Things were looking up halfway through the game, but a couple of quick deflections in the third frame led the St. Louis Blues to a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames in the Alberta team’s home opener.

It’s a Team Game – The score was still 2-2 in the third period when I thought to myself “this is a really fun game to watch.” There was physicality from the Flames, a fight from Ryan Lomberg, some good chances for all the young difference makers and they weren’t trailing. Then the deflections came and deflated the air around how this game had gone up until then. Calgary genuinely was the better team for most of the hockey game, but the inability to score enough bubbled back to the surface. The same roster plus some new kids has the same problems as last year – go figure. I do think the new young players are going to help as time goes on. The wingers will learn how to catch Zayne Parekh’s rocket passes while Gridin will only get better with more reps like the ones he’s been taking. A rough way to lose – two low percentage deflections in a row – but you can’t dwell. Take the positives and feel good about them and work on the negatives, we’re just getting started.

Corsi King – Mikael Backlund (66.53 CF%) and his line led in overall shot attempts generated and also goals surrendered. Amongst the forwards anyways, MacKenzie Weegar (68.50 per cent) and Joel Hanley (64.93 per cent) happened to get dinged with the dash three. Spent most of the game in the attacking zone, but every single time it actually got pinned in the defensive zone it turned into a goal. Process wise it was a strong shift-by-shift performance, but the boxscore results don’t showcase that. I do think the Backlund and Blake Coleman (74.74 per cent) spent most of the first two games in their own zone – I’m very curious to see how the offensive output turns out for them this season. If things go like the first two games it will be limited, if it’s like this one the offence will come.

Taken By Chance – The high danger chances in this game were 15-14 in favour of the Blues. That’s quite a bit more than the Flames usually get and certainly more than they usually give up. Joel Hofer was a nightmare against them having their number multiple times and especially in the early part oof the second period. Two players that have stood out with amazing flashes so far are Joel Farabee (36.64 SCF% // 35.58 HDCF%) and Morgan Frost (36.63 per cent // 35.58 per cent). Morgan Frost has been very noticeable all over the ice offensively and Joel Farabee was a shot blocking robot. Now, they did surrender 9 high danger chances against in this one, generated 5 of their own, and were on for a 5v5 goal against. I did not like Yegor Sharangovich (33.04 per cent // 35.58 per cent) with them. Sharangovich needs to be more shot happy if he is going to stick around a middle-6 for the duration of his five year deal. He has been a decent PK option and had some limited ice the first game, but he needs to produce goals and do it regularly. This team desperately needs finishing and Matvei Gridin (61.49 per cent // 69.14 per cent) has already earned more ice and opportunity than him by a landslide. When Huberdeau comes back – and it won’t be long – less PP time and 5v5 time will be available. If Sharangovich wants to make sure it’s not him that loses it he needs to produce tangible offensive production.

Competition is tight on the wings and Matvei Gridin isn’t playing like someone that’s about to go anywhere. Huberdeau, Coronato, Coleman, Gridin, Farabee, Sharangovich and Zary – seven guys for six top 9 wing spots. Lomberg is locked in at 4LW whether you like it or not – so you need to produce to stay playing this year, period.

xGF% – I want to keep talking about Matvei Gridin (64.88 per cent). Overall three game sample, pretty small for sure, but Gridin has consistently been the best player in a Flames jersey. His 200 foot game is what’s floored me so far. An active stick with smart approaches to his stick checking, he doesn’t quit when he decides to pursue a puck and always makes sure to get a piece of puck/stick to disrupt what is going on. So much of Calgary’s offensive success that they manage to achieve is caused off a Gridin turnover. Nazem Kadri (64.15 per cent) and Matt Coronato (60.72 per cent) have been quick to pounce on those and turn them into odd man rushes the other direction. Now that he’s here doing this at this level I’m not sure you can send him back until there’s a consistent slump. Made this jump straight from the QMJHL too – I’m very excited to see where this season goes for him.

Zayne Parekh (44.41 per cent) too because why not talk about what people actually want to read about. He had limited defensive zone starts – only saw one face-off there at 5v5 – so he was deployed rather carefully under the watchful eye of his coach. He was not out for any of the goals scored against the team and looked more than ready to play in the NHL. He needs to learn to slow things down in his own zone and not make default decisions just because they worked earlier. The other team will adjust to your habits in the NHL must faster than the OHL so making sure you’re at least observing what you’re doing before making a pass up the boards is necessary. All that is just normal growing pain stuff that will fade away over the long run. He was a smooth, smooth skater all night and used this rocket of a zone exit pass that the wingers need to do a better job of handling. Nobody on the Flames defence in recent memory had THAT crisp of a first pass out of the zone. Once he’s really comfortable and can start to get creative I look forward to the results.

In The Crease – I have had moments this year where I’m like “how on earth did Dustin Wolf stop that’ as well as “how did Wolf let that goal go in.” Both happened tonight, the first backhand goal was one I wish he stopped. Same with the Robert Thomas PP goal, but he didn’t make them go down a man. Those deflections are so tough for a goaltender to get – both were late deflections to leaving Wolf no possibility to even and try to adjust to the deflection. Regardless, them going in puts a damper on what was a quality watching experience prior. Not the best game but Wolf’s the guy now, I’m sure this will just motivate him to turn into even more of a brick wall. 1.85 expected goals against at 5v5 with three goals getting behind him.

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