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Five things to watch when the Calgary Flames take on the Edmonton Oilers:
1. Big Save Dave. David Rittich is expected to make his first start since February 2nd. The Flames desperately need it to be a good one. They’re very quickly approaching disaster status. Finishing is an issue, they can’t manage the puck, and they seemingly go to sleep for a period (or more) in every single game. Rittich will have to try and offset all of those issues while going up against an Oilers team that ranks 2nd in goals and 1st in high-danger chances. He’s going to be tested heavily and, if he doesn’t pass, the Flames will almost certainly be heading for another ugly loss.
2. Time to step up. Most of Calgary’s top guns are in a funk right now; either scoring or driving play. Perhaps nobody more so than Sean Monahan. No. 23 has not scored in 12 consecutive games and has looked invisible for much of that time. I know he hasn’t had the best 3rd wheel to work with but neither has Johnny Gaudreau and he has still managed to be a factor on many nights. The good news is that Monahan’s a point per game player on home soil this season. Calgary will be able to get him out in favorable situations. Edmonton isn’t exactly the best defensive team, either, ranking 22nd in high-danger chances against per 60. Now would be a good time for Monahan to show a pulse.
3. Start on time. The Flames are consistently slow out of the gate. They’re sloppy with the puck, they give up a bunch of chances, and they take careless penalties. That’s not ideal against any opponent, let alone one with two Hart Trophy caliber players and the best chance generating power play in the NHL. The Flames are being dragged through the mud by many analysts and fans right now; rightfully so. If they can’t get up for this game and respond with a half decent effort at home against their biggest rivals then, well, there isn’t much hope for this team.
4. Reigniting the flame. Matthew Tkachuk hasn’t looked himself the last couple of weeks. That has shown in the numbers as Tkachuk, normally one of the better play drivers in the NHL, owns a 45 CF% and 45 xGF% over the last eight games. His line has spent a lot of time in the defensive zone and looked sloppy at the other end. I think not having a steady, competent winger on his opposite site has hurt Tkachuk but, even so, I still expect more from him. Perhaps another game against an Edmonton team that hates his guts is what he needs to get back on track.
5. A stiff test. Juuso Valimaki has impressed me a lot this season. There have been bumps along the road, of course, but he has largely held his own defensively while really getting involved and facilitating offense at the other end. His numbers alongside Mark Giordano (62 CF%, 66 xGF%) are very strong and tonight they’re going to see a lot of either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. I’m really interested to see how the youngster, and the old man, hold up against two of the game’s best offensive talents.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
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