Five observations from Calgary vs Carolina:
1. Top line looked good I thought the top line was excellent. Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, and Elias Lindholm finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd on the team in 5v5 contributions and they (once again) accounted for the team’s lone goal of the night. Gaudreau was often buzzing around the offensive zone, creating shot after shot for his teammates. As a whole, I thought they were able to break down Carolina’s defense and get looks in dangerous areas on a pretty consistent basis. Impressive considering they saw a lot of the Jordan Staal line and Jaccob Slavin pairing. Tkachuk’s late penalty aside, which proved very costly, I really liked what I saw from this trio.
2. The Flames no-showed in the 3rd period Calgary entered the final frame with a lead against Winnipeg. They were on their heels for the entirety of it, conceded the tying goal, and ultimately lost 2-1. That’s OK, right? It happens from time-to-time. Live and learn, etc.
Well! The Flames did not live and learn. In fact, they lived and...didn’t learn. They entered the 3rd period with a one-goal lead again. Not overly cushy, of course, but you take that on the road against a playoff lock every single time. Unfortunately, the Flames came out and did exactly the same thing as against Winnipeg. Perhaps to an even worse extent.
Forget about generating chances and sustaining possessions down low in the offensive zone. The Flames couldn’t even get a shot. Sadly, that’s not an exaggeration. In ~15 5v5 minutes during the 3rd period, the Flames did not record a single shot on goal. Not one.
They legitimate needed one, if not two (empty-net situation), extra attackers to get shop set up in the offensive zone and generate anything resembling a scoring opportunity. Carolina is a solid team but I can’t even begin to describe how pathetic that is. Almost the same Flames roster won the Western Conference a year ago. How can they not generate one freaking shot in 15 minutes? After no-showing in the 3rd against Winnipeg, you’d think they’d be ultra motivated to put their best foot forward and not let another game slip away. Apparently not. The Flames completely no-showed and didn’t even get one (1) point as a result. Brutal.
3. David Rittich did his part Death, taxes, and the Flames wasting quality starts from David Rittich. We’re certainly not there yet, but we’re heading towards Jacob DeGrom/Mets territory (OK, maybe not that far – I’m a suffering Mets fan, let me make this reference).
Rittich stopped 26 of 28. He made a couple sprawling saves going side-to-side while tumbling down. He tracked pucks well. He got on top of rebounds. He was just really sharp. The only two goals conceded were on a ridiculous trick play from budding star Andrei Svechnikov, and a power play rip by...Andrei Svechnikov. All in all, Rittich posted a .928 save percentage on the road vs an 8-3-1 team. He didn’t get the run support – as was the case vs Winnipeg.
4. The Sean Monahan line was caved in My thoughts, and prediction, for L2 from yesterday’s game preview:
Alan Quine has played fairly well in a depth role since being recalled. If you want to play him, play him. Fine, whatever. But on the 2nd line? With the team’s best goal scorer? On a unit with zero (0) playmaking and creativity? I don’t know about that. I could see this trio getting cratered defensively and generating very little with the puck. I have concerns about this line driving play up ice and getting into the offensive zone safely, let alone making something happen once they get there.
Here’s what happened:
Not much else needs to be said. As fun as the top line is, the middle-6 is awfully bare with Matthew Tkachuk on L1 and Andrew Mangiapane, for some reason, on L4.
5. Time for a demotion I think we’ve reached the breaking point with Milan Lucic. He needs to be on the 4th line seeing limited minutes. He just doesn’t produce enough – any? – offense to be skating in the top-9. Last night, for example, he did not record a single shot contribution at 5v5. Every other member of the roster did. His linemates, Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik, had four each. Lucic also failed to register a single 5v5 scoring chance for the fourth time in five games. The only time he should skate in the top-9 is if the Flames are leading by a couple goals late and you want some solid board play and a willing shot blocker.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com Recent posts: Flames waste spectacular showing from Rittich in loss to Jets