It’s a Team Game – In what was an almost even game between two Pacific division clubs the Flames came up short in the one area they struggle the most – goal scoring. Dustin Wolf stood on his head all night long, constantly making the top Kings players look skyward to the jumbotron to catch the replay on how they were just stonewalled. The Flames themselves got some good chances too – from throughout the lineup – yet nobody was able to step-up and finally beat the Los Angeles backup goaltender. They did what they needed to do to stay close, but it just wasn’t quite enough. One more road game against Anaheim before I envision the Flames brass sits down and gets to the home stretch of their trade deadline plans.

Corsi King – Morgan Frost (61.68 CF%) and Nazem Kadri (60.20 per cent) both finishing up high. Kadri was making some quality moves to find some open space all evening, I really felt of all the players he seemed the closest to actually scoring. The fourth line also played well, Adam Klapka (54.27 per cent) has been a pretty good play driver since the Olympics ended – being very efficient in making sure the puck gets sent in deep and to keep up a heavy forecheck. Most lines and pairings were having an alright night, but Mikael Backlund (22.49 per cent) and company did struggle. I noticed the newest King, Artemi Panarin, quite a bit all night long. He and the other top Kings were very hard to contain, and yet they were locked down successfully at 5v5.

Under Pressure –

Taken By Chance – Defence pairs were slightly jumbled, meaning new standout Zach Whitecloud (64.89 SCF% // 73.21 HDCF%) got a chance to show his success since arriving here wasn’t just a product of him being with Kevin Bahl (18.98 per cent // 12.47 per cent). Whitecloud and rookie Yan Kuznetsov (66.24 per cent // 60.28 per cent) were able to help be involved in getting 10 of the Flames 13 high danger chances. Easily the best pair of the day in terms of getting the puck up to the forwards and aiding them in the attack. The sheltered third pair did alright – and were not the ones scored on – only seeing two high danger chances go against them and having a relatively even up ratio in normal scoring chances.

xG Breakdown –

xGF% – Matvei Gridin (72.76 per cent) looks so good out there. I was glad to here the broadcast report that the coach feels he’s going to be up here to stay the rest of the year. Once he starts getting his NHL timing down and finding better ways to get open I think offence will naturally just follow. He already stands out as a player that is extremely noticeable in his minutes and I actively find myself rooting for guys to find a way to get him the puck. The teenagers aren’t going to score every night here, but the fact they are both playing well every night is a good first step.

Game Flow –

Game Score –

Shot Heatmap –

In The Crease – It felt like a crime for Wolf to lose this game, but one of the two goalers had to get strapped with the L. The Kings were able to get a greasy goal in front of the net after the puck had been bouncing around a bit – Calgary couldn’t get to many rebound chances themselves. They’re generating more chances than before the break – so i am happy to see that – but without making it count it doesn’t mean much. Wolf’s play deserved the W, facing 3.73 expected goals against and only allowing the one goal against. Ethical loss from Calgary.

The Goals –

(MISSING: GOALS. IF FOUND SEND RUSH EMERGENCY PRIORITY TO ANAHEIM ATTN: CGYFLMS)

Flash’s 3 Stars –

1) Dustin Wolf

2) Zach Whitecloud

3) Matvei Gridin

(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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