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The Calgary Flames ended December with three losses in four games.
Still, it was a pretty successful month for the team. They picked up 15 points and finished 13th in points percentage, ahead of contenders such as Colorado and Boston.
Let’s take a look at, in my estimation, the three players most responsible for powering the team.
3rd star - Sean Monahan
The Flames were out-shot and out-chanced with Monahan on the ice. They managed to out-score their opponents, anyway, and Monahan was a big reason why. He was directly involved in a ton of the offense. Like Matthew Tkachuk, he recorded 12 points in the month of December (albeit in one extra game). Monahan also paced the team in goals (7) and primary points (10).
It would have been nice to see him help the team tilt the ice a little more in terms of run of play but, at the end of the day, that’s never been his bread and butter. He’s paid to produce and he did just that.
2nd star - Andrew Mangiapane
The bread man quietly had a really strong month. He finished tied for 1st on the Flames in primary points (5) and points (6) at 5v5. This while holding sole possession of the team-lead in expected goals and scoring chances.
Suffice to say, his willingness to go to the net, and ability to actually get there, seemed to mesh well with plus playmakers – who do their best work below the dots – like Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk.
Beyond the individual chance generation, and production, Mangiapane sat 1st in Corsi For% and 4th in Expected Goals For%.
He couldn’t have fared much better in his first extended look on the top line.
1st star - Matthew Tkachuk
December was par for the course for the team’s all-star up front. His on-ice numbers were solid, he was the only player on the team to average a point per game (12 in 12), and he was still his usual, physical self; only Milan Lucic recorded more hits.
The one knock, I guess, is that Tkachuk didn’t draw a single penalty. That’s rare for him but nothing to worry about. We all know No. 19 makes it quite difficult for players to resist taking extra shots or using their sticks to slow him down.
Updated Standings
Points (appearances)
3 for 1st, 2 for 2nd, 1 for 3rd
Matthew Tkachuk -- 5 (2)
Andrew Mangiapane -- 3 (2)
David Rittich -- 3 (1)
Sean Monahan -- 1 (1)
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
Recent posts:
Tkachuk, Giordano named NHL All-Stars
My choices for Calgary’s three stars of the month in November
Trading Johnny Gaudreau is crazy talk
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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