Post-Sim Wrap-Up: Flames beat Islanders 8-5
By Ryan Pike
4 years agoThe National Hockey League season is suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. But while we wait for the season to hopefully resume, we can’t help but wonder: what if the season was still going? So we’re using EA Sports’ NHL 20 to simulate games.
First up? The March 12 meeting between the Flames and the New York Islanders.
Lineups
Flames:
- Forwards: Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm, Mangiapane-Backlund-Tkachuk, Lucic-Ryan-Dube, Bennett-Jankowski-Rieder
- Defense: Giordano-Andersson, Brodie-Hamonic, Forbort-Gustafsson
- Goalies: Talbot starting, with Rittich as backup
The Flames are missing Noah Hanifin due to injury, but Travis Hamonic returns.
Islanders:
- Forwards: Lee-Barzal-Eberle, Ladd-Nelson-Bailey, Beauvillier-Pageau-Komarov, Martin-Brassard-Clutterbuck
- Defense: Leddy-Pulock, Toews-Mayfield, Greene-Dobson
- Goalies: Varlamov starting, with Greiss as backup
Results
| Score | Scoring Line | Details |
| 1-0 Islanders | Toews (Ladd, Mayfield) 4:25 first | Wrist shot off face-off win. |
| 2-0 Islanders | Komarov (Nelson) 17:50 first | One-timer off defensive turnover. |
| 2-1 Islanders | Tkachuk 24 (Gustafsson 24, Backlund 30) 19:22 first | One-timer off face-off win. |
| 3-1 Islanders | Pageau (Beauvillier, Mayfield) 19:58 first | Rebound off a rush chance. |
| 3-2 Islanders | Mangiapane 18 (Backlund 31, Brodie 16) 6:35 second | Wrist shot off the rush. |
| 3-3 tie | Bennett 9 (unassisted) 13:41 second | Interception of an errant pass. |
| 4-3 Islanders | Lee (Eberle, Mayfield) 15:29 second | Wrist shot off the rush. |
| 4-4 tie | Lindholm 30 (Gaudreau 41, Tkachuk 39) PP 17:13 second | Wrist shot off face-off win. |
| 5-4 Flames | Dube 7 (Ryan 20, Lucic 13) 4:10 third | Wrist shot off the rush. |
| 6-4 Flames | Backlund 17 (Tkachuk 40, Forbort 2) 6:21 third | Wrist shot off the rush. |
| 6-5 Flames | Ladd (Brassard, Bailey) 16:13 third | One-timer from slot. |
| 7-5 Flames | Gaudreau 19 (Brodie 17, Monahan 27) 19:06 third | Wrist shot from slot. |
| 8-5 Flames | Lucic 9 (Giordano 27, Ryan 21) EN 19:59 third | Empty netter off the rush. |
Note: Elias Lindholm left the game after the second period with an injury.
Three Stars
- Mikael Backlund (Flames)
- Matthew Tkachuk (Flames)
- Milan Lucic (Flames)
Updated Standings
With the win, the Flames improve to 37-27-7 and have 81 points. Updating the remainder of the relevant Western Conference standings with the Athletic’s game-by-game projections, here’s how things look at the end of the night on March 12.
Pacific Division
- Vegas – 86 points
- Edmonton – 83 points
- Calgary – 81 points
- Vancouver – 80 points
- Arizona – 75 points
- Anaheim – 67 points
- Los Angeles – 64 points
- San Jose – 63 points
Wild Cards
- Winnipeg – 80 points
- Vancouver – 80 points
- Minnesota – 79 points
- Nashville – 78 points
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