The Calgary Flames failed to bring an acceptable level of energy to the rink on Thursday night as they fell flat against the lowly 2023-24 San Jose Sharks. Not many things went right for the Flames who more often than not were the direct cause of their own problems all night. Whether it was an egregious turnover from a defenceman that should have known better or the rookie goaltender having a rough, rough outing it was pretty well bad news from the start of the second period on. It is kind of silly how the Flames can always get up for games against the Bruins, Lightning, or Avalanche yet stumble over their own feet against teams like the Blackhawks, Senators, and Sharks.

CF% &#8211; 47.96%, SCF% &#8211; 50.82%, HDCF% &#8211; 69.39%, xGF% &#8211; 56.33%
It’s a Team Game – After the first period ended just 1-0 I was quite worried. The Flames absolutely dominated the Sharks at 5v5 in the opening frame but paired that with an Atom level power play. The result was a lead that could have vanished very quickly with some bad bounces – instead it was turnovers so bad even the bakery would have thrown them away. The atmosphere after the Sharks fourth goal could only be described as a deflated balloon. A disappointing night for all who attended, to say the least.
Corsi King – I’m probably going to get harsh on a few players and one is actually the Flames leader in this category – Noah Hanifin (64.79%). It’s great that he was able to help get so many shots, even dangerous ones, but all that is for naught when you literally hand the puck to other team multiple times for even more dangerous looks against. He was a primary candidate for guys having bad nights turning the puck over. MacKenzie Weegar (41.69%) fell under that category as well. Nobody plays 82 good games a year, the Flames had a whole bunch of guys turn in bad ones at the same time.
Corsi Clown – Oliver Kylington (33.76%) and Brayden Pachal (36.21%) were the ones that saw the most chances against. Jonathan Huberdeau (36.83%) looked more like the guy that started the season than the one we’ve seen since 2024 kicked off. His whole line had a game where they were on the wrong side of the shot attempts which cannot happen for a line of that pedigree against a team of this quality. Same goes for Andersson (44.08%) and Weegar.
Under Pressure &#8211; 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-121984" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SP.png" alt="" width="1006" height="1827" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SP.png 1006w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SP-165x300.png 165w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SP-564x1024.png 564w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SP-768x1395.png 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SP-846x1536.png 846w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1006px) 100vw, 1006px" />
Taken By Chance – In a very “of course they did that” way the Backlund (34 SCF% // 100 HDCF%) line didn’t surrender a single 5v5 high danger chance against. At least Huska has one line he can rely upon no matter the level of competition that strolls through the Stampede gates. Also not being subjected to a day of misery from the 35-point Sharks was Kevin Rooney (55.22% // 100%) and what I’m going to call the Lego line. It’s pieces change so constantly it’s hard to get a sense of what they’re going to be the next game – different pieces on different days. Cole Schwindt (50.59% // 100%) certainly deserves to keep playing he did nothing wrong in that one.
xG Breakdown &#8211; 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-121985" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-xG.png" alt="" width="899" height="1142" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-xG.png 899w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-xG-236x300.png 236w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-xG-806x1024.png 806w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-xG-768x976.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 899px" />
xGF% &#8211; The first period being all Flames is going to skew the overall quality share in favour of the whole roster. So, due to that, anybody finishing well below 50% of the share really had a bad night. Rasmus Andersson (44.08%) and MacKenzie Weegar can’t turn in a performance with that many failed zone clears. On a plus note Andrei Kuzmenko (70.15%) continues to be a sparkplug of offensive chances. He’s clearly rejuvenated here in Calgary and already has the C of Red falling in love with his personality. He found success getting chances in his brief time away from Huberdeau (59.32%) and Sharangovich (59.32%). Is he the next 200-foot king? Not a chance, but the man knows his way around the offensive zone.
Game Flow – 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-121986" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-GF.png" alt="" width="751" height="350" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-GF.png 751w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-GF-300x140.png 300w" sizes="auto, (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 2024-02-15:
 <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/R7FmeE9dbJ">pic.twitter.com/R7FmeE9dbJ</a>
&mdash; HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) <a href="https://twitter.com/hockeystatcards/status/1758352887816618344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 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-121988" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SH.png" alt="" width="803" height="422" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SH.png 803w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SH-300x158.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SH-768x404.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 803px) 100vw, 803px" />
In The Crease – I’m a huge Dustin Wolf fan, but he was not himself in this game. He wasn’t coming out to challenge shots, playing back on his heels in the crease, and couldn’t track down pucks he maybe should have. The first two goals against he may have had some questionable 2-on-1 choices, but the defenceman should have never handed the puck to the Sharks on a silver platter to begin with. Throw in some deflections and I could probably make a case, but after watching Markstrom play at a Vezina level for the last few months it’s clear there was a major drop off. I do believe that if given more consistent NHL opportunities he could get himself into a rhythm, but alas – that was not the case Thursday. 1.63 expected goals against at 5v5, 4 medium danger and one high danger goal against.
The Goals – 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Nazem Kadri scores his 17th goal of the season! 
1-0 Calgary <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJSharks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJSharks</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/LgqSaDaWUc">pic.twitter.com/LgqSaDaWUc</a>
&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1758314479442444353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Mikael Backlund makes this a one goal game. But the goal is under review for goalie interference. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJSharks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJSharks</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/qEPHmYDiHN">pic.twitter.com/qEPHmYDiHN</a>
&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1758336924325171506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Andrei Kuzmenko scores his 3rd goal as a Flame <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJSharks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJSharks</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/7IQrfjGQQE">pic.twitter.com/7IQrfjGQQE</a>
&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1758350283929747572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Flashalytic’s 3 Stars – 
1) Mikael Backlund
2) Andrei Kuzmenko
3) Nazem Kadri
(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)
<hr />
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-120985" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Artboard-3-1-1.png" alt="" width="724" height="404" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Artboard-3-1-1.png 724w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Artboard-3-1-1-300x167.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px" />

