Beyond the Boxscore: Calgary Flames gas tank on empty as Kings drive circles around them
7 months ago
The Calgary Flames failed to collect their fourth straight win as the Los Angeles Kings fended off an onslaught of power plays to emerge victorious. They kept to their typical game script with a slower first 40 minutes and then a third period that can give people hope. Tonight the Kings got through with the help of strong play when they got the chance and really limited Calgary at 5v5. Without the power plays it’s relevant to ask whether or not Calgary would have been able to muster up any offence.
CF% – 35.47%, SCF% – 28.41%, HDCF – 13.15%, xGF% – 19.85%
It’s a team game – This was the single worst effort of the Flames season. The previous low point was still opening night against the Jets – which they somehow won – but with the loss in this one it takes the cake. Worse than St. Louis even – simply just a horrendous result. No team in the NHL has any reason to put up a 13.15 HDCF% where they lost the High-Danger battle 14-2. Especially when you throw in the Flames also had 6 power plays – finishing play in the attacking zone should actually inflate your numbers – this further emphasizes just how bad tonight was.
Corsi King – The last guy you’d expect to finish on the high end side of shot attempts but Jonathan Huberdeau (60.38%) was that guy. The only other one to not spend most of the time in his own zone was Nick DeSimone (58.63%) – everyone else on the team saw themselves at 50% or lower. Not too many crowns here.
Corsi Clown – Rasmus Andersson (15.2%) can be so polarizing. One game he’s making beautiful drop passes into the slot after a successful pinch, the next he sees himself out-chanced 26-5 in his ice time. For the guy that lead them in ice time to see that much against is a major reason for the outcome – it can’t happen like this against good teams. Nobody on this roster other than the goaltender gets a pass after that performance.
Shot Pressure –
Taken By Chance – Nine players with a 5v5 HDCF% rate of zero and one with a N/A. That is 10 out of 18 skaters that didn’t find any significant offence during regular play. The two guys that did help find multiple high danger looks (at 2) were Hanifin (15.38 SCF% // 20.69 HDCF%) and Tanev (16.15% // 20.69%) who also saw 8 of those looks come their way too. This game tape seriously needs to be burnt.
xG Breakdown –
xGF% – Nick DeSimone (69.48%) led the team as not everyone can lose their 5v5 matchups (I’m lying in 5 years of doing this I’ve seen it happen). Partner Dennis Gilbert (52.59%) also found himself with his head above water. So take that as the positive – even in a demolishing game the Flames current third pair found a way to come through in a positive manner. Elias Lindholm (65.03%) was the highest rated forward because of the marginal numbers produced in 8 minutes of 5v5 ice. No, under 9 minutes at 5v5 isn’t a lot.
Game Flow –
Game Score –
Shot Heatmap –
In The Crease – For what he had to accomplish I really have no major faults for Markstrom. When a team shows up to a major game that may get you above .500 and plays in front of you like that? On top of that right after coming off a shutout? It’s just disrespectful. Markstrom is back to fine form – the team in front of him needs to pick up their game.
The Goals –
Flashalytics Three Stars –
1) Jacob Markstrom
2) Nick DeSimone
3) Dennis Gilbert
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