It doesn’t seem to matter how much the Calgary Flames seemingly outplay the Chicago Blackhawks they cannot find a way to beat them. While it wasn’t a particularly positive night for the Flames offence – especially given the opponent – they still managed to control the flow of play the majority of the time. Turning that into just 1 goal is the fault here – that and the ability for guys to re-find that fire. The playoff chase is all but over, it’s starting to show up in the team play.

CF% &#8211; 64.06%, SCF% &#8211; 67.06%, HDCF% &#8211; 54.03%, xGF% &#8211; 52.82%
It’s a Team Game – Its truly atrocious that the Flames couldn’t figure out a way to muster more than 6 high danger 5v5 chances in the entire game. That is by no doing of some strong play from the Blackhawks rather a listless Flames group that appeared to have a few members checked out. I’m sure they’ll come back in a day or two when they realize there are still 10 more games on the schedule, but the reality of the playoff misses seems to be really hitting these days. Flames sit ninth in the lottery odds after the matches – it’s worth monitoring nightly now.
Corsi King – Andrew Mangiapane (77.46%) has been all chances no scoring of late. He really struggles to maintain possession if he’s the skater carrying the puck into the attacking zone. Fantastic down low and on the cycle, but if it’s not a dump-in the Flames are losing some possessions. It doesn’t show up too often in the negatives because Mikael Backlund (73.43%) is always in the right position to be a safety net for his wingers and an aid to the defence. All of those good things can lead to a high disparity in chances, but eventually one of those guys needs to start scoring goals again. Blake Coleman (70.84%) has already done more than his fair share.
Under Pressure &#8211; 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-124545" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SP.png" alt="" width="975" height="1827" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SP.png 975w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SP-160x300.png 160w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SP-546x1024.png 546w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SP-768x1439.png 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SP-820x1536.png 820w" sizes="(max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px" />
Taken By Chance – Nobody really stood out as terrible, but nobody stood out as good either. The worst number against anyone was only 3, when recently players have seen 7+ on a regular basis. Chicago weren’t pressing hard at any given moment, they just had one of their lines have it be their night to get the puck luck. Kadri (74.74 SCF% // 100 HDCF%) and the kids did go the whole game without seeing a high danger chance against. It’s numbing at this point – no reasonable explanation for why the Flames can’t beat this team.
xG Breakdown &#8211; 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-124546" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-xG.png" alt="" width="895" height="1142" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-xG.png 895w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-xG-235x300.png 235w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-xG-803x1024.png 803w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-xG-768x980.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 895px) 100vw, 895px" />
xGF% &#8211; Quality share leader was Pospisil (74.52%) – after some down games it’s good to have one where you heavily are on the attacking side of the puck. Can help re-ignite some momentum – it’s been a struggle in the early return of Zary (70.98%) but tonight could at least be a step towards a strong finish. Miromanov (56.79%) continues to fascinate me. He’s everywhere on the ice and really wants to help attack and create offence and the way he goes about his business tends to have him on the positive side of the shot and quality shares on a nightly basis. He’s been a tremendous surprise early.
Game Flow – 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-124547" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-GF.png" alt="" width="751" height="350" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-GF.png 751w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-GF-300x140.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 751px) 100vw, 751px" />
Game Score –
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHL</a> GameScore Impact Card for Calgary Flames on 2024-03-26:
 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CofRed?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CofRed</a> <a href="https://t.co/DQtAmA1doH">pic.twitter.com/DQtAmA1doH</a>
&mdash; HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) <a href="https://twitter.com/hockeystatcards/status/1772821764600480189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Shot Heatmap – 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-124548" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SH.png" alt="" width="803" height="422" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SH.png 803w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SH-300x158.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SH-768x404.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 803px) 100vw, 803px" />
In The Crease – Markstrom may have got bored at times as the Blackhawks didn’t always go back and forth in trading chances. They really struggle through the neutral zone and cough up the puck a lot. Bedard doesn’t… but he doesn’t count right now. 1.34 expected goals against with 2 getting behind him – not ideal but certainly not the end of the world for the situation Calgary finds themselves in.
The Goals &#8211; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
MacKenzie Weegar scores his 17th goal of the season! What a year for Weegar!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blackhawks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Blackhawks</a> 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/hvTOV95tg4">pic.twitter.com/hvTOV95tg4</a>
&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1772817894826774985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Flashalytic’s 3 Stars –  
1) MacKenzie Weegar
2) Nazem Kadri
3) Martin Pospisil
(Stats compiled from Naturalstattrick.com // Game Score from Hockeystatcards.com // xG and Under Pressure charts from HockeyViz.com // Game Flow and Shot Heatmap from NaturalStatTrick.com)
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqqh8evbkOzKweyPF_hyDP_kWDI5877Ts"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-121465" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/DoD.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" /></a>
Was it a legal hit? Will the NHL hand out a suspension? How does the appeal process work? Who is the heavyweight champ? Every Tuesday, Ryan Pinder &amp; former NHLer Jay Rosehill are in your Department of Discipline. Tune in to catch their takes on some of the most scrutinized parts of hockey. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqqh8evbkOzKweyPF_hyDP_kWDI5877Ts">Check it out and subscribe to catch the latest episodes!</a>

It doesn’t seem to matter how much the Calgary Flames seemingly outplay the Chicago Blackhawks they cannot find a way to beat them. While it wasn’t a particularly positive night for the Flames offence – especially given the opponent – they still managed to control the flow of play the majority of the time. Turning that into just 1 goal is the fault here – that and the ability for guys to re-find that fire. The playoff chase is all but over, it’s starting to show up in the team play.



