The Numbers From Game 4
By Ryan Pike
8 years agoThe Calgary Flames lost last night, dropping a crucial 4-2 decision at home to the Anaheim Ducks.
The numbers can provide a bit of insight into what, exactly, went wrong.
- In terms of even-strength Corsi, the Flames best players were Joe Colborne and Mikael Backlund, both at +6. Sam Bennett was added to their line late when the bench got shortened in the third period, and he ended up as +2. David Schlemko was +7, as well, but in more limited duty on the third pairing.
- In the Corsi basement? Matt Stajan, David Jones and Brandon Bollig were all -4. When you consider that Stajan and Jones were used on the “tough minutes” line against Getzlaf and Perry, it begins to make sense why the ice tilted the way it did during the game. Worse among blueliners? T.J. Brodie (-4) and Deryk Engelland (-6), and when you consider that they, too, were the tough minutes guys, there you go.
- Faceoffs were something the Flames did better than expected in, especially when you consider that Sam Bennett was playing his first functional game as a National Hockey League center. Granted, he took fewer draws than the other centers and then got switched to the left side of Mikael Backlund late in the game, but he won 60% of his draws – mostly against Rickard Rakell and Nate Thompson.
- Sean Monahan won 56% of his draws, including going 75% against Ryan Getzlaf and 67% against Ryan Kesler. For a guy that’s struggled for most of the playoffs, it’s a great performance. (His Corsi differential was +1, so face-offs definitely helped his line.) Mikael Backlund was 52% on his draws, including 60% against Getzlaf and 46% against Kesler. Matt Stajan struggled, going 44% overall. He went 50% against Getzlaf and 38% against Kesler.
- In terms of situations and set-ups, the Flames seemed to do their best to make life tough for the Ducks’ top two lines. At even-strength, they played well enough to beat the Ducks. It was, ultimately, their special teams that sunk them.
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