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Post-Game: Flames Flatten Kings
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Photo credit: Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports
Ryan Pike
Apr 7, 2017, 01:44 EDT
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The Calgary Flames came into Los Angeles on a bit of a slide, having lost three of their previous four games. They made a few lineup shuffles, notably slotting in rookie netminder Jon Gillies in for Brian Elliott, and they were full marks in a 4-1 victory over the Kings.
After the emotion and physicality of their previous meeting with the Kings, this game was rather emotionless and tactical. In other words: it was the game the Flames seemingly needed to get back on track.

THE RUNDOWN

The Flames had a decent first. They skated well and didn’t have their habitual defensive zone collapses like they’ve had in recent weeks. On an early power play, the “first” (Johnny Gaudreau) unit couldn’t bury anything but the second (Mikael Backlund) unit had a really nice passing sequence that ended in a goal. Sam Bennett capped it off with a one-timer off a nice feed from Backlund to make it 1-0.
That lead didn’t last too long, though, as Trevor Lewis beat Jon Gillies glove-side on the rush to make it 1-1. Shots were 11-7 Kings in the first, though the Flames had the more dangerous chances.
The road team had to kill off an early penalty, but Dennis Wideman made up for his minor by stepping out of the box and beating Ben Bishop on a breakaway to make it 2-1.
A few minutes later, the “players usually scratched scoring goals” tour continued as Freddie Hamilton capped off a really nice shift for the fourth line with a wrap-around goal to make it 3-1.
The most consistent Flames line over the past month (Alex Chiasson, Kris Versteeg and Sam Bennett) converted on the final goal of this game, as Chiasson slid into the slot and tipped it past Bishop to make it 4-1.
Shots were 10-9 Flames in the second.
Neither team scored in the third, and for the most part it seemed like both teams going through the motions. The Kings seemed defeated. The Flames seemed content to avoid injury and mistakes. Shots were 8-7 Kings.

WHY THE FLAMES WON

The Flames were a little bit better than the Kings in basically every area that they needed to be. Their penalty kill was sharp. Their power play scored a goal. They were crisp at even strength. Their top players were pretty good, despite a few of their lines getting hammered possessi0n-wise (see below). And their goaltender was better than the Kings’ goaltender, which always helps.

THE TURNING POINT

The Hamilton wrap-around goal put the Flames up by a pair and shielded them from a potential bad bounce against their rookie goalie tying things up. They never looked back.

RED WARRIOR

Playing in his first NHL game, Gillies settled down nicely after giving up his first goal and made 27 saves. Some of ’em were pretty nice.

THE NUMBERS

(Percentage stats are even strength. Game score is overall. Data via Natural Stat Trick.)
Player
Corsi
For%
O-Zone
Start%
Game
Score
Giordano
64.3
30.0
1.000
D.Hamilton
57.1
30.0
-0.025
Versteeg
55.6
50.0
0.600
Ferland
52.4
100
-0.350
Engelland
51.7
60.0
1.150
Bennett
50.0
50.0
0.880
Tkachuk
45.8
0.0
0.175
Chiasson
43.8
40.0
0.940
Gaudreau
42.3
71.4
0.100
Monahan
42.3
71.4
-0.120
Backlund
40.7
0.0
0.650
F.Hamilton
40.0
22.2
0.865
Brouwer
40.0
22.2
0.725
Bartkowski
37.5
60.0
-0.300
Lazar
37.0
22.2
0.485
Frolik
37.0
0.0
-0.350
Brodie
30.6
16.7
-0.400
Wideman
22.9
16.7
0.225
Gillies
—
—
1.950

THIS AND THAT

UP NEXT

The Flames (45-32-4) practice tomorrow in San Jose and then close out their regular season on Saturday night against the Sharks.

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