A disappointing afternoon to say the least as the Flames fail to muster enough offence to beat a severely depleted Blackhawks lineup. Calling the roster on the ice an AHL lineup would not be too far of a stretch and the Flames couldn’t dominate let alone find a win. Systemically the Flames still looked to be the better team, but when the final horn sounded a game against an opponent of this quality the result really is the only thing that matters. Not much positive to say about the result.

CF% &#8211; 56.28%, SCF% &#8211; 52.13%, HDCF% &#8211; 80.56%, xGF% &#8211; 56.5%
It’s a Team Game – Calgary – as they should have been – were the better team in terms of getting the majority of chances, the better quality of chances, and the more frequent shot pressure. The lack of a consistent finisher shines bright after a loss like this, they do not have players capable of putting up multi-point performances on a regular basis. In a loss like this the top players get most of the finger pointing – they are the ones supposed to be playing at a level above the roster quality of the Blackhawks.
Corsi King – It’s no surprise Mikael Backlund (77.96%) and one of the most consistent lines in hockey didn’t struggle against the Blackhawks. Weegar (75.65%) and Andersson (69.60%) fell in the same boat as they almost tripled the amount of shot attempts for vs. against. The line of Kadri’s (54.15%) finished positively as well. Martin Pospisil (61.02%) stood out at times tonight showing he can keep up the pace no matter who the opponent.
Corsi Clown – Walker Duehr (31.47%) and Dillon Dubé (32.30%) were only trusted to play 5 minutes at 5v5, and they lost those minutes too. Dubé in particular is seeing his time in Calgary come to an end – whether they trade him for an asset (if anybody is even interested) or just don’t submit him a qualifying offer. He’s not been worth his current extension price. He could always re-sign at a lower value but it’s probably best for both player and team if there’s a change of scenery.
Under Pressure &#8211; 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-119724" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SP.png" alt="" width="1033" height="1827" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SP.png 1033w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SP-170x300.png 170w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SP-579x1024.png 579w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SP-768x1358.png 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SP-868x1536.png 868w" sizes="(max-width: 1033px) 100vw, 1033px" />
Taken By Chance – Rasmus Andersson (71.43 SCF% // 90.26%) and his partner dominated their minutes. The Blackhawks could hardly think of anything other than defending in the minutes he and Weegar (86.15% // 91.23%) played. On the flip side the pair of Oesterle (31.40% // N/A) and DeSimone (19.04% // N/A) couldn’t muster being involved in even a single high danger chance. That’s largely upsetting but at least could be a springboard into maybe giving Yan Kuznetsov a game. Ilya Solovyov was more functional in his minutes than Oesterle is on a regular basis.
xG Breakdown &#8211; 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-119725" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-xG.png" alt="" width="892" height="1142" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-xG.png 892w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-xG-234x300.png 234w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-xG-800x1024.png 800w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-xG-768x983.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 892px) 100vw, 892px" />
xGF% &#8211; The line with Lindholm (73.35%) and Huberdeau (54.87%) saw a fair amount of total chances against but won their quality share battle significantly. At least that happened, it would be a lot worse if they lost and these guys still under-performed in terms of their ability to generate offence. At least in this loss all the players that should have shown they were better did with their play – just not enough tangible results.
Game Flow – 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-119726" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-GF.png" alt="" width="751" height="350" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-GF.png 751w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-GF-300x140.png 300w" sizes="(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 2024-01-07:
 <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/vlvQarZsxm">pic.twitter.com/vlvQarZsxm</a>
&mdash; HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) <a href="https://twitter.com/hockeystatcards/status/1744127650849849597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 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-119727" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SH.png" alt="" width="803" height="422" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SH.png 803w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SH-300x158.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SH-768x404.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 803px) 100vw, 803px" />
In The Crease – Dan Vladar was not the sharpest against the Blackhawks. DeSimone was the defenceman that got stopped on for the first goal, but Vladar wasn’t out enough to challenge a potential shot anyways. There were a lot of weird bounce goals in this game too, but lately Markstrom doesn’t let those in while Vladar keeps suffering from them. 1.42 expected goals against with 3 against at 5v5.
The Goals &#8211; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🔥Flames Goal🔥
Nazem Kadri scores on a beautiful passing play by Martin Pospisil and Noah Hanifin! 
📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/H5bcuwFCJR">pic.twitter.com/H5bcuwFCJR</a>
&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1744095849913983093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 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">
🔥Flames Goal🔥
Andrew Mangiapane banks a pass in off a Blackhawk defender and in!
2-1 Calgary
📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/UxlKksuopr">pic.twitter.com/UxlKksuopr</a>
&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1744105469717987805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 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">
🔥Flames Goal🔥
Nazem Kadri some how scores from a crazy angle. It&#39;s a one goal game 
📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/2ulst4vH0N">pic.twitter.com/2ulst4vH0N</a>
&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1744124742599389504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Flashalytic’s 3 Stars –  
1) Nazem Kadri
2) Rasmus Andersson
3) Jonathan Huberdeau 
(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)

A disappointing afternoon to say the least as the Flames fail to muster enough offence to beat a severely depleted Blackhawks lineup. Calling the roster on the ice an AHL lineup would not be too far of a stretch and the Flames couldn’t dominate let alone find a win. Systemically the Flames still looked to be the better team, but when the final horn sounded a game against an opponent of this quality the result really is the only thing that matters. Not much positive to say about the result.



