While you can accredit last night’s loss to a number of offensive and defensive issues — it’s hard to deny that the event wasn’t an entertaining one. Particularly the third period had some great sequences.

Today we’ll look at a few positives and negatives of the game that was.

Positive: The System
Despite losing out on two points, the last two periods of hockey were a lot of fun to watch.

In terms of system play, there was a lot to like. The Flames did a great job at winning races and rimming the puck around to the far side defenceman. Calgary showed a sublime ability to manage the puck. Using that open ice to generate a high-danger opportunity is another story. The two teams ended up tied with seven high-danger chances a piece.

Negative: The Start
One has to wonder whether this game could have been different if the Flames had pressed on the gas early in their typical fashion.

Instead, we saw a fairly muzzled beginning to the game. While the Flames outshot the Jets 14-10 in the first, it was more the Flames doing well to win the puck and doing little to produce anything of substance with it. The period ended 1-1 in high-danger chances.

Killer instinct, or a lack thereof, has been an ongoing issue for the Flames in 22-23. We’re two games away from the halfway point. Fans have to be wondering:

“At what point will this offence stop looking like improvised jazz when they have the puck in the offensive zone?”

Positive: Mikael Backlund
Entering last night, Mikael Backlund was doing lots of things on the ice properly, but he wasn’t translating it to the scoresheet. He had one point in his previous eight games — a goal against the Oilers on December 27.

Last night he put on a clinic.

Eight shots — six of those at even strength. One of those came from a breakaway opportunity. The 33-year-old from Vasteras, Sweden tucked it backhand past Hellebuyck to tie the game at two.

Despite a dip in production, Backlund has been getting a ton of pucks on net.

Since December 1st, he doesn’t just lead the Flames, he’s had the 9th most shots in the NHL. He’s tied for third in tipped shots on net over that time with ten. His bread and butter has been wrist shots with 31.

Overall, he’s had 62 shots in 17 games since the beginning of December. Oddly enough, Cale Makar has nearly identical percentages over that time. Three goals on 63 shots over 16 games. That 4.8% shooting percentage won’t last forever for either player.

Positive: Nikita Zadorov
A bad read on the second goal against aside, Nikita Zadorov had yet another strong game. His confidence with the puck keeps growing and it’s been fun to watch.

Last night the giant Russian found the back of the net after using his powerful stride to keep a tight offensive gap on the rush. His five-hole goal is probably one that Connor Hellebuyck wants back, but his positioning was perfect.

Negative: Front and Center
If you felt a sense of déjà vu on each Jets goal, you’re not alone. The Flames looked great in the second and third periods with a couple of exceptions. Point pressure was lacking. The Jets played keep-away along the blue line using cross-ice and half-wall passes. When a decent shot was set up by the Jets, Flames players couldn’t manage to get someone to properly block the shooting lane.

Much of this is simply due to gap management.

Goal one, it’s Mangiapane slacking on the point pressure. Caught in no man’s land, Brendan Dillon is easily able to get the puck past him and on net.

Goal two, Morrisey puts a contended puck into the middle and Kyle Connor chips it back to him. Nikita Zadorov took himself out of the center of the low slot. Morrisey is now free to pick a spot from the most dangerous area on the ice.

We’re talking about a passing play straight down the slot. The Flames forwards needed to be more involved in both goals.

Goal three? Dillon Dube and Tyler Toffoli are simply not managing their point pressure properly. The Jets defence moves it D-to-D for a one-time point shot. Noah Hanifin fails to jockey Sam Gagner out of his net-front position. The result is a tip-in goal by the Oilers’ 6th overall pick in 2007.

The middle of the ice in front of your net is an area you need control of. The Flames allowed far too much offence in that area.

Luckily for the group, the Flames play next on Friday at the Saddledome. That’s two full days to work on defensive approach, cover some video, and even sharpen up on their offensive plays.

Positive: McKenzie Weegar
With 7:09 remaining in the second period and the game still tied at zero, McKenzie Weegar pinched to the low left side. Huberdeau found him with a sublime pass. Connor Hellebuyck somehow pulled a save out of the situation, but it’s great to see Weegar finding his offensive touch of late.

If that shot goes in, we’re looking at a different game. Two minutes after that sequence, Brendan Dillon puts a shot through the middle from the high slot. The first of three Jets goals generated by controlling the middle of the ice in the offensive zone.

Weegar got his first goal of the season last Saturday. He’s on pace to score roughly 20 points — less than half of the 44 points he recorded last season in a top-pairing role. Expect his numbers to take a bump in the next few games.


The Flames are back at it on Friday at 7:00pm MST. They will play an Islanders team fresh off a game against the Oilers the night prior. Oilers-Islanders might be a game worth watching. Our northern brethren have lost five straight at home. Last night they allowed five unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken.



Trevor Neufeld


@Trevor_Neufeld


Stats via naturalstattrick.com and nhl.com.

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