The Calgary Flames failed to bring an acceptable level of energy to the rink on Thursday night as they fell flat against the lowly 2023-24 San Jose Sharks. Not many things went right for the Flames who more often than not were the direct cause of their own problems all night. Whether it was an egregious turnover from a defenceman that should have known better or the rookie goaltender having a rough, rough outing it was pretty well bad news from the start of the second period on. It is kind of silly how the Flames can always get up for games against the Bruins, Lightning, or Avalanche yet stumble over their own feet against teams like the Blackhawks, Senators, and Sharks.



CF% - 47.96%, SCF% - 50.82%, HDCF% - 69.39%, xGF% - 56.33%

It’s a Team Game – After the first period ended just 1-0 I was quite worried. The Flames absolutely dominated the Sharks at 5v5 in the opening frame but paired that with an Atom level power play. The result was a lead that could have vanished very quickly with some bad bounces – instead it was turnovers so bad even the bakery would have thrown them away. The atmosphere after the Sharks fourth goal could only be described as a deflated balloon. A disappointing night for all who attended, to say the least.

Corsi King – I’m probably going to get harsh on a few players and one is actually the Flames leader in this category – Noah Hanifin (64.79%). It’s great that he was able to help get so many shots, even dangerous ones, but all that is for naught when you literally hand the puck to other team multiple times for even more dangerous looks against. He was a primary candidate for guys having bad nights turning the puck over. MacKenzie Weegar (41.69%) fell under that category as well. Nobody plays 82 good games a year, the Flames had a whole bunch of guys turn in bad ones at the same time.

Corsi Clown – Oliver Kylington (33.76%) and Brayden Pachal (36.21%) were the ones that saw the most chances against. Jonathan Huberdeau (36.83%) looked more like the guy that started the season than the one we’ve seen since 2024 kicked off. His whole line had a game where they were on the wrong side of the shot attempts which cannot happen for a line of that pedigree against a team of this quality. Same goes for Andersson (44.08%) and Weegar.

