Flames 3, Capitals 5 post game embers: Decidedly average

A year ago, the Calgary Flames seemed decidedly average when they lost to the Washington Capitals in their eleventh game to fall to a 5-5-1 record. Now, after seeing history repeat itself this season, the question arises: will the Flames find a spark to become something better?

For all intents and purposes, this wasn’t a bad game by Calgary. Yes, the result is not what they wanted, and things seemed a little lacklustre at times, but this is a far cry from the bad games we’ve seen them play this season.

Still, they didn’t have an answer for the bounces that didn’t go their way, even though a good number of those bounces were their own fault. It’s refreshing to see Cam Talbot own those two goals in the second, but that won’t last long if he keeps letting in those goals. That second one, in particular, is perhaps a little triggering for Flames fans, who just want to see a goalie stay in the damn net if things are going to get away from him.

It’s impressive that the Flames were able to dig out of the 2-0 hole, especially because they were doing rather well before they started trailing and just stuck to their gameplan a little harder. However, seeing Alexander Ovechkin score 10 seconds after tying the game had a palpable sense of Sisyphean exhaustion that set the tone for the rest of the game.

It’s unfortunate, because the fourth and fifth goals against were also not the result of dynamite Washington play, but just a series of unfortunate events. Watching Travis Hamonic on that fourth goal essentially leave the puck on a silver platter for Lars Eller which led to a Tom Wilson goal feels preventable. Hamonic is a better defender than that, but that’s a representation of the Flames season thus far. They’re better than this, but here we are anyway.

At least if the Flames are going to have an average game and lose, it’s to a team like Washington that is actually firing on all cylinders (as they take top spot in the NHL with this win). Last season, the Flames felt like their first loss to Tampa Bay was a measuring point for good. This loss to Washington serves the same purpose, but it’s not a moral victory.

There are definite positives to take away from this game, which is encouraging. Special teams was again a bright spot for the Flames. Starting with the power play, both of Calgary’s units were able to capitalize, even though only one was official. There are times this season where I’ve questioned exactly what the plan is with the second unit, so it was great to see them score a goal and almost even have it be on the actual power play!

The penalty kill was able to shut out the Capitals, which is great because a) Calgary keeps adding to their lead as far as being the most penalized team in the league and b) Washington has a pretty good power play. It still feels as though Calgary just keeps not getting scored on instead of having an actively good penalty kill, but it’s getting the job done right now.

The scoring is a little bit more balanced than the start of the season, which is great because no one is really taking on a major offensive role for Calgary right now. It’s difficult to call it scoring-by-committee as they aren’t scoring as much as one would like, but they have more threats than just the top line right now.

All four lines were essentially trusted to finish this game, and none of them struggled against Washington. The new third line of Andrew Mangiapane-Derek Ryan-Tobias Rieder played pretty well, perhaps the best game for a bottom-six line we’ve seen this season (an admittedly low bar).

Austin Czarnik keeps making the case to take on an actual role with the Flames. Sean Monahan looks like he’s really trying to prove something right now, and even though he’s not being rewarded on the scoresheet it is absolutely something you love to see. Mangiapane doesn’t look phased at all from his brief injury, which is a major relief for everyone.

The best defenders analytically in that game were perhaps also the worst from the eye test perspective. There was a very big difference in CFRel% at 5v5 between Michael Stone, T.J. Brodie, and Mark Giordano (bad) and Hamonic, Noah Hanifin, and Rasmus Andersson (good). Yet, it was Hanifin and Hamonic looking lost on yet another goal taking place in the first minute of a period. It was Andersson playing victim to the awful bounce on the second goal.

Stone will likely take a seat in favour of Kylington again, but it feels as though the back end of the Flames need a big jolt. Something to shake them out of their doldrums, as it constantly feels like it’s basics that keep sinking them. It doesn’t seem like a trade is the right call, nor is there anyone in Stockton ready to take that leap, so it’s tough to say what shape that jolt could take. A complete shuffling of defensive pairings? It seems early to rush to that, but we’re getting close to something needing to be done.

Cam Talbot looked sharp against Anaheim. The shine wore off during this game. True, he did make a handful of great saves, which showed that the game on Sunday was not just a one-off and that he still has mileage left. However, the game as a whole will likely rattle his confidence, and it’ll be interesting to see when the Flames put him back in.

Both him and David Rittich now have very poor games in their last appearance, so this coming stretch will say a lot about the Flames’ coaching staff and who they want to play through their rough stretch. My money is on David Rittich, but we’ll see.

This was not a good game for the Mark Jankowski redemption tour, playing on the knockoff M&M&M line with Milan Lucic and Michael Frolik. There aren’t many options right now for the Flames due to cap space and the injury to Sam Bennett, so it’s unlikely he gets scratched again, but it’s not for lack of (lack of) trying.

0.857% – Cam Talbot’s save percentage against low danger shots. You’re going to have a tough time winning when that number is below .900%.

5 – High danger scoring chances for the Flames. Monahan had two, along with Ryan, Rieder, and Czarnik.

-35.21% – A decidedly putrid xGFRel%, which was unfortunately Giordano’s. This was the kind of game that makes a fan fear that father time is catching up to him.

9 or 11 – Not sure which, but if Tobias Rieder scores that many goals, the rumours say that teams make the playoffs.

Up next is the Florida Panthers, who are also a decidedly middle-of-the-pack team so far this season, although with a lot more change coming into this season which helps explain that. One of these two teams will need to make the bigger statement come Thursday, and could potentially use that to end October on an encouraging note. I legitimately wonder who it will be.