The Calgary Flames played a game on Saturday afternoon. They visited the San Jose Sharks and played fairly decently, all things considered. The Sharks are a team that’s on their way to the Stanley Cup playoffs and finds ways to win. The Flames? Well, they’re… not.
The Flames scored a goal and had a bunch of scoring chances, but that’s all they could muster in a 5-1 loss to the Sharks. They have six games remaining this season.
The Rundown
The first half of the first period was fairly even. However, a defensive lapse in the Flames end allowed a nice pass from Chris Tierney to a wide open Brendan Dillon at the point and his wrister beat David Rittich to make it 1-0. (Rittich had a clear view of it, but couldn’t stop it). Just over a minute later the Sharks made it 2-0. Brent Burns’ pass to the slot was redirected off Jannik Hansen’s stick, off Mark Jankowski, and into the net – Jankowski couldn’t tie up Hansen. But the Flames responded, as Michael Stone scored off a slap shot through traffic to make it 2-1.
Wanna see what an extremely hard shot looks like … it looks like this. Stone. Can. Wire. It. #CGYvsSJS pic.twitter.com/lK5D8GslyX
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 24, 2018
The visitors had tons of pressure early in the second, but no goals. Evander Kane made it 3-1 off a nice pass from Tierney short-handed off a bad line change and Johnny Gaudreau neglecting to cover Kane. Shots were 10-7 Flames but chances were 13-9 Sharks. Shots were 17-13 Flames and chances 11-8 Flames.
The Flames didn’t have a ton of jump in the final period. Justin Braun made it 4-1 when the puck shot out of scrum along the way and sent him all alone where his wrister beat Rittich. Kane added another goal off a redirection in front of the net to make it 5-1. Shots were 10-8 Flames, chances were 7-7.
Why The Flames Lost
At this point the Flames just don’t have a ton of jump. They’re without four regulars due to injury. A few regulars are probably still playing through injuries. They were okay in just about every area, but the Sharks got better goaltending, were better defensively, and were better at burying their chances.
The Flames lost because they weren’t as good as the Sharks.
Red Warrior
Hamilton led the team in shots. For a team that’s not scoring a bunch, that’s pretty big.
The Turning Point
Kane’s short-handed goal to make it 3-1 was a back-breaker. They were a bounce away from being tied up, but because of some shoddy back-checking they were down (and stayed down) for the rest of the game.
The Numbers
(Percentage stats are 5-on-5, data via Corsica.hockey)
| Player | Corsi For% |
O-Zone Start% |
Game Score |
| Ferland | 66.7 | 16.7 | 1.210 |
| Jankowski | 64.0 | 16.7 | 0.655 |
| Stewart | 62.1 | 16.7 | 0.975 |
| Gaudreau | 60.5 | 100 | 0.400 |
| Kulak | 59.5 | 50.0 | 0.325 |
| Hamonic | 57.6 | 50.0 | 0.300 |
| Bennett | 55.9 | 100 | 0.190 |
| Andersson | 51.9 | 57.1 | -0.075 |
| Lazar | 51.7 | 100 | -0.015 |
| Hamilton | 51.2 | 58.8 | 0.225 |
| Giordano | 50.0 | 56.3 | 0.125 |
| Frolik | 50.0 | 33.3 | 0.150 |
| Shore | 48.4 | 60.0 | 0.070 |
| Stone | 48.3 | 66.7 | 0.900 |
| Backlund | 47.6 | 33.3 | 0.000 |
| Hathaway | 45.8 | 50.0 | -0.035 |
| Brouwer | 44.4 | 33.3 | 0.005 |
| Glass | 37.0 | 50.0 | -0.225 |
| Rittich | — | — | -0.950 |
| Smith | — | — | — |
This and That
Travis Hamonic fought Kane in the third period, ending with Hamonic utilizing some mixed martial arts with a double-leg takedown. It was fun, as far as fights go. Garnet Hathaway fought Dillon in the third and it wasn’t as fun.
Kent sums up the second period, and the Flames season since the Bye Week:
Flames this period: complete territorial domination, but no goals. Break away (wide), 2on1 on the PP (no shot), partial breakaway (wide), clear look from the slot (shot deflected, harmless as a result).
— Kent Wilson (@Kent_Wilson) March 24, 2018
The Drive to 96 (Points)
The Flames now have 80 points with 6 games remaining. There simply are not enough games left for them to get enough points (a projected 96) to qualify for a playoff spot. They’re mathematically eliminated with any combination of 2.5 Ducks wins or Flames losses.
Up Next
The Flames (35-31-10) head down to Southern California tonight. They visit the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.
If our first round pick turns into a lottery win; at least it’s going to the East….so we got that going for us…..
WW
The odds of that happening are so damn low. Obviously the first pick is going to Edmonton. That’s how it works.
