WE CAN’T LOSE HERE.
After what 40 games of absolute chaos in a building the Flames won their 9th straight in the Honda Center tonight with a Jonathan Huberdeau overtime winner in a 3-2 victory on Tuesday night.
The game was overshadowed by 35 moms on a road trip to start, and a devastating knee on knee injury to Connor Zary in the second period, putting a damper on things.
The Flames play again tomorrow night in Los Angeles.
Calgary and Vancouver tied for the final wild card spot with 45 points, the Canucks with the edge with one less game played.
The Lineup
No change at all, despite the 4-1 loss to the Predators on Saturday night.
A top line with Nazem Kadri between Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil, Mikael Backlund back with Blake Coleman and Matt Coronato, a third line with Connor Zary between Yegor Sharangovich and Jakob Pelletier, and a fourth line of Kevin Rooney with Ryan Lomberg and Andrei Kuzmenko.
One the blueline we see Rasmus Andersson and Kevin Bahl. Mackenzie Weegar with Joel Hanley and Jake Bean with Brayden Pachal on the third pairing.
Dustin Wolf with the start in goal, as he gets back to back starts.
Pre Game Stats Dive
Despite the Flames losing back to back games, and getting closer to the bottom ten conversation again, they haven’t lost any ground in the gap battle with the Florida Panthers.
With Florida sputtering as well (losers of four of their last six games), the Flames are only 3 draft spots behind the Panthers for the 1st round pick battle.
A dropping Panther’s squad makes things much easier for the Flames, but only to an extent. If the Florida pick drops into protected range, the Habs would get the Flames actual pick regardless of where it falls.
Man that was a complicated deal.
Wrangler’s Watch
Adding a player to watch to the current Calgary Wrangler’s list; Jeremie Poirier.
It seem like the maligned defender has finally got untracked after the unfortunate injury (laceration) that plagued his 2023-24 season. After a rough start to the season, the player stabilized his game in November and December, but how found a completely different gear in January.
| GP | G | A | Pts | PPG | |
| 10/1/2024 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.2000 |
| 11/1/2024 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0.6000 |
| 12/1/2024 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.4545 |
| 1/1/2025 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1.3333 |
I know I was somewhat writing him off; it would be great to have another young defenseman in the conversation going forward.
Zary Injury / Hit
Brutal knee on knee hit by Helleson on Connor Zary tonight. Looks season ending from my “not a doctor” vantage point, and a huge game changer to the Flames season.
Such an ugly play, it came as no surprise that the Duck defenseman was tossed from the game with a 5 minutes for kneeing.
Have to love linemate Jakob Pelletier going straight in on the player. That stuff plays so well with teammates. Sure he cost them two of the five minutes, but it was worth it..
I’m annoyed with the Zary injury, but man I hate dimwitted hockey fans. I’ve been in Anaheim for a game, and the idiot level is frustrating. So not surprised to hear the boos for a brutal stick to the face on Hanley, nor the “ref you suck” chant after their defenseman likely ended Connor Zary’s season.
Learn the damn game.
Tough player to replace. Huge impact on the rest of the season. And hate to see an injury of that level with a mom in attendance watching. Felt for her.
Wolf’s Start
Solid game again from Dustin Wolf.
The Flames kind of mailed it in for the last half of the first period, but Wolf held strong and kept the Ducks off the board.
Beat on a screen in the second period four on four; didn’t have much of a chance.
Beat on a tip in the third, once again not much of a chance.
The Ducks with 2.17 expected goals in all situations, and he only gives up two.
Another night with the kid on the right side of the ledger.
Odds and Sods
I agree with keeping Andrei Kuzmenko in the lineup despite the two offensive zone penalties on Saturday night. He was very good in creating chances, and putting pucks to the net in the same game before it turned sour. … Tried to look up Russian hockey and KHL for broken stick rule and found nothing to suggest the same rule exists. Seems strange the player has never heard of such a rule. … I’ll say it again; who cares about blood, hand out four minutes for being careless. That 2 minute call on the high stick to Joel Hanley was ridiculous. … Calgary couldn’t have started better, completely dominating the opening seven minutes and running up a 8-0 shot advantage. Guess how many times they scored on those chances! Yep, nilch. The Ducks took control of the final 2/3 of the first period though and Dustin Wolf was the difference maker. … Have to give the Flames credit for picking up the pieces after the Zary injury and playing a heck of a final 10 minutes of the second. The Ducks tie the score during Pelletier’s penalty, but then the Flames got to work and retook the lead. It’s going to be tough to stay in the hunt losing your second line center. Guessing they move Sharangovich to center, and maybe Kuzmenko up from the fourth line. Dueher back into the lineup. If they want to be more radical, you call Rory Kerins up. … Flames with some serious puck luck tonight, something we never used to see in Anaheim. They get a plinko goal from Weegar in the first, and then a crazy bounce landing to Huberdeau in overtime. Take it!
Fancy Stats
The Flames were clearly the better team five on five throughout the night, something backed up by the underlying numbers. The Flames, five on five, had 54% (50%/56%/56%) of the shot attempts, 67% of the high danger chances, and 61% of the expected goals. In all situations they had 60% of the shot attempts, 65% of the high danger chances and 63% of the expected goals.
Individually, the Flames were led by Joel Hanley posting an xGF% of 95% on the night. He was joined in the 90s by Martin Pospisil and Nazem Kadri. Mackenzie Weegar and Jonathan Huberdeau were in the 80s. Four players were under 30% on the night; Connor Zary, Brayden Pachal, Ryan Lomberg and Kevin Rooney.
