Does anything in this game really matter when it comes down to it?
It was about Johnny Gaudreau.
It was about his family.
It was amazing the two teams could even play hockey after that opening tribute to their fallen teammate.
But play they did, as the Flames marched to a 3-0 victory; Calgary’s 6th in a row on home ice, snapping a four game losing streak and putting an exclamation point on the Gaudreau night.
Really well done by the Flames.
Proud to be a fan.
The Lineup
A skid will always be met with change, and usually a shake up.
The Flames sent Adam Klapka down (not that ground shaking), called up both Walker Duehr and Jakob Pelletier (now you’re talking), and healthy scratched Andrei Kuzmenko (there it is). So it comes with little surprise that we see only one forward line left in tact.
Connor Zary up the middle between call up Walker Duehr and Blake Coleman, Nazem Kadri with Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil, Mikael Backlund between Yegor Sharangovich and Matt Coronato, and Kevin Rooney with Jakob Pelletier and Ryan Lomberg.
One the blueline we see Rasmus Andersson and Kevin Bahl. Mackenzie Weegar with Daniil Miromanov. And Jake Bean stays in the lineup, pairing with Brayden Pachal on the third pairing.
Dan Vladar gets the start despite losing in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Pre Game Stats
When you look at each NHL team’s last ten games some troubling stats for the Calgary Flames.
5 on 5 …
Points % – Flames are ranked 18th
Goals % – 28th
xGF% – 24th
HD Split – 20th
Shooting % – 32nd
Save % – 3rd
What would their record be without goaltending?
Wranglers Beat
Two game win streak!
It will be interesting to see how the Calgary Wranglers fare this week with two of their top three scores recalled by the Flames.
When you sort the Wranglers by points per game you have a lot of players no longer with the team.
- Klapka (just sent back to the AHL)
- Kerins
- Coronato (with the Flames)
- Duehr (with the Flames)
- Pelletier (with the Flames)
Goal scoring may not come quite as easily as it’s been.
Vladar’s Start
Honestly had to feel for the guy.
Gets scored on, but it gets called back. It says zero on the scoreboard but you know you were beat and you feel it.
Then he goes almost 25 minutes (last 8 of the first period and first 17 of the second) without a single shot on goal. And then faces a Columbus powerplay.
Then he gets busy as hell but is unwavered in picking up his second shut out of the season.
In the end the Jackets generate just 1.72 in all situations expected goals, but zero for Dan Vladar.
Call Ups
It was an interesting comparison.
Walker Duehr had a great hit, but otherwise fumbled the puck a bit playing with better players on a third line.
Jakob Pelletier was good, and created some opportunities with very limited ice time, and playing on a fourth line crash and bang trio.
If I had to pick one over the other I would say Pelletier had the better night, but both were solid in moving their feet, forechecking and playing both ways.
Gaudreau Tribute
Well I was a mess.
Amazing job done by the Flames, but something that was very difficult to watch. Too much pain on face. Too many tears in the stands.
That George Canyon version of Johnny Be Good is so touching.
The lose it moments were Sean Monahan crying for the face off, and Guy hugging many including Rasmus Andersson.
Meredith’s interview with Ryan Leslie before the game was really well done too.
And hat’s off to the Dome for the Johnny Hockey chant to wind down the last two minutes.
Odds and Sods
As most of you know I’m not a coach second guesser. I wonder why a coach would think differently than me but don’t assume he’s wrong. Tonight though I don’t get Pelletier on the fourth line and Duehr on the third. I don’t think either of those slots fit the player’s best path to the National Hockey League. Perhaps they want to see if Pelletier can play on the fourth line and the plan is to leave him in and swap out Duehr for Kuzmenko, but otherwise I find it puzzling. … Columbus scores early but has the goal waived on a pretty clear cut offside. Pringle wins another one. … Man did Walker Duehr rock Werenski behind the Jacket’s net in the first period. Hard shoulder to shoulder hit that partially dislodged the start defenseman’s lid. … How about that look to the owner’s box from Rasmus Andersson after scoring a second period goal. Better than an enemy fan stare down to find Gaudreau’s parents and salute them. … Thought Jake Bean had a good game. Better with the puck; moving his feet and distributing better. Hard for players coming in and out to find their mojo. He may have. … Two thoughts on the Kevin Bahl score, his first as a Flame. 1) Love to see a coach getting a huge result from a preventative move. Huska went with two defensemen on both units late in the third and up a goal. The second unit has Bahl out there with Weegar and he scores. 2) I thought Columbus might Hail Mary that goal on another challenge with Huberdeau’s foot in the crease. He didn’t make any real contact but he was right there. … Shame Backlund’s goal was disallowed; would have been a great circular night for he and Andersson. … Speaking Kevin Bahl, the guy just keeps getting better and better. That’s a hell of a trade, and I was a Jacob Markstrom fan. I always thought the last two years of Markstrom was the risk, so getting a 1st was a good trade. Getting a 1st and a “piece” is ridiculous.
Fancy Stats
The Flames were the better team for the first 40 minutes, took a ten minute lapse on a Columbus push back, but then finished strong in Gaudreau’s night at the Saddledome. The Flames, five on five, had 55% (61%/75%/37%) of the shot attempts, 68% of the high danger chances, and 64% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 57% of the shot attempts, 65% of the high danger chances and 67% of the expected goals.
Individually, the Flames were led by Jonathan Huberdeau with a xGF% of 83% on the night. He was joined by his centerman Nazem Kadri and Kevin Bahl in the 80s. The fourth line had a rough night with all three of Kevin Rooney, Ryan Lomberg and Jakob Pelletier under 20%.
