The Calgary Flames returned home from a long Eastern Conference road trip to face a divisional foe on Monday afternoon. The Flames didn’t play a perfect game, but they remained productive at even strength. They never trailed in a 5-2 victory over the visiting Arizona Coyotes.

The Rundown

The Flames took the lead a minute and a half into the first period. Andrew Mangiapane cut to the net but his shot was stopped, but the puck was cycled back to the point and Mark Giordano’s point shot was redirected by Derek Ryan to make it 1-0 Flames.
Shots were 8-7 Coyotes, but scoring chances were 12-5 Flames in the opening period.
The game went back and forth in the second period. Conor Garland tied the game early in the period off a really nice backhand shot off the rush. That made it a 1-1 game.
But Giordano gave the Flames a 2-1 lead midway through the period, accepting a pass at the point from Matthew Tkachuk and deking around the Arizona defenders and goalie before tucking the puck behind Pickard.
Jordan Weal tied the game at 2-2 with a heck of a wrist shot on the power play. It was an uncontested shot from the circles that beat Mike Smith short-side.
But the Flames retook the lead before the end of the period. Sam Bennett’s pass attempt bonked off a Coyotes skate and ended up right on Austin Czarnik’s stick. He drove the net and shot the puck. His stick broke on the shot but he beat Pickard low glove side to make it 3-2 Flames.
Shots were 13-11 Flames and scoring chances 12-9 Flames in the second period.
The Flames got some insurance early in the third period. A clearing pass was blocked by Mikael Backlund, Elias Lindholm grabbed the puck and fed Michael Frolik. Frolik drove the net and beat Pickard to make it a 4-2 Flames lead.
Backlund added an empty-netter to give the Flames a 5-2 lead and cement the victory.
Shots were 13-10 Flames and chances 7-2 Flames in the third period.

Why the Flames Won

The Flames kept up their strong play at even strength, out-scoring Arizona 4-1 at five-on-five. The Coyotes were able to generate some zone time, but weren’t able to convert zone time into much in the way of chances or goals.
The locals weren’t perfect in their own end and occasionally had some struggles efficiently exiting the zone, but it didn’t factor into the outcome of the game.

Red Warrior

Giordano was very good. But honorable mention to Andersson, pressed into top pairing duty with an injury to TJ Brodie.

The Turning Point

Czarnik’s goal, the eventual game-winner, sent the Flames into the second intermission with the lead. They never looked back.

The Numbers

(Percentage stats are 5-on-5, data via Corsica.Hockey)
Player
Corsi
For%
OZone
Start%
Game
Score
Jankowski
66.7
77.8
0.405
Frolik
64.5
50.0
2.200
Hanifin
64.3
58.3
0.475
Bennett
64.3
75.0
1.200
Hamonic
63.9
50.0
0.625
Andersson
62.5
72.7
1.975
Czarnik
61.5
75.0
1.125
Giordano
60.9
64.3
2.600
Lindholm
60.7
44.4
2.195
Backlund
60.0
40.0
1.815
Tkachuk
51.4
70.0
0.910
Mangiapane
50.0
85.7
0.365
Gaudreau
50.0
66.7
0.365
Monahan
48.6
60.0
0.175
Hathaway
47.6
75.0
0.775
Ryan
47.4
71.4
1.015
Prout
34.8
75.0
-0.075
Kylington
33.3
75.0
-0.200
Smith
—
—
1.200
Rittich
—
—
—

This and That

The Flames made a line adjustment after the first period, swapping Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk on the top two lines.
The Flames are now 29-1-4 when leading or tied after two periods.

Up Next

The Flames (36-16-7) are off tomorrow. They host the New York Islanders on Wednesday night.