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Five observations from Calgary vs Minnesota:
1. Chances were at a premium
In terms of suppressing chances, the Wild and Flames were the best defensive teams in hockey in their 10 games prior to last night. The Wild allowed 20.73 5v5 chances per 60 while the Flames sat just behind them giving up 21.64 per 60. Statistically speaking, they're playing defense as well as anyone right now.
It certainly showed last night as they combined for just 40 scoring chances and 11 high-danger looks. Both teams did a fantastic job of keeping shots to the outside and making life easy on their goaltender, as evidenced by the heat map.
There really wasn't much separating the two. Considering the Flames were sitting on a lead for the majority of the game, they have to be very pleased with how little they gave up.
2. Johnny Gaudreau took over...again
We should start calling him King Midas because everything he touches turns to gold. In a game where everybody struggled to find space, Gaudreau consistently found it and made plays. He finished one chance off the team lead individually and created numerous for his teammates, such as the two pucks he put on silver platters for Elias Lindholm. He is playing the best hockey I've ever seen from him. Nobody has any answers as to how to slow him down. I watched Taylor Hall every night during his MVP campaign and Gaudreau is performing at the same kind of level. If he keeps this up, his name is going to be in the mix for the Hart Trophy. It has to be.
3. Mike Smith was good, not great
We need to pump the brakes on the Smith hype train. Yes, he's playing better. Yes, he's gotten results of late. It's not because he is putting forth otherworldly performances.
Last night, for example, he faced six high-danger opportunities. The Wild put up 31 shots but looks of real quality were few and far between. Though Smith stopped them all, which he deserves credit for, it wasn't exactly a comforting performance. He almost got himself into trouble a couple times while playing the puck (real shocker there). He also made some saves look very uneasy. Smith didn't do it as much as usual but he continues to sprawl and/or leap at pucks as opposed to letting them come to him.
I don't know, I'm just not sold on Smtih at all. He was a mess down the stretch last season, he still only has a .892 save percentage on the year, and he is 36 years old. I think it's important not to get carried away here.
4. The bread man looks good
Another game, another strong performance from Andrew Mangiapane. He led the team in Corsi For%, finished tied for the team lead in scoring chances, and good things consistently happened with him on the ice. He doesn't possess elite traits. He's just solid at everything, he works hard, and he knows where to be. I think he is much better suited for the limited role Dillon Dube was playing and the Flames were smart to give him a chance. I don't see him coming out of the lineup any time soon – at least he shouldn't.
5. The 4th line was awful
The Ryan Lomberg - Derek Ryan - Garnet Hathaway line was, in a word, awful. It's not an exaggeration to say bad things happened every time they were on the ice. Bill Peters essentially put down a 'welcome' sign in the defensive zone every time the gave this trio a shift.
Putting Lomberg *and* Hathaway on the same line is a recipe for disaster. One is understandable but no center has a shot flanked by those guys.
Recent posts:
Five observations from a wild win in Columbus
On penalty killing prowess, Lindholm’s scoring, and goaltending
Predicting the Pacific Division standings
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