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Kings 4, Flames 3: Tkachuk vs Doughty lives up to the hype

October 9, 2019, 10:51 AM ET [19 Comments]
Todd Cordell
Calgary Flames Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell

Five observations from Calgary vs Los Angeles:

1. The Flames didn’t start on time

For the second time in three games the Flames got off to the worst start imaginable. Opening night they didn’t show up and were out-chanced 16-5 in the 1st period. That was at least somewhat understandable against a strong Avalanche team in its home opener. It happens. Last night? That was inexcusable. The Kings are expected to be a bottom feeder this season. They’ve looked better than anticipated early on but I think people are right to be low on them. And they came out and skated the Flames into the ground while dominating territoriality in a way you rarely see. Shots were 20-3 and the latter might have been a tick generous. It was embarrassing, really. Hats off to Calgary for putting together a solid final 40 and climbing back into the game but they really can’t continue coming out of the gate so slowly. More often than not it’ll cost them.

2. Matthew Tkachuk vs Drew Doughty lived up to the hype

A lot of things get so overhyped in the modern world that it ends up difficult – if not impossible – to live up to. Not Tkachuk vs Doughty. That rivalry is apparently bulletproof.

From a hatred standpoint, Tkachuk finished his check on Doughty 600 times. He was credited with seven hits and it felt like every single one of them was on Doughty. There were some slashes and scrums, too. They were at each other’s throats all game.

The hockey portion was great as well. Tkachuk picked up an assist and scored a pair of goals, one of which came in the dying seconds shortly after a failed Doughty clearing attempt. Awesome.

So how does Doughty respond? By wiring home the game-winner and giving a little extra to all the fans.



October 19th can’t come soon enough.

3. Tkachuk led the charge

He was an absolute force in this game as both a shooter and a playmaker. He recorded six shot attempts and five scoring chances at 5v5. No member of the Flames bested him in either category. Tkachuk was also dangerous as a facilitator, setting up six attempts for teammates (only Johnny Gaudreau created more). Despite all the physical battles with Doughty, and steady minutes against LA’s top two lines, Tkachuk still had enough energy to be the team’s top offensive threat. He really does step up when things get heated.



4. A deserved promotion for Andrew Mangiapane

Bill Peters smartly elected to change things up after that disaster of a 1st period. One of the moves he made was slotting Mangiapane on the 2nd line in place of Sam Bennett (you may have read up on that idea before). It worked.

Tkachuk, Mangiapane, and Mikael Backlund absolutely railroaded the Kings over the final 40 minutes of regulation. In their ~11 minutes at 5v5, they controlled 69.23% of the attempts (18 for, 8 against), 70.29% of the expected goals, and they accounted for both of Calgary’s markers at full-strength.

Mangiapane played a big role in that. He was quick on the forecheck/pouncing on loose pucks and one of the team’s leading creators. Only Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau recorded more shot contributions than Mangiapane.

At the very least, I think he has earned another game as RW2. I personally believe he’s the best in-house option the organization has.

5. Mark Jankowski’s role is diminishing

There wasn’t a lot of special teams play last night. Almost all of the game was spent at 5v5. And yet Jankowski played *checks notes* 5:30 in that game state. 5:30! During the small window he was on the ice, the Flames were out-attempted 6-3, gave up four scoring chances, and a goal. Jankowski was the only player in the game not to record a shot contribution, too. He’s a decent bottom-6 goal scorer but he really doesn’t bring much to the table when not producing and, well, it’s going to be hard for him to put up points playing fewer than 10 minutes a night on L4. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he is moved at some point.

Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com

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Bold Pacific Division predictions for 2019-20

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