The Calgary Flames went down to Washington D.C. and dealt the Capitals their first loss on home ice since November, winning 3-1.

It’s a Team Game – Calgary put a rough first game behind them and kicked the road trip off in style. They played fairly even hockey with the Capitals to start the game, but after the first goal started to pile on the pressure. The second period the Flames made Dan Vladar earn his victory. The Capitals used power plays to keep momentum in their favour. After Ovechkin scored the Flames started to re-apply pressure at the same rate they ended the first frame with – honestly not a sixty minute effort but one more than achievable with solid goaltending. Three 5v5 goals aren’t bad to have either.

Corsi King – Ryan Huska was in the locker room asking which group was going to start the game forechecking hard – and picked Ryan Lomberg (69.75%) and crew. They seemed incredibly fired up in that clip and it translated to the ice. Martin Pospisil (60.03 per cent) finally got an offensive bounce after deflecting the opening goal off his shin. Most impressive – to me – was when he beat out an icing call by a razor thin margin – incredible speed. MacKenzie Weegar (55.56 per cent) and Joel Hanley (61.30 per cent) were excellent as well.

Taken By Chance – I felt watching tonight that Jonathan Huberdeau (54.68 SCF% // 55.63 per cent) hardly made many mistakes in the offensive zone. He’s trying to get the puck off the wall, but it isn’t working as often as it was when they went on his scoring streak with Nazem Kadri (50.11 per cent // 45.53 per cent). Hear is hoping the insurance goal from Huberdeau sparks a run of offence against this Eastern Conference gauntlet of opponents. First game back for Kevin Bahl (33.95 per cent || 38.36 per cent) who had plenty of key break ups with his long reach. His return also brings hope of stability for his defence partner who has been struggling.

xGF% – Morgan Frost (79.44 per cent) was fantastic. He had five offensive and defensive zone starts and saw next to no quality chances against. I do think he needs to be playing with Connor Zary (48.62 per cent) – the creativity the two of those players possess could either be electricity in a bottle or a defensive nightmare. I’m so starved for consistent offence I want to hunt for that bottle. Throw the goal scorer, Matt Coronato (60.41 per cent), with those two as well. Let the kids loose. All that being said right after one of their most hard fought victories is a bit crazy, but it’s okay to get crazy now and then.

In The Crease – Dan Vladar was fantastic. He only got beat by a goal scored from the greatest goal scorer of all-time. He faced 1.80 expected goals against at 5v5 – allowing zero goals – and also faced 1.08 expected goals from the Capitals potent power play. Ovechkin’s goal was in fact scored on the man advantage. I do not know what Flames management has in store for Dan Vladar, but that was a performance that would make a scout in the stands put a good word in with their scouting director.