My money is on Vancouver getting the first pick. This would be pretty my as bad as Edmonton getting it. If I’m right I should be one of these wieners who come back and say “see, I told you all so.”
No; that’s just luck…
Predicting that McDavid doesn’t win the Calder……..predicting GG will be a terrible coach……predicting the 2014 draft would be disastrous……and unfortunately predicting that even though Poirier disclosed his substance abuse issues (and the FN posters were predicting he would now miraculously be our 1RW) his life long struggles were just beginning……
That is “I told you so”……
WW
Bold prediction. Bettman will screw Calgary by giving it the lottery win, owned by the Islanders regardless of the “odds”.
YYCFlames … That’s my fear too… just to be spiteful as Bettman has a history of being…
You are right that the deal needed doing. Adam Larsson is one of the best “defenceman” in the west. Played 134 games last 2 years (missed a bunch when his father passed this winter) and is a plus 55 for the Oilers. By comparisson McDavid 156 games plus 49, Gio has 157 games – plus 22, Hamilton 157 games – plus 13. Knowing that Larsson is not an offensive juggernaut, he must be doing something right in his own zone.
Our season could have been saved in December or January but BT didn’t fire GG when it was OBVIOUS that couldn’t run a kool-aid stand. WTF….swallow your pride. You have one more summer to get this team and organization on track in my books.
I think BT was between a rock and a hard place. Ownership doesn’t want to pay for two head coaches to sit at home, and prospective coaches for next year would shy away if they feel our GM has an itchy trigger finger. Giving GG a full two years shows he has patience to let the coach try to prove his worth.
One word. Gaudreau. He has not given up.
All those who gave the kid grief for a totally mistaken presumption about not caring for the team or city….wrong. I’ve been nothing but impressed with his level of motivation and passion for his teammates and dare I say it, us. He gives a damn, we should be stoked he’s one of ours. Kid doesn’t quit.
If you call hanging around a Center ice not quitting, ok
What the hell was he doing on that first goal???? I loves Johnny H. but that was BS!
He made that same mistake earlier this year.
If you call crying gives a damn
His backcheck attempt on that shorthanded goal should make bloopers of the year. 2 guys standing still alone on your goalie, and there goes Johnny, skates right between them and just keeps on going right out of the picture. Doesn’t do anything, just skated by and let them continue their 2 on 0. Then the pass and a goal. Super effort.
That third goal, holy crap. That was the worst bit of back checking I’ve ever seen. Johnny skated right past Kane without so much as touching him. Just a fly by leading to an easy goal. Rittich was not happy
The Heat won in Manatoba tonight 3-1. Kylington, Pollock, and Foo (EN) with the goals. Texas loses. Heat gain the two points they needed in Canana. Now 2 more on Wednesday against the Monsters are required prior to heading to San Antonio next weekend.
Hey.. thats great news… Manitoba has a pretty stacked team… way to go Heat~!
(um, who was in net?)
Never mind it was Gillies 🙂
I LOVE how the Oilers are winning meaningless games; it means no new GM……no new coach…..no new goaltender……..no meaningful trades……worse draft lottery odds (even though they probably win again…).
WW
Always so preoccupied with the oilers.
Seriously though. Both terribly disappointing years for both teams. What’s more of a tell about the future of the teams? The flames choking when games matter? Or the oilers streaking when they don’t? Probably depends which fan base you ask. Neither looks pretty 😐
You’re right as long as Edmonton loses Walter could t care less what happens to the flames. Yes he is always whining by the way
WW usually you don’t come off as a whiner…..
That is not whining. He’s Just speaking his truth. Plus you know he’s probably right. ?
Walter whiner…ww
What about the flames losing meaningful games. Which is worse?
Sorry but that sounds petty not sure how that is worse than the Flames losing meaningful games with no high picks at all. I guess degrading the Oilers makes you feel better.
So the Flames are on a 5 game losing streak and are 9 points out of a playoff spot but the Oilers winning makes you happy? Well this is an odd turn of events but all are welcome to hop on the Oilers band wagon, even you Willie Wonka!
Oilers have never tanked for a draft pick. The year they won the Lottery and selected McDavid, unlike Buffalo, Toronto and Arizona, they were .500 in March and April. Flames can’t muster enough pride to win even though with every loss they just make the Islanders GM look like a genius.
To be sure, for once, that we are on a path of growth…. Off season wishful thinking.
Well, now that it’s pretty much all over, I’ll state the obvious – I wasn’t expecting a Cup or anything from the Flames this year, let’s be honest, but THIS……..gone out chumps. One thing to close it out, playoff or not, with your head held high. But to just Is it just the coaching staff? Or more? We will
Printed my comment before I was finished. As I was saying. Is it just the coaching staff? Normally teams, even though they are out, try to play spoiler. Finish with some pride. You’re season is almost done. In or out, make as much noise as you can. Not with a whimper
Half of the team is injured. It’s pretty hard to gauge where we are at with this current lineup. I don’t blame the flames for not emptying the cupboards in Stockton. It’s way more important for our young guys to see how far they can go if they can make the playoffs.
