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For the fourth time in five games the Calgary Flames left losers last night as they fell, 4-2, at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes giving them their first win of the season.
The Good
- After a few quiet games to start the season Johnny Gaudreau looked a little more like himself last night. He scored a beautiful goal to make it a one-goal game with ample time remaining and he also had five shots on goal. The Flames need more than they've gotten from him thus far but last night was a step in the right direction.
- The Brett Kulak - Deryk Engelland pairing once again more than held their own at even-strength as the Flames controlled almost 60% of the shot attempts with them on the ice at 5 v 5. They've been surprisingly good since being put together and have really solidified the bottom pairing.
- Prior to Jeff Skinner's goal with 25 seconds remaining the Flames' penalty kill had been successful six times in seven tries. At least something was working for them last night.
- Troy Brouwer now has three goals in five games. He has only eight shots, though, and has recorded two or less in each game so that's not going to continue. He has a really good shot; he just needs to use it more.
The Bad
- The power play continues to be an absolute disaster. The Flames have been completely unable to gain the line with possession and their set plays through the neutral zone have not worked in the slightest. With the talent the Flames have on their power plays they should be a top-10 unit...and they're clicking at 4.5% right now. Dave Cameron is going to have to switch up his system and get creative because what he is trying now clearly doesn't work.
- The Flames continue to struggle breaking out of the zone regardless of opponent. This shouldn't be a thing when the Flames possess several high-end puck movers on the back end.
- Brian Elliott did rebound nicely after a slow start and kept the Flames in it until there were just 30 seconds on the clock. In saying that they didn't trade for Elliott to get sub .900 goaltending, which is what he has provided in all three of his starts. At some point he is going to need to step up and steal a game given the way the Flames are struggling right now.
- T.J. Brodie (18:12) playing less than Engelland (20:08). If he's not going to play on the top power play unit, which is fine, then he shouldn't be conserved on the penalty kill. Dougie Hamilton (5:10), Mark Giordano (7:47) and Engelland (7:13) all played significantly more than him in that game state. At some point you have to simplify things a little bit and get your best players on the ice.
Stat Of The Game
With Matt Stajan and Micheal Ferland on the ice the Flames out chanced the Hurricanes 8-2 at full-strength.
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