Five observations from Calgary vs Chicago:
1. Mike Smith bounced back As a whole, Calgary's offense was pretty toothless again in Chicago. For the Flames to win, they needed Smith to be on his game (what else is new?) and that was the case.
The Flames didn't give up a ton of great looks but Chicago had no problem generating Grade B chances and Smith had little problem with those.
After posting a sub .900 save percentage in consecutive starts, and allowing 12 goals in a three-game span, it was nice to see him get back on track with a rather clean performance.
2. The power play sucked Shocking, right?
The Flames generated just two scoring chances – and zero(!) high-danger – over the course of almost six power play minutes, which included a lengthy 5-on-3.
For some reason T.J. Brodie got some run on the top unit and, hell, even Troy Brouwer found his way back there again.
If you want a right-handed shot on the top unit, and to spark a lifeless power play, why use a puck-moving defenseman with 27 points and 159 shots on the year when you can use a guy who handles the puck like a grenade and has registered 15 points and 53 shots? Gotta ask the question.
It's amazing the Flames continue to trot out the same personnel, and do the same things, night after night when they are having zero success doing it.
3. The top line carried There were a lot of passengers at 5v5 in Chicago. Micheal Ferland, Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau were not among them.
That line moved the puck quickly and efficiently all night and generated a few of the team's best chances off some crisp passing plays.
At least one of the three picked up a point on each goal and they were the only unit up front to finish with positive shot attempt differentials.
4. Sam Bennett had an awful night I think it's possible the Flames package him in a deal if they can acquire a top-6 forward with another year or two left (a la Max Pacioretty or Mike Hoffman) but a performance like that certainly won't help his trade value.
He took a couple penalties, which luckily didn't prove costly, was cratered in possession, did not record a scoring chance, and was held pointless for the 14th time in 16 games.
Bennett and Mark Jankowski, in particular, had a nice run on the 3rd line in December but the magic hasn't been there since the turn of the calendar.
5. The penalty kill saved the day Chicago surprisingly doesn't have a good power play but the Flames' penalty killers still deserve credit for bailing the team out on numerous occasions.
The Flames mostly held the Blackhawks' attempts above the dots, which made life easier on Smith, and they generated a few short-handed chances of their own. Mikael Backlund even drew a penalty – something he hasn't done often this year – while the Flames were down a man.
They did concede the one goal but that's a small price to pay for handing a talented Chicago team almost 10 minutes on the man advantage.