A few notes from Calgary vs Winnipeg:
1. It happened again. For years the Flames have been a team of extreme highs and lows. One period they’ll look like true contenders. The next? Basement dwellers. It’s amazing how consistently inconsistent they have played; and under multiple coaches, no less. We’ve seen more of the same so far this season. Last night the Flames played well for stretches of the game. The 1st period was fairly back and forth but the Flames had the better of the play, controlling more than 60% of the Expected Goals. That number jumped to 80% in the 3rd period. Unfortunately, sandwiched in between was a disaster of a 2nd period where they routinely turned it over in dangerous areas, posted a 26 xGF%, and were out-scored 3-0 at 5v5. I don’t know what it is about this team but almost nightly they no-show for a full period. It is insane. Obviously, it’s very difficult to out-play the opponent for the entirety of 60 minutes. Lulls are natural. But, again, this team disappears for 20 minutes at a time. They have to find a way to learn damage control or they’re not going to make the playoffs, let alone do anything once they get there.
2. The ultimate driver. Simply put, good things happen for the Flames when Andrew Mangiapane is on the ice; regardless of which line he’s on. He posted a 66 CF%, 77 xGF%, and was +1 at 5v5 in a game where the team was out-scored 3-1. And, by all accounts, he looked as good as the numbers suggest. He was winning puck battles all over the ice and making tons of effort plays, such as when he out-worked Paul Stastny and forced him into a penalty. The bread man also scored the team’s lone goal on a beautiful redirection around the paint. Calgary needs to find a way to clone him because he's seemingly the answer to the problems of each top-9 line.
3. Depth pieces were exposed. Calgary is trying to go with a balanced approach up front. The problem is most of their rotational pieces aren’t playing well right now. Last night was just another example. Joakim Nordstrom posted a 17 xGF% in his limited ice and made one of the more head scratching turnovers you’ll ever see. Luckily, Jacob Markstrom was able to make a fantastic save on a 2-on-0 to prevent any damage. Dominik Simon looked very much out of place on the 2nd line and was caved in seemingly every shift. Derek Ryan played two minutes in the opening frame and the Flames were out-attempted 5-0 in that time. Milan Lucic had one shot in 11 minutes. You get the point. Calgary’s big guns didn’t produce, and the secondary pieces provided absolutely nothing in support.
4. Juuso Valimaki continues to impress. This kid is going to be very good. He already is. He is such a fluid skater and adds another much-needed dimension to the attack when he gets up in the play. He mostly pinches at the right times and the way he uses motion, and rotations, in the OZ to get defenses out of position and create is next-level already. He’s always thinking ahead as well. The play he made shooting for Mangiapane’s stick on the doorstep was awesome; I feel like a lot of guys would just throw a low percentage shot at net and hope Mangi banged in a rebound. Valimaki goes for the high-upside play and has the skill to make it. Really fun to watch.
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