Under Pressure - 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-121984" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SP.png" alt="" width="1006" height="1827" />

Taken By Chance – In a very “of course they did that” way the Backlund (34 SCF% // 100 HDCF%) line didn’t surrender a single 5v5 high danger chance against. At least Huska has one line he can rely upon no matter the level of competition that strolls through the Stampede gates. Also not being subjected to a day of misery from the 35-point Sharks was Kevin Rooney (55.22% // 100%) and what I’m going to call the Lego line. It’s pieces change so constantly it’s hard to get a sense of what they’re going to be the next game – different pieces on different days. Cole Schwindt (50.59% // 100%) certainly deserves to keep playing he did nothing wrong in that one.

xG Breakdown - 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-121985" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-xG.png" alt="" width="899" height="1142" />

xGF% - The first period being all Flames is going to skew the overall quality share in favour of the whole roster. So, due to that, anybody finishing well below 50% of the share really had a bad night. Rasmus Andersson (44.08%) and MacKenzie Weegar can’t turn in a performance with that many failed zone clears. On a plus note Andrei Kuzmenko (70.15%) continues to be a sparkplug of offensive chances. He’s clearly rejuvenated here in Calgary and already has the C of Red falling in love with his personality. He found success getting chances in his brief time away from Huberdeau (59.32%) and Sharangovich (59.32%). Is he the next 200-foot king? Not a chance, but the man knows his way around the offensive zone.

Game Flow – 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-121986" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-GF.png" alt="" width="751" height="350" />

Game Score –

[embed]https://twitter.com/hockeystatcards/status/1758352887816618344?s=61&amp;t=TVQuYlZEsDF9RCOB2e3iRQ[/embed]

Shot Heatmap – 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-121988" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/G54-vs-SJS-SH.png" alt="" width="803" height="422" />

In The Crease – I’m a huge Dustin Wolf fan, but he was not himself in this game. He wasn’t coming out to challenge shots, playing back on his heels in the crease, and couldn’t track down pucks he maybe should have. The first two goals against he may have had some questionable 2-on-1 choices, but the defenceman should have never handed the puck to the Sharks on a silver platter to begin with. Throw in some deflections and I could probably make a case, but after watching Markstrom play at a Vezina level for the last few months it’s clear there was a major drop off. I do believe that if given more consistent NHL opportunities he could get himself into a rhythm, but alas – that was not the case Thursday. 1.63 expected goals against at 5v5, 4 medium danger and one high danger goal against.

The Goals – 

[embed]https://twitter.com/ringoffirecgy/status/1758314479442444353?s=61&amp;t=TVQuYlZEsDF9RCOB2e3iRQ[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/ringoffirecgy/status/1758336924325171506?s=61&amp;t=TVQuYlZEsDF9RCOB2e3iRQ[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/ringoffirecgy/status/1758350283929747572?s=61&amp;t=TVQuYlZEsDF9RCOB2e3iRQ[/embed]

Flashalytic’s 3 Stars – 

1) Mikael Backlund

2) Andrei Kuzmenko

3) Nazem Kadri

(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)

<hr />

Light up the lanes with the Barn Burner Bowlerama for KidSport, presented by McLeod Law! On February 29th, join the Barn Burner crew and fellow bowling enthusiasts for the hottest night of the year! Not only are we competing for bowling bragging rights, but we're coming together to raise much needed funds to support kids of low-income families get off the sidelines and into the game. Bowling, prizes, swag and more! <a href="https://nationgear.ca/products/barn-burner-bowlarama">Sign your team up today at NationGear</a>!

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-120985" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Artboard-3-1-1.png" alt="" width="724" height="404" />

Beyond the Boxscore: Calgary Flames embarrassed on home ice by San Jose Sharks

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