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…
OK folks let’s break the Doom and gloom mood here. It ain’t getting any better for the rest of the year so might as well look for bright spots. What did you see that you liked? For me I liked the look of Phat Ras out there (other than the holding penalty) and Kulak and Hamonic paired great together … would like to see more.
I heard rumors that Glens hair was “Fabulous”. That’s always a good thing.
How did Lazar look?
He looked like Lazar. 3 goals in the last 3 years lol pathetic that treliving is the only only one who sees something in him.
For a second I thought you were talking about Lucic. Man, that guy sucks. He’s like a diamond – a gift that keeps on giving.
Ya… I’d take Lazar(23, $950,000X2) Over Lucy(29) all day long, esp for 6Million X6… LOL Now that is some Fine GMing Right There LOL… Hell the Oiler’s Lucy deal actually makes All their D-men $$$ Look good, so you have that! LOL Sekera(31),Russell(30), Larsson(25), Klefbom(24) All making 4+Million for at least 3 More Years… LOL Good Luck with That….
Lucic is on pace for his career average, but then again Lazar with his 6 points all year is too lmao
Klefbom and Larson are steals at $4 million with term left
IMO he looked “fine”. Just not 1st line “fine”. Lots of hustle, no hands. 4th line kinda “fine”
The kid plays hard and costs next to nothing. It would be interesting to see him slotted in with Backlund and Frolik as a shutdown line. No premium on scoring and a big bonus to not be scored against. Of curse that would require a coach that can match lines.
He looked decent. I really like the idea of keeping that top lime together past this season and maybe having Tkchuck Janko Monny as a second line
I didn’t see the game, but I was actually thinking the first line next year to be JH-Monny-Lazar. Why you think I’m off the rails, as much as I thought Ferland was the muscle for the line, he is not himself with prior injuries. I don’t know the full details of course but it seems he’s not inclined to mix it up. So, as an alternative you have Lazar providing more speed, hoping for improvement in scoring touch and more defensive skills to prop up JH’s creativity that occasionally goes sideways.
I quote the infamous Michel Therien: “I’m not impressed,” he said. “It’s a pathetic performance. Half the team doesn’t care. These guys would see if we take 50 percent of their salaries because they only play 50 percent of the time. That defensive squad, I really am starting to believe their goal is to be the worst in the league.
“And they’re doing the best job to be the worst defensive squad in the league. They turn the puck over, they have no vision, they suck. They pretend to care, but I know they don’t care.”
Sounds familiar.
I agree they’ve lost heart (and have now for a while), but I just want to mention that if we structured our defensive mode of play better, and had it more suited to our defensive player strengths, we would have a much better defense (and team more generally.
Lemme guess, we won the corsi battle again?
Gaudreau needs to be better on that play I don’t care how many goals he has.
This team is mailing it in. 5th straight loss. Despite the “homer’s” view, these losses are blow outs. No pride. Garbage fire. Curious if coach has lost the room. You wonder if, at year’s end, they have more points then the Oil. Embarrassing.
GG lost the room 20 months ago !
Once again beaten by Evander Kane now with 6 goals against the Flames. 12 points in 12 games with the Sharks. Calgary Flames: oh no we aren’t trading anyone off the roster for a rental player now fast forward a month, BT: we are trying to acquire a 1st round pick in the 2018 draft, lol. Meaning you will have to trade someone off the roster now for complete unknown.
Seems to me there were a lot of posts on here before the trade deadline begging BT not to make a play for Kane.
Treliving is a garbage gm, he should be the first to go before he gets a chance to screw up anymore.
But Kane might show up to the rink one day wearing sweat pants , that won’t be good lol
hello sheep. How was the “leader” backlund and JG and Gio today? is the swede multimillionaire strutting his stuff for the the next 5 years and that team friendly cap hit? BAHAHAHAHA!! Backlund at 5.5 for what 5 years ? bahahahaqhaqhaha.
Worst part of this tire fire – all the Coiler trolls seem to be crawling out from under their rocks again…
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.
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.
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.
If you call hanging around a Center ice not quitting, ok
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
If you call crying gives a damn
I missed the game as I was at the movie theater with my wife watching A wrinkle in time. The movie sucked. Sounds like this game sucked to. Glen Googlie eyes Gulutzan and his band of millionaires can eat a steaming pile of monkey dung. Heartless garbage.