With a win last night, the Calgary Flames could have leapfrogged the Anaheim Ducks and jumped into a divisional playoff spot. They were unable to pick up two points, though, as penalty trouble and a strong performance from John Gibson proved too much to overcome.
A few notes on the loss:
1) The Flames' penalty kill has been playing well of late, but in yesterday's game preview, I noted they'd be in big trouble if they were undisciplined once again.
That turned out to be the case, as they took a handful of penalties and paid the price with the Ducks converting twice on the man advantage.
The Flames are a pretty good team, but if they make the playoffs they're going nowhere taking penalties like this. In today's NHL, teams are too good. If you spoonfeed them opportunities they're going to make you pay sooner or later. That's what happened.
2) Sticking with special teams, I thought the power play was pretty good despite the fact they didn't get on the board. They were peppering Gibson with shots and had plenty of good scoring opportunities.
One thing I liked (again) was the creativity and puck movement. Below is just one example, but take note of PK specialist Antoine Vermette flopping like a fish out of water trying to keep up with the puck.
Fancy passing from Versteeg and Brodie on the PP: pic.twitter.com/JLbDsPeBmj
— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) December 30, 2016
There wasn't much of that going on early in the season. The power play has come a long way.
3) The Matthew Tkachuk - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik unit played another strong game. They accounted for the lone goal and were perhaps the only line able to sustain offensive zone time with any sort of regularity. Shots were 8-2 with them on the ice, and that unit out-chanced the Ducks 6-1. That's pretty impressive considering they spent all but ~1:30 against either Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler or Corey Perry.
Another game, another good showing from the Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik line. Engelland did a decent job filling in for Hamilton on P1. pic.twitter.com/LJ1yeAF9tK
— Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell) December 30, 2016
On another note, can we break up the T.J. Brodie - Dennis Wideman pairing? Brodie is being wasted alongside Wideman. That pairing is a lost cause.
I'd like to see Brett Kulak recalled. Give him a spot on the left side, move Brodie to his off-side and hope to catch magic in a bottle. The team can't trade for a long-term fix because they can only protect three defensemen in the expansion draft (unless they only keep four forwards, which isn't happening). They need to find a temporary answer from within, and playing Brodie with Wideman isn't it.
4) One stat to put Brodie's down year into perspective: at 5v5, Mark Borowiecki(!) is averaging as many 5v5 points per 60 (.29) as Brodie. If that doesn't scream something needs to be changed, I don't know what does.
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