The hockey season is officially under way and the Calgary Flames have already stolen a gritty 4-3 shootout victory from the Edmonton Oilers.

It’s a Team Game – The Calgary Flames are back like they never left. Fell behind early, find enough offence to stay in it, completely lean on Dustin Wolf after things get level and somehow come away with some points. That was how the team last year got as close to the playoffs as you could possibly be without the pleasure of actually playing in them. In true Flames fashion they were strong in front of their own net at clearing second chance opportunities or blocking shots. There was also a lot of struggles to effectively clear the defensive zone, make a decent first pass to spring a breakout, or to pierce the lower slot in the offensive zone. Calgary’s offence game off a good bounce, a batted puck, and a misplay by the opposing goaltender. The power play did not score and the penalty kill gave up multiple. This was not in any way, shape, or form a game that was played well, but because of a man named Dustin Wolf they have two points to start the year. We are so back, baby.

Corsi King – Justin Kirkland (63.89 CF%) led things but also played the least amount of 5v5 time – by a significant margin too. Almost four minutes lower than Morgan Frost (54.46 per cent) who supplemented his low 5v5 time with around 5 minutes of power play time. That new “young blood” line with Frost, Matt Coronato (48.34 per cent), and Matvei Gridin (55.24 per cent) was the best at generating 5v5 shots for Calgary. Things picked up in the second after a really slow first and that trio was easily the most noticeable for positives early. On the flip side of the coin the Nazem Kadri (32.93 per cent) line got buried in chances against. They still found some decent chances themselves in the latter half of the game, but they also saw twice as many shot attempts against them as they generated. One game – against a two time Cup finalist roster – is not enough to freak out, but always enough to at least just point out.

Taken By Chance – Rasmus Andersson (35.10 SCF% // 57.94 HDCF%) was up and down all night. Multiple failed clears and some subpar breakout passes led to attacks back the Flames way, but when he earns offensive zone time he knows exactly how to aid in keeping the attack alive. Andersson and Kadri (32.97 per cent // 50.58 per cent) work really well together on the boards, they just need to find a better method of getting the puck off the boards and the blueline and into the slot for a scoring chance. So, while both players and their linemates got buried in shot attempts they – in their limited offensive zone time due to their own mistakes – were positive in their high danger chance ratios. Doesn’t take much for them to earn good chances, they just need someone with them that can capitalize. MacKenzie Weegar (43.73 per cent // 0 per cent) and Joel Hanley (49.35 per cent // 0 per cent) were the only guys to give up multiple high danger looks but generate none (again if you are new to these all these stats are at 5v5 – not SH, PP, or 4v4, etc.). Given their role the chances against are expected, but if Joel Hanley is going to spend a lot of time in the top 4 it cannot come at the cost of Weegar impacting the offence. A storyline to watch for early is how that plays out.

xGF% – Let’s talk about the two ol’ reliables – Blake Coleman (43.76 per cent) and Mikael Backlund (17.58 per cent). Coleman gets the gift of a goal from Skinner, but the plan for these guys was not to go out and score. It was to limit what McDavid and Draisaitl could do at 5v5. They did not get scored on and for that reason I think their night was a success. The numbers will say it was rough – because it was – but keeping the big guys on the Oilers off the boxscore at 5v5 is necessary to win this game. This effort comes at the cost of their ability to produce chances and generate offensive zone time, but you need to pick a lane and just go with it. In reality, there’s no effective way to shutdown McDavid and Draisaitl completely. They may not have a Stanley Cup ring but they more than produced along the way.

In The Crease – Dustin Wolf makes it so the Flames will remain in any possible game should they give him enough run support. The 4-on-3 in overtime to send things to the shootout was masterful work. I don’t blame power play goals on goaltenders – they didn’t put their team down a man (usually) – so when well-structured power play goals go in on them I don’t critique harshly. 5v5 goals are fair game though, and he gave one up to former Flame Andrew Mangiapane crushing my soul. It was a quick, high shot going back the other direction from where the play was moving. Hard one, but he was uncontested driving the slot – defenders need to be in better position to limit that shot, but any medium danger goal against makes me wonder if there was another way to play it. Again, the defence needs to contest better first and foremost. 1.68 expected goals against at 5v5 with just 1 of them going in.

Player Spotlight – Matvei Gridin – If you do not know who this kid is I expect you get familiar with him in short order. I wanted to start him in the minors to prioritize development, but if he can go out and play the Oilers and look like the best Flames skater from start to finish… he’s earned himself more than just a cup of coffee with that performance. Playing well at the end of the preseason against NHL rosters is one thing, going out and impressing in a road game against the teams most fierce rival right out of the gate is another. I was hoping the narrative would have ended with a shootout winner, but regardless one very impressive first game from Matvei Gridin. Look for him to continue to attack the middle of the ice in the coming weeks – he already does it better than anyone on this team not named Matt Coronato. Also keep watching for him to stretch the defence. He’s had a fair amount of breaks where he outskates the opposing defender to get into a decent scoring opportunity.

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