Last night’s 6-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres had some easy explanations.

The fundamental “keep your feet moving” seemed near completely forgotten.

Time after time, you could count with less than three fingers how many Flames players were actively skating in their own end.

A couple trains of thought on that.

Peter Loubardias confirmed earlier in the week that there is a bug circulating the dressing room. It’s flu season and COVID-19 still lingers. It wouldn’t be surprising to find out that several players were playing while sick.

Jacob Markstrom is currently the only player to be confirmed playing sick this season, although the lack of explanation for Noah Hanifin missing multiple practices and now a game seems fishy.

Given that all of these guys work out together and fly together — it’s doubtful that only one player fell ill.

All I’m saying here is that there is probably an explanation for Elias Lindholm getting out attempted 7-24 (22.58CF%) and demoted two lines in one game. There were a few players putting up stinkers in the metrics department.

Out Attempted — CF% at 5v5
Elias Lindholm: 22.58
Chris Tanev: 34.38
Milan Lucic: 19.05
Kevin Rooney: 23.53
Brett Ritchie: 17.65

If it is indeed a bug, then it may be interesting to follow the results of the Golden Knights and Sabres in the next week or so.

The other train of thought is less ideal.

That being that the team simply didn’t show up. If that’s the case, then a bag skate has likely already happened this morning. That was the worst effort put forth by the Flames since Sutter was hired on March 5, 2021.

In any case, the Flames only brought their game to the Sabres for about four minutes out of sixty. They couldn’t contain the defensemen low in the Sabres end and due to that, Buffalo had all the space needed to play into their aggressive neutral zone game.

Stretch passes, clean breakouts, controlled zone entries. They made it all look easy.

Despite that, the Flames managed to pry momentum away late in the second and early in the third period. Goals from Trevor Lewis and Nikita Zadorov got the home team skating again and the visitors backing off the puck. Unfortunately, Nikita Zadorov took a tripping penalty which led to a powerplay marker for Alex Tuch. The wind left the home sails and that was all she wrote.


Goaltending
Rough night for incumbent starter Jacob Markstrom. Well, rough first period. Darryl tapped on backup Daniel Vladar’s shoulder while leaving the bench at the end of the first period. Markstrom’s night was over after allowing three goals on twelve shots.

The second goal was one Jacob would like back. As would the rest of the Flames players on the ice. The skaters were barely moving their feet, which led to Rasmus Dahlin getting fed a middle slot opportunity.

Then Dahlin sends a moderately slow shot to Markstrom’s glove side and the big Swede wasn’t even close to getting a glove on it.

Two minutes later, Casey Mittelstadt gets a clean break, drags the puck to his backhand and roofs it glove side and in for a short handed goal.

You don’t need a pro scouting department to identify Markstrom’s weak glove right now. Players are coming into games ready to pick a spot on Jacob’s left side.


Oop-Z
Strange sequence for Nikita Zadorov in the third period. He gets a clean chance to walk the puck up the slot and puts a shot top left corner to make the game 4-3. His next shift, he gets a penalty for tripping Casey Mittelstadt. He gets back on the ice and lays a massive hit low in the Buffalo defensive zone.

His tripping penalty on Mittelstadt stole momentum away from his team at a crucial moment — the big Russian was doing what he could to make up for it.


Mackey
Connor Mackey came off the ice after a 28 second shift two minutes into the third period. He got benched and didn’t get another shift after that. Darryl essentially called his game a missed opportunity.

Tough situation for the 26 year old. He needs starts to acclimate himself and adjust to a higher tempo. It may be a few weeks before he gets another look. He was on for a goal for and a goal against over 10:49 of ice time.


4th Line Blues
The forth forward unit had easily their worst game of their four games together. It was included above, but here are their shot attempt for and against percentages.

CF%
Milan Lucic: 19.05
Kevin Rooney: 23.53
Brett Ritchie: 17.65

They played a total of three shifts in the third period. They also allowed their first goal against of the season.


It’s Not All Bad
Micheal Stone at least had a very solid night. 15-4 in scoring chances for while on the ice, eight shots on goal, 4-0 in high danger chances, and one assist. Big night for Micheal Stone.

The Lewis-Backlund-Coleman line put up excellent underlying numbers as well, but failed to find the back of the net.

Lewis-Backlund-Coleman at 5v5
Scoring Chances For: 8
Scoring Chances Against: 2
Differential%: 80

Blake Coleman had a strong showing with Nazem Kadri and Andrew Mangiapane as well. The three out attempted the Sabres 10-1 while out together for 3:46 of ice time.


The Flames will have their hands full tomorrow night. The Carolina Hurricanes roll into town and are coming off a loss to the Edmonton Oilers. More on that in the game day piece out tomorrow around noon.


Trevor Neufeld



@Trevor_Neufeld


Stats via naturalstattrick.com, and nhl.com.

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