Game 3 Faceoff Breakdown
By Ryan Pike
9 years agoWith home ice on their side, the Flames controlled their destiny in many ways, particularly in the face-off circle. The team made a handful of key changes that resulted in face-off wins, particularly in key times in key match-ups.
Their face-off success, particularly against Henrik Sedin, is one of the reasons they won.
GAME 3
| Sean Monahan | Mikael Backlund | Matt Stajan | Josh Jooris | |
| Henrik Sedin | 5 taken 4-1 VAN | n/a | 13 taken 11-2 CGY | 2 taken 1-1 tie |
| Nick Bonino | 10 taken 6-4 VAN | 3 taken 2-1 VAN | 2 taken 2-0 VAN | n/a |
| Bo Horvat | 3 taken 2-1 VAN | 3 taken 2-1 VAN | n/a | 3 taken 3-0 VAN |
| Brad Richardson | 3 taken 2-1 CGY | 2 taken 2-0 VAN | n/a | 1 taken 1-0 CGY |
WHOLE SERIES
| Sean Monahan | Mikael Backlund | Matt Stajan | Josh Jooris | Markus Granlund | |
| Henrik Sedin | 17 taken 13-4 VAN | 9 taken 8-1 VAN | 21 taken 13-8 CGY | 2 taken 1-1 tie | 2 taken 2-0 VAN |
| Nick Bonino | 17 taken 9-8 CGY | 9 taken 7-2 CGY | 9 taken 5-4 CGY | n/a | 3 taken 3-0 CGY |
| Bo Horvat | 9 taken 6-3 VAN | 7 taken 4-3 CGY | 3 taken 2-1 CGY | 3 taken 3-0 VAN | 3 taken 2-1 CGY |
| Brad Richardson | 8 taken 5-3 VAN | 5 taken 3-2 VAN | 5 taken 4-1 CGY | 1 taken 1-0 CGY | 2 taken 2-0 VAN |
The main adjustments for Game 3 were as follows: Josh Jooris came in for Markus Granlund, Joe Colborne began taking offensive zone face-offs for Backlund while Backlund seemingly remained his line’s go-to guy for defensive face-offs, and the Flames did their best to put Matt Stajan out against Henrik Sedin.
Granlund for Jooris is basically a lateral move, though Jooris is right-handed. Neither guy took a ton of draws in key moments. Backlund struggled in draws, losing the vast majority of them, but being on a line with Colborne gives that offensive tandem (with Sam Bennett) a few extra options in terms of draws and deployments.
And Stajan? What can you say? After two games of Henrik Sedin eating Calgary’s lunch in terms of face-offs, between Stajan’s draw dominance and Ferland and Jones playing the body frequently, it was a tough night at the office for the Swedish wonder twins.
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