CF% - 64.06%, SCF% - 67.06%, HDCF% - 54.03%, xGF% - 52.82%

It’s a Team Game – Its truly atrocious that the Flames couldn’t figure out a way to muster more than 6 high danger 5v5 chances in the entire game. That is by no doing of some strong play from the Blackhawks rather a listless Flames group that appeared to have a few members checked out. I’m sure they’ll come back in a day or two when they realize there are still 10 more games on the schedule, but the reality of the playoff misses seems to be really hitting these days. Flames sit ninth in the lottery odds after the matches – it’s worth monitoring nightly now.

Corsi King – Andrew Mangiapane (77.46%) has been all chances no scoring of late. He really struggles to maintain possession if he’s the skater carrying the puck into the attacking zone. Fantastic down low and on the cycle, but if it’s not a dump-in the Flames are losing some possessions. It doesn’t show up too often in the negatives because Mikael Backlund (73.43%) is always in the right position to be a safety net for his wingers and an aid to the defence. All of those good things can lead to a high disparity in chances, but eventually one of those guys needs to start scoring goals again. Blake Coleman (70.84%) has already done more than his fair share.

Under Pressure - 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-124545" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SP.png" alt="" width="975" height="1827" />

Taken By Chance – Nobody really stood out as terrible, but nobody stood out as good either. The worst number against anyone was only 3, when recently players have seen 7+ on a regular basis. Chicago weren’t pressing hard at any given moment, they just had one of their lines have it be their night to get the puck luck. Kadri (74.74 SCF% // 100 HDCF%) and the kids did go the whole game without seeing a high danger chance against. It’s numbing at this point – no reasonable explanation for why the Flames can’t beat this team.

xG Breakdown - 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-124546" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-xG.png" alt="" width="895" height="1142" />

xGF% - Quality share leader was Pospisil (74.52%) – after some down games it’s good to have one where you heavily are on the attacking side of the puck. Can help re-ignite some momentum – it’s been a struggle in the early return of Zary (70.98%) but tonight could at least be a step towards a strong finish. Miromanov (56.79%) continues to fascinate me. He’s everywhere on the ice and really wants to help attack and create offence and the way he goes about his business tends to have him on the positive side of the shot and quality shares on a nightly basis. He’s been a tremendous surprise early.

Game Flow – 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-124547" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-GF.png" alt="" width="751" height="350" />

Game Score –

[embed]https://twitter.com/hockeystatcards/status/1772821764600480189?s=61&amp;t=10ogqpK31IEkkiBWxfaElA[/embed]

Shot Heatmap – 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-124548" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/G72-at-CHI-SH.png" alt="" width="803" height="422" />

In The Crease – Markstrom may have got bored at times as the Blackhawks didn’t always go back and forth in trading chances. They really struggle through the neutral zone and cough up the puck a lot. Bedard doesn’t… but he doesn’t count right now. 1.34 expected goals against with 2 getting behind him – not ideal but certainly not the end of the world for the situation Calgary finds themselves in.

The Goals - 

[embed]https://twitter.com/ringoffirecgy/status/1772817894826774985?s=61&amp;t=10ogqpK31IEkkiBWxfaElA[/embed]

Flashalytic’s 3 Stars –  

1) MacKenzie Weegar

2) Nazem Kadri

3) Martin Pospisil

(Stats compiled from Naturalstattrick.com // Game Score from Hockeystatcards.com // xG and Under Pressure charts from HockeyViz.com // Game Flow and Shot Heatmap from NaturalStatTrick.com)

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqqh8evbkOzKweyPF_hyDP_kWDI5877Ts"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-121465" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/DoD.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" /></a>

Was it a legal hit? Will the NHL hand out a suspension? How does the appeal process work? Who is the heavyweight champ? Every Tuesday, Ryan Pinder &amp; former NHLer Jay Rosehill are in your Department of Discipline. Tune in to catch their takes on some of the most scrutinized parts of hockey. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqqh8evbkOzKweyPF_hyDP_kWDI5877Ts">Check it out and subscribe to catch the latest episodes!</a>

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Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund (11) talks to left wing Blake Coleman (20), center Yegor Sharangovich (17) and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar (52) during the second period against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena.

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