Over the last few weeks the Calgary Flames have played fairly well and they're starting to get results to show for it.
Although it wasn't their best game - they sat back quite a bit in the final 40 minutes - the Flames got on the board three times in the 1st period and that was all they needed as they eventually downed the Jets by a score of 4-1.
The Good
- After a bit of a dry spell Sean Monahan has really caught fire of late tallying three goals, six points and 21 scoring chances over his last five games. He's probably not as good defensively as he is given credit for but, man, he can score.
- Michael Frolik and Mikael Backlund continue to work their magic in all situations. They were two of the Flames' better forwards in possession and they combined to record five points in the win. Their best work, for my money, came in the 1st period on Frolik's goal. I mean, look at Backlund's play in the defensive zone to get it all started. Beautiful.
Gone Frolik-ing. #WPGvsCGYhttps://t.co/SgrzGWzt2i
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 17, 2016
- Including an empty-netter against St. Louis the Flames have scored 11 goals in two games after scoring just five in three games prior. Obviously Winnipeg isn't the best measuring stick but the Blues are as stingy as they come and the Flames had no problem filling the net.
- Freddie Hamilton quietly had a nice debut recording two shots on goal, two scoring chances, three shot attempts and a pair of hits while being one of two Flames (Dennis Wideman being the other) to come out even or better in terms of 5 v 5 shot attempt differential.
- I thought Joni Ortio had a solid bounce back game following a couple underwhelming starts against Arizona and St. Louis respectively. He wasn't peppered with high-danger looks by any means but he made the saves he had to and never really let the Jets in the game after their slow start.
The Bad
- The Flames were sitting on a lead for much of the night, obviously, but at 5 v 5 they were out attempted 58-31, out shot 27-15 and out chanced 29-18. That's generally not a good recipe for success.
- Despite Dennis Wideman leaving the game early with an injury Jakub Nakladal only played 15 minutes. Deryk Engelland hasn't been as bad as I expected him to be in his increased role but I don't understand why he gets to routinely play ~23 minutes a game while Nakladal can't get a sniff in the top-4 despite much better underlying numbers. The games don't matter in the standings, anyway. You may as well get a better look at the younger/more inexperienced player (like they are with Jyrki Jokipakka, who played 25 minutes vs Winnipeg).
Stat Of The Game
Lance Bouma and Joe Colborne finished in a tie for 1st on the Flames with three scoring chances at 5 v 5. That doesn't happen often.
Recent posts: Don't expect too much from Jokipakka