CF% - 56.28%, SCF% - 52.13%, HDCF% - 80.56%, xGF% - 56.5%

It’s a Team Game – Calgary – as they should have been – were the better team in terms of getting the majority of chances, the better quality of chances, and the more frequent shot pressure. The lack of a consistent finisher shines bright after a loss like this, they do not have players capable of putting up multi-point performances on a regular basis. In a loss like this the top players get most of the finger pointing – they are the ones supposed to be playing at a level above the roster quality of the Blackhawks.

Corsi King – It’s no surprise Mikael Backlund (77.96%) and one of the most consistent lines in hockey didn’t struggle against the Blackhawks. Weegar (75.65%) and Andersson (69.60%) fell in the same boat as they almost tripled the amount of shot attempts for vs. against. The line of Kadri’s (54.15%) finished positively as well. Martin Pospisil (61.02%) stood out at times tonight showing he can keep up the pace no matter who the opponent.

Corsi Clown – Walker Duehr (31.47%) and Dillon Dubé (32.30%) were only trusted to play 5 minutes at 5v5, and they lost those minutes too. Dubé in particular is seeing his time in Calgary come to an end – whether they trade him for an asset (if anybody is even interested) or just don’t submit him a qualifying offer. He’s not been worth his current extension price. He could always re-sign at a lower value but it’s probably best for both player and team if there’s a change of scenery.

Under Pressure - 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-119724" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SP.png" alt="" width="1033" height="1827" />

Taken By Chance – Rasmus Andersson (71.43 SCF% // 90.26%) and his partner dominated their minutes. The Blackhawks could hardly think of anything other than defending in the minutes he and Weegar (86.15% // 91.23%) played. On the flip side the pair of Oesterle (31.40% // N/A) and DeSimone (19.04% // N/A) couldn’t muster being involved in even a single high danger chance. That’s largely upsetting but at least could be a springboard into maybe giving Yan Kuznetsov a game. Ilya Solovyov was more functional in his minutes than Oesterle is on a regular basis.

xG Breakdown - 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-119725" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-xG.png" alt="" width="892" height="1142" />

xGF% - The line with Lindholm (73.35%) and Huberdeau (54.87%) saw a fair amount of total chances against but won their quality share battle significantly. At least that happened, it would be a lot worse if they lost and these guys still under-performed in terms of their ability to generate offence. At least in this loss all the players that should have shown they were better did with their play – just not enough tangible results.

Game Flow – 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-119726" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-GF.png" alt="" width="751" height="350" />

Game Score –

[embed]https://twitter.com/hockeystatcards/status/1744127650849849597?s=61&amp;t=iDBMVOmpgI6nHsC_-Ev35A[/embed]

Shot Heatmap – 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-119727" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/G40-at-CHI-SH.png" alt="" width="803" height="422" />

In The Crease – Dan Vladar was not the sharpest against the Blackhawks. DeSimone was the defenceman that got stopped on for the first goal, but Vladar wasn’t out enough to challenge a potential shot anyways. There were a lot of weird bounce goals in this game too, but lately Markstrom doesn’t let those in while Vladar keeps suffering from them. 1.42 expected goals against with 3 against at 5v5.

The Goals - 

[embed]https://twitter.com/ringoffirecgy/status/1744095849913983093?s=61&amp;t=iDBMVOmpgI6nHsC_-Ev35A[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/ringoffirecgy/status/1744105469717987805?s=61&amp;t=iDBMVOmpgI6nHsC_-Ev35A[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/ringoffirecgy/status/1744124742599389504?s=61&amp;t=iDBMVOmpgI6nHsC_-Ev35A[/embed]

Flashalytic’s 3 Stars –  

1) Nazem Kadri

2) Rasmus Andersson

3) Jonathan Huberdeau 

(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)

Beyond the Boxscore: No amount of moral victories will make losing to the Bedard-less Blackhawks feel better

Two-time Flames: We all try to forget about the two seasons Craig Conroy spent in Los Angeles

The Calgary Flames are going to be better than the hockey world expects this season

Zayne Parekh skates in the neutral zone in the Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers game at the 2024 Young Stars Classic in Penticton, BC.

Recent articles from Shane Stevenson

Breaking News