to see a franchise record set. When teams have been around a half century it’s certainly harder to do.
Tonight the start … two goals in 30 seconds sets an all time Flames record for fastest two goals off the start of a game.
Additionally, it was the fifth fastest all time.
Elite Checking Line
Fans have been clamouring for the reforming of last year’s second line, which is now a third line on this edition; Mikael Backund between Blake Coleman and Andrew Mangiapane.
And man did it work.
No goals for the group, but when you assess them on a shut down basis all three posted 92-93% xGF% nights, completely running the show on the weak opponents of the San Jose Sharks.
Please keep this trio together.
Season changing.
Lewis the Sniper
Want to know how likely Trevor Lewis’ season has been thus far?
His goal tonight, his 7th of the season putting him on a 17 goal pace, was also his 200th point of his entire NHL career in 843 games.
Everything he puts on net this season seems to go in.
With his obvious production and solid underlying numbers he’s a huge part of the team’s bottom three.
The Lucic Story
Do I think it’s a good idea to have Milan Lucic in the top six? No.
Do I get a kick out of the loud majority (minority) losing their mind as Milan Lucic scores a goal and adds a crafty assist helping the Flames to a big win in San Jose? Oh yeah … completely.
Honestly, you’d have to be seeing what you want to see to not see that the big lug had a heck of a hockey game. He made some good passes, went to the net, and was productive as well.
I don’t think that’s his spot, I doubt it lasts, but it worked tonight.
Huberdeau Three Point Night
Lots of scoring stories tonight.
Nazem Kadri with two goals, Tyler Toffoli and Elias Lindholm with three points, but is there anything more important than a Jonathan Huberdeau three point night, all assists and all on really nice dishes.
Keeps his point streak going, and maybe just maybe we’re seeing the thaw of those new team jitters.
Dube Finding It
A decent start to the season including a goal in the first game of the season and four points in 7 games in October.
Then just 5 points in 15 games in November and people were suggesting he should be demoted to make room for Matthew Phillips.
His December to date? Ten points in 11 games and on a 47 point pace on the season after the tepid start.
With how he finished up last season, perhaps there are 60 points possible for the winger.
Biggest thing for me though is his play on the wall. Faster to pucks and stronger in board battles mixed in with an ability to allude the check by spinning in and out of traffic.
Becoming a dangerous hockey player.
Markstrom’s Night
The no bad goals against, but not making enough of the tough ones to give his team a win story was being written.
But then not so fast.
Jacob Markstrom comes up huge killing a penalty with the game tied at three in the third period, and then a partial breakaway, a two on one, another odd play where Noah Hanifin had his stick through the pad slot on Jacob Markstrom’s left pad with the goalie making saves on all them.
Probably saved the game.
Special Teams
Not a big night for special teams as the two teams combined for an 0/5 night with the man advantage on the night.
The Flames go 0/2 the Sharks 0/3 so you have to give the Flames the edge in terms of special teams.
Digging in though the Sharks had three high danger chances to the Flames one, so maybe Markstrom wins the special teams battle on the night.
Standings and Record
The win moves the Flames into a tie with the Edmonton Oilers for the final playoff spot in the West.
Both teams are three games over .500 with 36 points in 33 games.
The next target for both teams is the Flames next opponent, the L.A. Kings who have 41 points but with two additional games played.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 39 Sharks 27
Face Offs: Flames 55% / Sharks 45%
Powerplay: Flames 0-2 / Sharks 0-3
Fancy Stats
This game was honestly never close. Ok it was very close; tied 3-3 in the third period but it shouldn’t have been. The Flames posted big splits in all categories in all three periods but somehow had to fill the net in the last five minutes to walk away unscathed. Five on five the Flames had 61% of the shot attempts with period splits of 62%/63% and 60% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 63%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 59%, with a 13-9 split.
In all situations the Flames had 60% of the shot attempts, 60% of the expected goals, and 52% of the high danger splits with the Sharks having more powerplay time and more high danger chances up a man. The all situations expected goal totals came out at 3.91 to 2.64.
Individually the Flames were led by Blake Coleman posting an eye popping xGF% of 93% on the night five on five. His linemates Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman were right behind him at 92%. Chris Tanev, Mackenzie Weegar, Nikita Zadorov, Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson had big nights as well. Only four players were under water; Brett Ritchie, Dillon Dube, Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli all just under 50%.
