The Flames goaltending has been confusing this season. The eye test tells you that the goaltending has been fine. But the numbers tell a different story. 5v5 SV%: .883 (32nd) All Strengths SV%: .885 (29th) Shutouts: 0 Why are the numbers so bad yet the eye test looks good?
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Breaking down Calgary Flames goals against this season
Photo credit: © Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2023, 17:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 15, 2023, 15:47 EST
I posted a tweet on Sunday about the Calgary Flames goaltending this season and how the numbers don’t match the eye test and it got a lot of varying opinions and theories from the fan base.
According to some statistics, the Flames have had some of the worst goaltending in the NHL in the first calendar month of the season. But I think a lot of fans would agree that the goaltending hasn’t been a huge issue from an eye test perspective. But is it a case where the goaltending was so bad last season that any improvement would make the goaltending look better than it is?
I thought it would be interesting to check out every goal that has been scored against the Flames this season and see how the goaltenders performed on them.
Keep in mind that the blame for some of these goals are up for interpretation. Some might view a particular goal as a high skill play while others think it’s a defensive breakdown. So don’t hate me if we disagree on some of the categorizations of these goals.
The results
The Flames have allowed 46 goals with the goalie in the net. Here is the breakdown of the number of goals against in each category:
Defensive breakdown/bad turnovers: 19 goals against
Goalie could have saved it: 10 goals against
29 of the goals allowed by Flames have been self induced from either poor puck management, defensive zone breakdowns, or a weak goal allowed by one of their three goaltenders.
19 of those 29 goals have come from poor play by the team in front of Jacob Markstrom, Dan Vladar, and Dustin Wolf. The Flames have hung their goalies out to dry way too many times. It’s hockey, and mistakes are going to happen. But surrendering 19 goals in 14 games from sloppy play is simply not good enough.
First and foremost, they need to clean up the turnovers in the neutral zone and in their own end. That comes down to the individual players making poor decisions. It’s something that can be fixed.
More importantly, the Flames have to do a much better job communicating in their own end, particularly the center and two defensemen. There have been quite a few moments this year when the Flames get disorganized below the hash marks in their own zone because there is confusion on who needs to cover who.
The only way to successfully play a zone defense in the NHL is to communicate who is covering who. If there is a switch, each player on the ice needs to know that. You can’t be silent when doing that. I wrote about this yesterday if you want to read more on the topic.
The Flames will be a good defensive team if they can do a better job making smart plays with the puck and communicating in their own end.
High skill play/tips: 17 goals against
In my estimation, the Flames have given up 17 goals from their opponents making high end plays with the puck, picking corners, and scoring on tips.
These are the type of goals that are scored against every team in the NHL. It’s the best league in the world for a reason.
Here is the video evidence!
Defensive Breakdowns/bad turnovers
Pittsburgh scores their second goal in the first minute of the third period. 2-1 Penguins
Sean Kuraly opens the scoring. This is the first game where the Flames haven't scored the first goal. 1-0 Blue Jackets
2-0 Columbus. Justin Danforth with the goal.
Alex DeBrincat scores early in this one. 1-0 Detroit
Joe Velano tips home a Ben Chiarot shot from the point. 2-0 Red Wings
Former Flame Brett Kulak puts the Oilers up 1-0.
3-1 Edmonton. The Flames have been incredibly sloppy to start this game. Andrew Mangiapane turned the puck over in the neutral zone and that led to this Oiler goal.
Jamie Benn scores for the Stars. Tie Game. 1-1.
Mason Marchment scores late in the second period. 4-2 Dallas.
Eeli Tolvanen scores for the Kraken. What a goal. 2-1 Seattle
Jaden Schwartz gets the Kraken within 1. 4-3 Calgary
The Predators get a 2 on 0. Kiefer Sherwood scores. 2-0 Nashville
Flames legend Calle Jarnkrok puts the Leafs up by 1
Willy Nylander scores his second goal of the game. 3-1 Toronto.
William Nylander is single handedly beating the Flames right now. What a pass to Tavares. 4-1 Toronto.
Nikita Zadorov with a weak play along the boards leads to an Ottawa goal. Nothing Dustin Wolf can do there. 3-1 Ottawa
High skill plays/tips
Mark Scheifele ties the game. 3-3.
Jake Guentzel scores for the Penguins. It's 3-1 Pittsburgh.
Gino Malkin puts the Penguins up 4-1 late in the third period. Pittsburgh's best players have been their best players tonight. The same can't be said for the Flames.
Matthew Phillips scores his first NHL goal! Of course it's assisted by Sonny Milano.
Sabres score. JJ Peterka with the goal. 3-3
DeBrincat and Larkin strike again. 4-1 Red Wings
Alexis Lafrenière socres on the power play for the Rangers. Tie game. 1-1
Chris Kreider scores on a ridiculous tip. 2-1 Rangers
The Flames can't score on a 5 on 3. The Oilers take the puck down the ice soon after the Flames PP and score. 2-0 Edmonton.
Oilers score. It's 4-2 Edmonton. I don't think the Flames have the fire power come back in this game.
Mason Marchment scores late in the second period. 4-2 Dallas.
Willy Nylander scores on the power play. 1-0 Toronto
Ottawa opens the scoring. Mathieu Joseph with a perfect tip. 1-0 Ottawa
Ottawa takes a 2-0 lead. Mikael Backlund has to get that puck out on the PK.
Goals the goalie needs to stop
Kyle Connor ties the game 1-1
Bryan Rust ties the game for Pittsburgh. It's 1-1
Connor McMichael ties the game for the Capitals. Matthew Phillips with the assist. It's 2-2 half way through the second period.
Erik Johnson scores his first goal as a Buffalo Sabre. Tie game. 1-1
Tage Thompson scores his first goal of the season. Tie game. 2-2
Jake Walman puts Detroit up by three. 5-2 Red Wings
Former Flame, Erik Gustafsson, scores for New York. 3-1 Rangers
Jason Robertson scores. Tie Game. 2-2
Former Flame, Travis Hamonic, scores the Sens 4th goal of the game. 4-1 Ottawa
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