If this was a one off it would be a moral victory.
But it’s the theme of the season so there’s no solace in out shooting, out chancing and controlling the play.
You need to convert your chances. You need to get a save.
The Flames haven’t had enough of either on the season and tonight like so many nights they come up short losing 4-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Family Day Monday in Calgary.
Just not their season.
Tired of saying it.
The Lineup
A decent dose of change for tonight’s game.
Up front Elias Lindholm is back necessitating a change to the forward group, but Adam Ruzicka stays in to center the fourth line with Milan Lucic and Trevor Lewis, Brett Ritchie getting a rest. No change to the other lines with Lindholm centering Dillon Dube and Tyler Toffoli, Nazem Kadri the pivot between Jakob Pelletier and Jonathan Huberdeau, and Mikael Backlund with Andrew Mangiapane and Blake Coleman.
On the blueline no change to the top two pairs with Noah Hanifin lining up with Rasmus Andersson, Mackenzie Weegar paired with Chris Tanev, but the third pairing has a new wrinkle with Michael Stone coming out for Dennis Gilbert who is playing with Nikita Zadorov.
In goal it’s Jacob Markstrom again.
Line Metrics
xGF%
Dube – Lindholm – Toffoli 47.5%
Pelletier – Kadri – Huberdeau 64.6%
Mangiapane – Backlund – Coleman 68.5%
Lucic – Ruzicka – Lewis 29.3%
Hanifin – Andersson 53.2%
Weegar – Tanev 57.8%
Zadorov – Gilbert 45.2%
Goals Saved + Avg
Markstrom +1.4
Vladar -3.9
Trend Tracker:
Using a very purposeful cutoff line at 79 minutes and more for trios, it’s interesting to see the Nazem Kadri line with Jakob Pelletier and Jonathan Huberdeau ranked 18th in the league in terms of expected five on five goals. That’s pretty solid given how hard the team has looked for the right combinations in the top six this season. The top line in the league remains the Michael Backlund line with Andrew Mangiapane and Blake Coleman.
How about that Chris Tanev? Turning our attention to the defensive pairs the Flames have three pairings in the top 54 in the league at that 79+ minute hurdle. That sounds really really good, but it isn’t as good as it sounds; Chris Tanev is in all three pairings! He’s ranked 2nd with Noah Hanifin, 5th with Nikita Zadorov and 54th with Mackenzie Weegar. What a free agent signing.
Where is the Consistency?
The Flames went after players that made hits on their teammates three times in Manhattan, and a total of four times in two games two weeks ago. All four were called as an extra minor to the Flames.
Tonight Dennis Gilbert steps up and drops Deslaurier and Nick Seeler comes in to avenge his teammate; the two fight but then it’s just two fighting majors.
No extra penalty.
That’s fine … but if it’s discretionary, which clearly it is, then why would officials call three of them (3/3) in one game against the same opposition.
Is there a difference in how players are challenge? Not evident to me.
Sleepy First
Damn those afternoon games, why I always sell them. Usually dreadful hockey.
Today the Flames were full money in the first period and should have had a 3-1 lead through 20, but once again they couldn’t cash in on the chances they generate and it’s 1-0 Philly after twenty.
Wouldn’t say Jacob Markstrom had much of a chance on the one that beat him.
Keeping An Eye on Gilbert
I honestly thought they were scratching Michael Stone for tonight’s game, as he’s had his fair share of rough outings of late.
But on the telecast they reported he came in on crutches for today’s game and could be out for a while.
Either way my interest was watching Dennis Gilbert on the right side and if he could handle the switch.
First off it seems so … he had a solid night, making the quiet play more often than not, but also a big hit, a fight, and an assist … so yeah got it done.
Additionally though, I noticed he and Nikita Zadorov played a transitory game with both guys playing both sides throughout, so it wasn’t really all Gilbert on the right side the whole time.
Flyers With Two Shorthanded Asterisks
The game was won not by scoring shorthanded goals, but by scoring twice in the second period just after Calgary powerplays with tired powerplay players on the ice and going through the motions.
That simply can’t happen.
You have to stay sharp and continue your shift.
I have no idea what Noah Hanifin was doing when he coughed the puck up inside the offensive zone for the Flyers third goal. It almost looked like he thought he had a broken stick and just moved the puck … but not the case. Just a terrible play.
Markstrom’s Night
Can’t blame him for either of the first two goals, but the third one he simply had to have and … as has been the story all season … the bottom line is 3 goals against on 16 shots through two periods. Just not good enough.
Meanwhile at the other end, a rookie Swede is stopping everything blue chip coming his way.
The guy has won his first five starts so this isn’t a Flames special, but painful nonetheless.
The third featured another goal and once again wouldn’t fault Markstorm, but the tale of the tape was 2.09 against in expected goals and four given up.
Same old story.
Special Teams
Special teams go to the Flyers as neither team had a special team goal, but the Flyers blanked the Flames four times to the Flames killing two Philly powerplays plus the Flyers scored twice just after making kills.
By chance generation the Flames had four high danger chances with the man advantage, and the Flyers had one while giving up two shorthanded.
Flyers with the edge.
Standings and Record
Another blown chance by the Flames to get some work done in the West.
The loss keeps them out of the playoffs with the Wild in the final wildcard spot and the Flames two points back and now having played an extra game.
Had a chance to move closer to Edmonton and the Kraken who lost tonight too.
Yuck.
Counting Stats
Shots: Flames 35 Flyers 22
Face Offs: Flames 58% / Flyers 42%
Powerplay: Flames 0-4 / Flyers 0-2
Fancy Stats
I could tell you the Flames had a wide edge in shot attempts, shots, scoring chances and the expected goal split but then you’ve heard that before. It’s getting too late. Controlling the play five on five but not converting chances or getting a save is the epitaph for the season. We’ve seen it before. We saw it again tonight. Five on five the Flames had 70% of the shot attempts with period splits of 63%/59% and 89% respectively. In terms of five on five expected goals, the Flames had 64%, and for high danger scoring chances the Flames had 53%, with a 10-9 split.
In all situations the Flames had 70% of the shot attempts, 68% of the expected goals, and 61% of the high danger splits. The all situations expected goal totals came out at 4.40 to 2.09.
Can’t believe they found a way to lose this game.
Individually the Flames were led by Andrew Mangiapane posting an xGF% of 93% on the night five on five. Linemate Blake Coleman was just a hair behind. Mikael Backlund was in the 80s, Trevor Lewis and Nazem Kadri were in the 70s. Only three players, the entire top line was under water with Elias Lindholm at 37%, Tyler Toffoli at 40% and Dillon Dube at 45%.
