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A couple Calgary Flames notes as we approach the final phase of the NHL’s return to play plan:
• Calgary and Edmonton played some truly fantastic games against one another this season. The rivalry was as fierce as we’ve seen it in years. Matthew Tkachuk and Zack Kassian played a big part in that, of course, but the intensity from each meeting also dragged unexpected characters like Sean Monahan and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins into the fray.
Importantly, the hockey was generally as good as the rivalry. There were a couple of nail biting games and, in aggregate, 31 goals were scored over just four meetings (7.75 per). That’s a lot of action.
Seemingly everybody was hoping for the Flames and Oilers to reconvene in Round 1. That’s not going to happen but, luckily, we will get to see the teams square off at least one more time.
I know the game is irrelevant in terms of winners and losers but it still holds great importance. This will be the first *real* action either side will have in months. It is also the only tune-up they’ll get to prepare for playoff hockey.
That means there will be no shortage of intensity, which should lead to a very fun game.
• The Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Elias Lindholm line was nowhere close to as good this season as a year ago. They scored goals at a much lesser rate (2.35 goals/60, down from 3.79/60), their shot and chance generation numbers dipped, and they simply looked off on many nights.
Geoff Ward understandably shook up the lines plenty of times due to their inconsistent play. They were together when the season paused, though, and it sure sounds like that will remain the case coming out of it.
The Flames have next to no secondary scoring – they are extremely top-heavy – so this trio best hit the ground running when play resumes. If they can’t contribute on a nightly basis, they’re not going to beat Winnipeg.
Simply put, a bottom-6 featuring guys like Milan Lucic, Mark Jankowski, and Zac Rinaldo is unlikely to produce much of anything against Connor Hellebuyck – arguably the league’s best goaltender this season.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
Recent posts:
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On the Flames’ rumored interest in Josh Anderson
No amnesty clause means Milan Lucic is sticking around
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Mark Giordano: long underrated, and long underpaid
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Ranking Calgary Flames contracts: Part 2
Ranking Calgary Flames contracts: Part 1
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