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="auto, (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="auto, (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="auto, (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="auto, (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)

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