The Calgary Flames have to be getting sick of games going to overtime.
While seven is considered a lucky number in many cultures, for Flames fans it’s about as lucky as a branch to the eye on a Sunday stroll.
7-7-7 is Calgary’s current road record. 21 points total is exactly half of the points the Flames could earn from their road ventures. While it’s important to glean points out of close games, 82 points leaves you comfortably out of the playoffs.
Sequences If you were feeling a sense of déjà vu seeing the Flames lose in overtime for a second game in a row on Tuesday — you’re not crazy. The Flames have done this four times over 42 games. Three two-game streaks and one three-game streak.
In fact, their first overtime appearance, a 3-2 win over Carolina, is the only time the Flames have gone to overtime without going to overtime again within five days.
November 5-7: Two overtime losses. November 19-23: A shootout win, a shootout loss and a 5-2 win over the Flyers in between. December 10-14: Two shootout losses and an overtime loss. December 22-23: A shootout win and a shootout loss. November 8-10: Consecutive overtime losses to Chicago and St. Louis.
If you’re noticing a good amount of shootout losses, yes. The Flames have struggled in the shootout.
Flames in the Shootout Record: 1-3 Markstrom Sv%: .600 Vladar Sv%: .250
Vladar has let in three of four shots. Markstrom four of ten. Jacob has the only win between the two of them. Goalies tend to have delicate senses of self-esteem. Following shootouts this season, Flames goaltenders are 1-0-3 in their next start.
The shooters don’t fare much better. Jonathan Huberdeau, with no one to pass to, has a very solid 75%, or three of four, conversion rate. Rasmus Andersson has scored two in three shots.
No other Flame has scored in the shootout this season.
Backlund: 0/3 Kadri: 0/3 Ruzicka: 0/1 Dube: 0/1
Darryl could probably do well with starting a rotation. You can’t sit in a room of Flames fans watching a shootout without someone asking why Backlund is shooting. The 33-year-old has scored once in twelve shootout attempts. It might be time to try someone else.
A couple other interesting shootout stats found while digging up shootout information.
Tyler Toffoli might not be the answer. The sniper has found the back of the net once in 15 attempts. Trevor Lewis has been given a remarkable six tries. The gritty veteran has one shootout goal from his efforts.
One more damn thing about the Flames and their problems after regulation time.
Overtime Penalties You can split nine overtime losses into three square categories.
Overtime losses, shootout losses, and overtime losses on the penalty kill. Three games a piece.
Unsurprisingly, both goalies have a hard time saving pucks at 4v3. Markstrom has saved two of four and Vladar has saved two of three shots.
Remarkably, of the eight instances of overtime this season that Markstrom has been involved in: he’s only allowed one goal at three-on-three. His save percentage is actually better at 3v3 (.909) than it is at 5v5. (.900)
Game Day As for tonight’s game, you have to pray it doesn’t go the distance. Tuesday’s overtime loss marked the ninth time in twelve that the Flames have dropped the extra point. With Colorado and Nashville sitting three and four points behind the Flames respectively, their games in hand on the Flames and Oilers could result in both Alberta teams dropping out of a wildcard spot in the near future.
We can talk about how the Blues seem to solve the Flames’ defence quickly. They have nine goals against Calgary in two games. Jordan Kyrou has five points over that span. Rob Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich have four points.
Transition and turnovers have burned the Flames against this team. They need to check tighter tonight if they want to salvage this two game series.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup Head Coach Darryl Sutter is once again keeping his lineup under wraps. Expecting a Vladar start. Here’s hoping we see Pelletier in tonight.
Dube-Lindholm-Toffoli Lucic-Kadri-Huberdeau Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman Lewis-Ruzicka-Deuhr
Hanifin-Andersson Weegar-Tanev Zadorov-Stone
Vladar Markstrom
Markstrom Second game in a row that Jacob Markstrom has fallen over backwards directly prior to the first goal scored. What is up with that?
Lucic Milan Lucic did great in the late first to finish off a rush up the ice with a goal. He had a big hit to separate the puck from a Blues player on the second goal as well. Hats off to the offensive performance of the big man.
That said, the tying goal scored by Jordan Kyrou was largely due to his failure to stay on the speedy Blues winger. You can’t let players toe drag into the slot when you’re defending a lead.
Let the Kid Play One thing Jakob Pelletier is known for is his speedy checking style. Sounds like a perfect fit for a game against the St. Louis Blues. Walker Duehr showed well in his first game of the season on Tuesday. Other players could use a shakeup.
The Dube-Lindholm-Toffoli line, for example, got out-attempted at a three-to-one rate. Lindholm finished the night with a 23.53 CF%. 0-5 in high danger chances.
There’s a good chance Elias is still dealing with an shoulder injury that took him out of a game weeks back. Those don’t heal overnight. Why not mix that line up a bit if the results aren’t satisfactory?
Game time is 6:00 pm MST. Catch the broadcast on Sportsnet West in Canada and Bally Sports Midwest in the States.
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld
Stats via naturalstattrick.com and nhl.com.