The Calgary Flames played a really strong team game on the way to a 2-1 shootout win over the New York Islanders.

It’s a Team Game – The Islanders were able to get their fair share amount of chances like any decent NHL team should. Not until the last period did they ever really press. Calgary controlled things largely in terms of 5v5 play through 40 minutes – they certainly did not deserve to be trailing, but hockey is unforgiving. Rasmus Andersson and his team leading 12th point in the team’s 19th game got things squared away. It seemed to sap a lot of the wind out of the Islanders sails. The game would go to a shootout where the team finally got Andrei Kuzmenko to put the puck in the back of the net before sealing things off with shootout specialist Justin Kirkland. Can not forget to mention that Dustin Wolf was excellent again in a consecutive start.

Corsi King – Yegor Sharangovich (64.98 CF%) with more than ten shot attempts for than he saw against led the way for the Flames. He switched lines in the third period with Coleman in as quiet a way you could switch up lines. He finished playing next to Backlund (49.56 per cent) and Coronato (49.56 per cent). Andrei Kuzmenko (62.12%) started shooting the puck a little more. Here is hoping the shootout goal sparks something within him because he has not earned a regular spot in the lineup so far this season. Potential is always there, but the execution has to matter. That goes for the entire team though, not just him.

Taken By Chance – Martin Pospisil (55.37 SCF% || 100 HDCF%) looked more like the guy we saw last year in this game. Physical, on the forecheck, and making plays with Nazem Kadri (67.49 per cent || 100 per cent). Like discussed above, everyone on offence kind of needs to be under scrutiny for their ability to finish off goals. The defensive aspect of the entire team however, now that’s something to talk about. It has been 16 games since the Flames got 4 or more goals in a game and they are 7-6-3 in that stretch. Sure, throw lady luck as a factor in there, but you can’t deny quality team defence and excellent goaltending are carrying the Flames right now.

xGF% – Loved the passion from Weegar (63.59 per cent) after he missed a backdoor pass to score and whacked his stick off the boards. You can see the care and compete on the Flames in every game as they fight for their record. Some things come easy to really skilled teams – the Flames are working their butts off for everything they get. Not one game can they afford to take a period off without having to mount a comeback. Usually, it takes until the third period – like this game – but they keep finding success in this unconventional way. Imagine what they would look like with a star centre up front?

In The Crease – It is still really early for Dustin Wolf and many people close to the team are dousing water on any Calder talk. Let’s be real though, Dustin Wolf is a very serious contender. It is certainly more important to focus on the next game right now, but nothing about how Wolf looks in net seems out of place. Wes Gilbertson posted some great quotes from Rasmus Andersson post-game on X – they have so much confidence as a team when Wolf patrols the pipes. 1.97 expected goals against at 5v5 with just 1 goal against.

Today’s Specials – The goal saved the game, but the zone entries are killing their offence. The coach and everyone should celebrate the win of finally getting a power play goal – I’m fine with that. When you get back to work though, you need to recognize the number one issue. The Flames have not had anyone that can properly enter the zone with possession – and I mean consistently – since Johnny Gaudreau left. Nazem Kadri and Connor Zary have come close, but it’s a gaping hole that is needed in the lineup. 

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