Five observations from Calgary vs Dallas:
1. The ending was disastrous I honestly have no idea what goalie interference is these days. None whatsoever. Sometimes a quick brush of a goaltender's pad or glove is called interference. Other times – like a couple weeks ago in a Pittsburgh vs New Jersey game – Sidney Crosby goes barreling into the goaltender, knocks him out of the crease, the puck is put into an empty net, and it counts. It'd be a big stretch to say last night's non-call was botched to that extent but I don't think Tyler Seguin's overtime winner should have counted. *If* David Rittich had enough time to get set, it was by the slimmest of margins. Even so, racing out to the top of the crease after contact while a little off-balance to face a wide-open shot in the slot from a player of Seguin's caliber is not exactly fair. Making a save is difficult enough as it is. Trying to do so under those circumstances is nearly impossible. Now, 50/50 calls go both ways over the course of the season. You could also say the Flames got what they deserved for giving an elite player enough time to watch the morning highlights, have a cup of coffee, and get off a great shot. Still, it was a tough way to lose the game.
2. James Neal's struggles continued That was one of Neal's ugliest games of the season. He handled the puck like a grenade for much of the night. In the defensive zone, he forced a risky pass that almost resulted in a chance for Alexander Radulov in tight. Neal recovered the puck, then did the same thing again. The Flames didn't pay the price but they could have. Only three Flames forwards – Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Elias Lindholm – recorded more 5v5 ice time than Neal. Even so, he managed only one shot on goal and one chance in that game state. Garnet Hathaway(!) accomplished more in 7:49. Beyond doing little with the puck, he was the only player on the Flames to finish with a sub 50 Corsi For%. It was another tough night for a player who could really use a good one.
3. Mark Giordano is a monster I thought his play would decline this season. He lost a fantastic defense partner in Dougie Hamilton and is playing a ton of very tough minutes as a 35-year-old. You'd think this is the spot where he'd begin to slow down. Apparently not! He continues to cruise along and put forth fantastic performance after fantastic performance.
The Flames dominated territorially with him out there at 5v5 (attempts were 20-9, chances were 10-4) and he scored the goal that earned the Flames at least a point. It feels like every night he is as impactful as anyone. He really does belong in the Norris conversation.
4. The best weapon is the element of surprise It looked like everyone was caught off guard when Gaudreau walked in from the point and ripped one past Anton Khudobin. They were all playing pass. Really, it's hard to blame them. Gaudreau is a playmaker first – his assist total is more than double his goal total – and attempts just 18% of the shots on Calgary's power play. In other words, more than four of five attempts he's out there for are taken by someone else. You don't think he's going to shoot, especially when he accepts the pass so far away from the net.
5. Another good night for the rookies Oliver Kylington and Rasmus Andersson logged 11 minutes of ice together at 5v5. During that time, the Flames controlled 52% of the attempts, 58% of the chances, and posted a +1 goal differential. Sheltered or not (they had zero defensive zone starts), they're doing more good than harm when on the ice. That can't be said of most 3rd pairings, which are generally made up of fringe roster players. The encouraging thing is these guys are already useful and only going to get better with time.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
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