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Note: apologies for the delay getting this out. I had the post written this morning but was sidetracked and forgot to publish it.
After three consecutive losses to open the season the Calgary Flames finally got in the win column on Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
The Flames controlled play for much of the game but couldn't convert on all the chances handed to them, while the Sabres could, and they needed overtime to squeeze out a win as a result.
The Good
- As expected the Flames dominated the Sabres at 5 v 5. They out attempted the Sabres 44-27, out shot them 23-15, and out chanced them 17-11. The Flames were sloppy at times, and there were hiccups along the way, but they certainly deserved to win the game.
- I thought Matthew Tkachuk was awesome. He had a couple big hits, scored a huge goal to tie things up right after the Sabres took the lead and, like most of the team, was a positive player in possession. Brian Burke said during an intermission interview that Tkachuk's play is going to make it difficult for the Flames to send him back to junior and he definitely showed why in this game.
- Micheal Ferland didn't play a lot (less than 12 minutes) but he sure made the most of his ice. On top of his goal he recorded five shots, three hits and posted a +8 shot attempt differential at 5 v 5.
- Brett Kulak and Deryk Engelland were protected with relatively easy minutes - they played just one against Buffalos' top line - but they sure made the most of it. At 5 v 5 that pairing was on the ice for 22 shot attempts for and just nine against. Obviously the Sabres are a lesser team but if the Flames can get decent play from their bottom pairing they'll be in good shape with the top-4 they have.
- I thought the penalty kill was really good. The Flames took some penalties at bad times and fortunately it didn't come back to haunt them.
The Bad
- The power play was absolutely terrible in all aspects. They turned it over countless times, they struggled to gain the line with possession and they didn't create much offensively whenever they did. Those neutral zone drop passes were, quite frankly, not good as the Sabres didn't bite at all and simply waited in formation at the line. Time to change things up on the power play because there was no creativity involved and it was way too easy to defend.
- The Flames took way too many penalties and seemingly at the worst times. 5-on-3? Let's take a bad penalty. 5-on-4 late with a chance to (likely) win the game? Let's take a bad penalty. There is no excuse to take five penalties when you're controlling the game and have the puck for most of it.
- An 18-year-old being jumped for a crystal clean hit that didn't result in any sort of injury.
- Sub .900SV% goaltending for the third time in four games. I am confident these guys will get back on track but, as the Flames learned last year, it's pretty much impossible to win when you can't get a save.
Stat Of The Game
With Josh Gorges on the ice at 5 v 5 the Flames out attempted the Sabres 18-2 and out chanced them 8-0.
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