The Dallas Stars have seemed to bring out the character in the Flames this season. Whether it was the three goal rally on February 1 or even the 4-3 OT loss on November 4; the two teams play a similar system and it shows. Last night was much the same. A very tight checking affair with some greasy offensive plays to make the difference.
Dallas finds themselves in a spot of trouble.
Two points up on the Vegas Golden Knights, zero games in hand, four games to go.
Doesn’t sound too bad— other than the fact that they’re on a three game losing streak, they’re about to play the Kraken who are on a three game winning streak.
Oh, and they play the Golden Knights on Tuesday. That’s going to be some must-see hockey.
Division Clinched
The Flames locked up first place in the Pacific Division with the win. It’s unclear whether that means some players will get a maintenance day or two, but head coach Darryl Sutter seems to be leaning the other way. He wants players getting their reps and improving their game in the next eight days.
It’s getting pretty close to being able to say without a doubt that the Flames will play the Nashville Predators in the first round. The Flames lost both of their games against the Predators after regulation time concluded. If that’s the series, then it’s going to be some great hockey.
100 for Tkachuk
With a tuck-in power play goal at 10:07 of the second period, Matthew Tkachuk became the second Flames player this season to record 100 points and the first to record 40 goals. Gaudreau and Lindholm have 38 and 39 respectively.
It feels surreal to see not one, but two Flames players reach that milestone in a season after spending nearly two decades watching Jarome Iginla move heaven and earth to get it done.
Tkachuk is the first 40 goal scorer on the Flames since Iggy potted 43 in the 2010-11 season.
Backlund
Mikael Backlund seems to be a polarizing character among the Flames faithful. Some look to his production and want more. Others look at his years and claim he’s aged out of a 2C role.
Some nights you can see his step isn’t where it was— but he’s still as good as almost any Flames player in a puck battle.
Just looking at his stats, you can see a level of conciseness isn’t present in his offensive game. He’s played the fourth most minutes among Flames forwards, but has recorded a meagre amount of high danger chances.
Mikael Backlund
Minutes: 1344
High Danger Unblocked Shot Attempts: 13 (9th)
Medium Danger Unblocked Shot Attempts: 63 (6th)
Low Danger Unblocked Shot Attempts: 202 (4th)
The stats certainly support the notion that he’s started playing a lower percentage offensive game. This kind of diminishes his solid 55CF% while on the ice.
Further to that, Backlund is tied for second on the Flames this year in rebounds created at 18. Low percentage plays result in a low amount of goals.
To his credit though, he’s not a passenger by any means. Statistics don’t tell the whole story. Even on the game winner last night. Two #11s are battling out front. Tanev’s shot doesn’t go off Luke Glendening’s skate and in if Backlund isn’t jockeying with him. Those are the kind of goals that become more common in the playoffs— despite the lack of credit Mikael will get on the scoresheet.
The Flames play the Canucks tomorrow at 8pm for the second half of Hockey Night in Canada.
Trevor Neufeld
Statistics via moneypuck, naturalstattrick and nhl.com.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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