Flames Scoring Chances – Game 65 versus St. Louis

 

 

People judging the game by the score (6-0 Flames) or the final 10 minutes of the third will probably be pretty surprised by the chance count. The Blues were mostly the better team through two periods, particularly at ES, but were completely snake-bitten. They hemmed in Calgary’s best players more often than not, but shots missed nets, tipped off shins and rolled over sticks. And when they didn’t, Kipper stopped them.

Calgary took over in the third period after the second goal. The Blues decided to start trying to hurt people, took a few penalties (although they probably deserved more than they got) and the Flames scored on the PP’s. Game over.

The biggest irony is the differential between Jarome Iginla’s underlying numbers and his counting stats. He scored four three points, all at ES, but was underwater in terms of possession and chances. The first line had a night where they’d spend most of shift in their own end, only to come up the up ice, pounce on a mistake, and see it go in the net. Sometimes the coin lands on heads over and over again for you.

That said, the big boys have to better in the long-term, because you aren’t going to score 5 goals on 6 scoring chances very often going forward.