Nice to see Kulak in that #3 dman spot though..have not seen him give a break out pass directly to the opposition like the guy he is replacing. Our D looks better..now just to get rid of Stone and the back end could be successful
Problems run much deeper than the coaching staff. The club doesn’t have the talent to be high end. As I have said numerous times, clubs need two legitimate scoring lines to run with the big boys and be a serious cup threat. Flames are one scoring line club. Only hope to improve that from within is possibly further nursing of Bennett, Janko, Ferland and prospects.
Defence just hasn’t worked this season. Even if Ras is swapped in at the expense of Stone or Brodie, it will remain a soft defence that is going to give up a ton of Grade A chances night after night.
It wouldn’t be an offseason with the Flames if the perplexing problem of goaltending didn’t rear its ugly head. Enough has happened since Smitty’s injury and return to suggest that the club is once more in a pickle between the pipes. Some might say net minding is the least of the Flames’ concerns right now, but it isn’t a problem that is going to be fixed with a new coach and it can and will bite the club in the behind sooner rather than later when the new season begins.
I still question the leadership among the players on this team. Yea, Gio is the captain and undisputed leader of the club, but what did Tre tell us when he signed Brouwer and traded for Smith and Hamonic? He extolled the leadership values of each of these veterans. That was a bit curious. Did Tre think that player leadership needed to be improved under Gio so he specifically sought to acquire men who were known leaders?
Lots wrong with this club. That’s apparent. How to fix it and who are the best people to do it? Those are stumpers.
You are right. I believe the issues started when coaches and gms in Calgary started believing the TSN and SportsNet propaganda from the last olympic year with NHL players that Giordano or Brodie could or should make that team Canada team. If you look at either or the whole team objectively, that was not the case. The Flames have too many players playing in spots that are not sustainable and media and fans put unrealistic expectations on. Is Backlund a #2 center on a contending team? NO. He is a perfect third line, shut down guy. Is Sean Monahan a first line center on a contending team? No, Monahan is not a center in my opinion, he lacks hockey iq, grit, and does not have a 200 foot game, he is a sniper who should slide over to the wing. Is Ferland a top 6 guy in the NHL? NO! Sure he can fill in and is capable of scoring, but he is better served on the third or fourth line, bring some grit and quit trying to play a skill game. Should Stajan, Glass, or Hathaway be on a contending team or in reality an NHL team? no! The game has passed the first two by, and Hathaway is good at blocking punches with his face. Move on! The D is just as questionable. Should Brodie be a #3/1 defenceman? Not a chance. He is still making rookie mistakes, passing the puck DIRECTLY to the opposition on break out passes once a period, also softer than Gaudreau in front of the net. Is Stone an NHL defenceman? Not in my books..other than the cannon which has done him no good since being a flame, ge has zero puck skills, chips snakes, no first pass and his foot speed..bahahaha..i havent mentioned tge likes of Brouwer, to easy a target but if he was placed properly he would be ok..just over paid. Coaching is atrocious and so is the management for allowing this team to spiral out of control and not make anyone accountable.
Well said, think you have covered the problems and as I have believed it’s more than coaching
Red Warrior should be Frolik ,if you actually watched the game lol . Flames lost because they can’t score . You can shoot 50 shots directly into the centre of a goalie and guess what it will hit him and not the back of the net . Rittich is not NHL material . Too many nice guys ,soft players . Monahan ,Nacklund,Jankowski all soft centres . A 12 year old could push them around .wimps . Defence too soft . Flames should do a commercial on soft bathroom tissue .
Calgary Charmin Flames..
Lol or the wet wipes
I miss Iginla . Now there was a real hockey ,thank the Gods for Tkachuk Iggy 2.0
Seems to me there were a lot of posts on here before the trade deadline begging BT not to make a play for Kane.
Lol yeah everyone said he’s a prick well we need some with al these “nice guys ” lolo these “leaders” lolol what leaders ?…the 20 year od Tkachuk was the only leader I seen all year .
Kane wouldn’t have made a difference here, Unless he can coach or run a PP including Player Usage… He would most likely would have split in the off season. So it would have been a waste for the Flames to even try not to mention his off ice crap. There will be better options available in the off season that didn’t cost us another conditional first-round pick, a conditional fourth-round pick and a prospect. That’s a lot on a rental that would leave.
We couldn’t afford him anyway . Trevling was right to stand pat .
The Heat won in Manatoba tonight 3-1. Kylington, Pollock, and Foo (EN) with the goals. Texas loses. Heat gain the two points they needed in Canana. Now 2 more on Wednesday against the Monsters are required prior to heading to San Antonio next weekend.
https://manga-fox.com/