The Calgary Flames took advantage of a Chicago Blackhawks team that looked anything but ready to play any form of good defence in a 5-2 victory Monday evening.

It’s a Team Game – The Flames, despite being in the middle of the NHL standings and struggling to score, looked like a super team compared to the Chicago Blackhawks. High danger chances were in favour of the road team in every single period, they dominated the second at 5v5 accruing seven high danger chances. Calgary also killed off the Pospisil five-minute major that period, so they got seven dangerous looks in just fifteen minutes. The Blackhawks ended up getting more chances and playing better hockey in the third, but the Flames also went into more of a passive forecheck and defence first approach. The offence was once again lead from the youth on the squad as they continue to show they are the path forward for this franchise.

Corsi King – Blake Coleman (78.22 CF%) got awarded an assist on what I thought was Matt Coronato’s (73.00 per cent) goal. NHL changed the scoring to Mikael Backlund (76.38 per cent) – he must have got his stick on it – but the goal was a result of that line getting possession low and grinding out a scoring chance. Coronato’s been getting rapidly better at finding open space or knowing where to skate to get good shots off. He already had the work ethic and feet that never quit moving so adding the ability to find space is just another tool. I wonder when Ryan Huska looks to give Coronato some more offensive linemates than Backlund and Coleman – to see if the point production could hit another level or not. Probably not unless things fall off the rails – it seems like they are the line most safe to stay together going forward.

Taken By Chance – Rasmus Andersson (83.46 SCF% || 78.10 HDCF%) loves to feast on bad teams. He and Bahl (83.46 per cent || 78.10 per cent) were out for over nine high danger chances at 5v5 and 18 all classification chances. He skates circles in the offensive zone on teams that aren’t very structured. Andersson keeps plays alive, adds confusion on the rush when he joins, and makes for a dangerous offensive outlet that needs to be accounted for when a cycle gets developed low in the zone. He struggles to defend at an elite level against top end competition, but he isn’t sinking against it either. The Blackhawks, however, are the furthest thing from an elite level and it led to Andersson cooking.

xGF% – Time to highlight the line of the night. No it wasn’t Huberdeau (72.56 per cent), despite him having a great game (and making a dirty shorthanded saucer pass), and Kadri (68.44 per cent). It was Jakob Pelletier (70.01 per cent) with a career best three points on the night, Yegor Sharangovich (60.57 per cent) with a highlight reel shorthanded goal, and the rookie Rory Kerins (67.57 per cent) in his debut getting two assists. One of which came 12 seconds into his NHL career. Kerins was not sheltered with low minutes, he was given runway to play a regular shift, and he certainly made the most of his opportunity. No way the coach takes him out of the lineup for the next game – he’s immediately earned some runway to try and keep up producing. A fantastic debut, congrats to Kerins and his family.

In The Crease – Dustin Wolf, the starting goaltender for your Calgary Flames, was his usual self tonight. He once again allowed just one 5v5 goal against – making that ten against in his last nine games – as he continues to prove he’s a top talent at his position. The Flames defence makes his life easier, but there are plenty of saves many other goaltenders would fail to make on his resume this season. He remains on the cusp of Calder buzz, more starts going forward could push him higher, but the forwards and Lane Hutson continue to get the majority of the national attention. I have a suspicion the only thing Wolf cares about right now are wins. 1.81 expected goals against at 5v5 with just one getting past him.