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Here are five observations from Calgary vs Vegas:
1. The Flames fought back...again
For the second time in three games the Flames fell behind multiple goals on home soil. For the second time in three games they were able to erase that deficit.
They came back from 2-0 down against a desperate Columbus team just a few days ago. Sunday night they did one better, fighting from 3-0 down against a strong Vegas side that looks the part of legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
It’s far from ideal to keep getting in these positions, of course, but encouraging the Flames are showing the ability to come from behind vs strong defensive teams holding onto playoff positions.
The playoffs, assuming the Flames get there, are not going to be easy. They’re going to face a good team, and they’re going to face adversity throughout. It’s good for the guys to know in the back of their mind that they’re capable of coming back from multi-goal holes when they inevitably find themselves in that position at some point.
2. An unwanted eye opener
I recently made the case for Vegas as the best team in the Pacific. This game was a perfect example of why.
While they did blow a 3-0 lead, it’s hard to say it was warranted. I think Vegas did a great job of controlling the run of play even when they were up. They mostly smothered Calgary through the neutral zone and spent a ton of time with their front foot forward.
That shows in the numbers as Vegas controlled 66% of the attempts, 65% of the expected goals, and 64% of the scoring chances at 5v5. They also held a larger share in all three periods, which is quite the feat when leading on the road vs a team that needs every point it can get.
Had Robin Lehner been on his game, which is generally a safe bet, I’m not sure this contest would’ve been all that close. Conceding three times on 22 shots – and 1.48 Expected Goals – is far from the norm for him, and that’s what it took for the Flames to crawl back into it.
When all was said and done, they got the result they deserved – a regulation loss – despite having home ice advantage and Vegas being without the best two-way winger in the league (Mark Stone).
I think that says a lot about where both teams stand. The Flames, in my opinion, are not at the same level as Vegas.
3. Depth issues were apparent
This has been an ongoing problem for much of the year. It’s not going to change as the games tighten up and the opponents get better (come playoff time).
While Milan Lucic scored, and landed a couple of loud hits, the Flames were absolutely slaughtered with No. 17 and his running mates on the ice. Whatever numbers you’re envisioning right now...they were probably even worse. Take a look.
Yikes.
So the 3rd line was absolutely cratered at 5v5, and Geoff Ward flat out wouldn’t use the 4th line.
Zac Rinaldo played 4:45 at full-strength, while Mark Jankowski (5:16) and Sam Bennett (7:25) also found themselves glued to the bench. Understandable – none of these guys have brought much to the table this season – but hardly a recipe for success.
You can’t have a mediocre 3rd line that gets eaten alive vs solid competition and a 4th line you can barely ice come playoff time and expect good things to happen.
The Flames will probably squeak into the playoffs, anyway, but they’re really going to need the top-6 to explode in order to have a shot at accomplishing anything.
4. Mikael Backlund continues to excel
His two-way impact was not as strong as normal – understandably so given the opponent – but he continued to be a threat with the puck on his stick.
Backlund was perhaps Calgary’s best offensive player, generating a team-high four scoring chances at 5v5 and driving to the net for a good look on the PK.
He also picked up a primary assist on Dillon Dube’s power play marker, which got the Flames back within striking distance heading into the 3rd period.
Oh, and there’s this.
5. Another one bites the dust
Travis Hamonic sounds close to returning to, naturally, another defender drops for the Flames. Noah Hanifin left last night’s game early with an upper-body injury and did not return. There’s not yet word on the severity of it but if he missed almost the entirety of a crucial game I’m not sure it is a day-to-day thing (hopefully I am wrong).
I have admittedly been hard on Hanifin at times – the results don’t always match the tools, which can be really frustrating – but he’s played well of late. Perhaps even his best hockey as a member of the Flames.
He owns a 52.67 CF%, 53.02 xGF%, and +4 goal differential – 2nd only to Andersson on the blueline – over the last 15 games. He has played a lot of important minutes without Mark Giordano and/or Hamonic and held up quite nicely.
The Flames do have depth, but it’d be nice to see them trot out their six best defenders.
Numbers via naturalstattrick.com
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