Stars 2, Flames 1 post-game embers: Slowly getting back at it

Well, you can’t deny things are a whole lot more exciting when a goal is scored. Maybe that’ll push things back on the right track.

The Flames didn’t play a bad game, and looked a bit more inspired than they were in their previous outing. Each of their new-look lines created opportunities at one point or another; it’s just that, once again, they weren’t good enough to actually bury the puck – whether it be due to unfortunate bounces, inaccurate passing, or the Stars’ goalie and defence simply doing their jobs and thwarting the dangerous chances/preventing them from even happening to begin with.

But the Flames limited the Stars’ opportunities, as well. Even before they were down by a goal the game was tilting in their favour, and they largely controlled things through 60 minutes. Don’t forget it’s a testament to them as well – some unfortunate defensive miscues giving the Stars too close a chance a couple of times aside – that Dallas had nothing to show for at five-on-five.

It’s just that, well, special teams lost it. Initially, the Flames had good penalty kills, clearing the puck and preventing the Stars from entering the zone. At least, until Alexander Radulov was able to break through three defenders and open up David Rittich; at least, until the slot got so chaotic barely anybody was able to get a handle on the puck left with a scrambling goalie and a wide open net. Once the Stars got their second goal, things were pretty much over.

Not that the Flames laid down and died. Remember, back in December, when they were down to the Flyers by two goals with just over a minute to go and then forced overtime and won? That vibe started returning, and TJ Brodie finally capitalizing on a rebound made it all the stronger. They couldn’t recreate that moment in the end, but that has to feel a lot better going forward into the next game – not that there’s any difference as no points were earned, but back-to-back shutouts very well may carry an extra layer of demoralization that the Flames at least won’t have to contend with.

Tkachuk was my favourite Flames forward on the night. He came close, numerous times, to scoring, and seemed to be creating the most havoc around the net. It’s also just a good sign in general, because you go back to early February in which he just couldn’t score at all and compare him to not just this game, but several of his recent outings, and it’s clear he definitely broke out of that slump. It’s a two-fold level of hope: that Tkachuk will be good to go for the playoffs, and that any other top forwards struggling (as he was not too long ago) will be able to break out of it in the playoffs, too.

The top four had another good night for themselves. Both Mark Giordano and Brodie did a good job largely containing the Stars’ top line, while Travis Hamonic and Noah Hanifin helped contribute with big minutes as well to hold Dallas scoreless at even strength. That definitely counts for something. Giordano was also highly notable in trying to get the offence going, Hanifin had his moments, and Brodie actually scored the goal. Yeah, the penalty kill was rough when it finally broke down, but two isolated moments don’t tell an entire game’s story. They show two moments in which a disadvantaged team faltered. The rest of the time? No goals, and few chances. For most of the game, the defence did its job.

The Stars are all but officially a playoff team. The Flames looked better against them than they did the Kings. It’s good to see the life returning, even if it is taking its time.

The Flames are going to have to work on their recent scoring drought, especially as teams continue to clam up. They’ve had a couple of outbursts against non-lottery teams, and those need to come back – preferably within, say, two weeks’ time. Giving up two goals on the penalty kill wasn’t great, but this is a team that should be able to score its way out of trouble and they’ve hit a major wall as of late. The kill was poor; not being able to score was far worse.

You can see special teams costing the Flames – their powerplay has been completely ineffective this month (albeit looking a little better than it did the previous game) – but it’s so disappointing to see their penalty kill start off so well, completely neutralizing any attempt the Stars possibly could have gotten, only for it to crumble at one moment and undo all of their work.

Extremely relived Elias Lindholm was cleared to return to the game. Extremely wondering what the NHL’s rules are designed to protect if him getting forced into the boards the way Roman Polak did somehow wasn’t worth a penalty.

The Flames haven’t defeated the Stars since March 17, 2017. If there’s one team that just completely has their number for some reason, it’s this one – though I suppose it’s potentially more good news than bad if they can avoid each other in the playoffs.

63.11% – The Flames’ 5v5 CF on the night. They controlled the majority of the game. The defence was sound, even if the offence wasn’t really there.

9 – Giordano far and away led everybody with nine shots on net. Remember he’s a defenceman (and one with 72 points, at that, though he couldn’t add to this totals in this game). He seems ready for the playoffs. No other Flame was able to muster more than three shots.

19:15 – Amid all the line shuffling and prompt third period unshuffling, of course Johnny Gaudreau led the way for the forwards with 19:15 in ice time. Ice times were still mostly even, though; six forwards all played more than 17 minutes: the five you’d expect, and also Derek Ryan.

8:10 – Mark Jankowski played the fewest minutes, and by a decent bit at that.

11:04 – Oscar Fantenberg played the least out of the defence by over six minutes of ice time. Combine that and his 10:46 against the Kings, and you maybe have to wonder if he’ll get a night off as the regular season winds down; he’d been averaging 15:07 with the Flames before, so this is a notable drop off (even if they are coming amid losing efforts).

The results aren’t ideal, but an underwhelming finish to the regular season isn’t an indictment on how the postseason will go. Remember: it’s been a while since this group has really had something big to play for (yeah, the division title, but watching your closest competition shoot itself in the foot six times in a row takes some of that edge off).

Just because the Flames had two meh games in a row, all the while it being likely they clinch top spot in the West, doesn’t mean they’re doomed come playoff time. It means they had two meh games in a row at the end of a season that’s been over for them for a while already. Things will be fine – and if not this year, then they’re still set up for years to come.