After a dreadful start to the season the Calgary Flames finally appeared to be turning a corner.
T.J. Brodie returned to the lineup, the team was starting to drive possession in a big way and, goaltending aside, they were playing pretty well.
That certainly wasn't the case Tuesday night as the Flames were outshot 42-25 by a team that gets outshot by similar margins on a nightly basis.
The goaltending was also terrible once again. Put it all together and you have a disappointing 6-3 loss to one of the worst teams in hockey.
Some notes:
1) At what point are the Flames going to get anything resembling NHL caliber goaltending? Flames puck stoppers have posted a sub .900 save percentage in six consecutive games and 10 times in 12 games. As a result it shouldn't surprise anyone that the team has allowed at least three goals 10 times and at least four goals nine times. Karri Ramo/Jonas Hiller/Joni Ortio are stopping just 86%(!) of the shots they face this year and are completely submarining Calgary's ability to accomplish anything as a result. Admittedly the team wasn't very good in front of Ramo last night but he certainly didn't do them any favors.
2) It's too bad the Flames are one point out of last because if they were making any kind of noise at all Johnny Gaudreau would be getting a lot more credit for his stellar play this season. He has 13 points in 13 games thus far and has been creating a ton of chances on a nightly basis. Take last night, for example. Gaudreau scored, had five scoring chances and 11(!) shot attempts at even-strength alone. He is a machine.
3) Another positive from the 6-3 loss was the play of Sam Bennett. He scored just after the net came off, he scored just after a whistle and then he scored a goal that actually counted after embarrassing Matt Duchene behind the net.
Absolute filth from Sam Bennett. https://t.co/2ludZaLxBQ
— Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell) November 4, 20154) T.J. Brodie is going full beast mode right now. In four games since returning from injury he is a 60.6% possession player and has contributed offensively as well with three points.
5) If the Flames were considering moving a defenseman like Dennis Wideman while his value was still relatively high...well, I think that ship has sailed. To put it kindly he's been a disaster in his own end this season.
6) Joe Colborne (19:12) played more than Sean Monahan (16:52) and Jiri Hudler (15:56) last night. I'm not sure spoon-feeding Colborne big minutes is going to get the Flames out of this hole.
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