For the sake of brevity, we’re going to address a few positives and a few negatives of last night’s 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders before we get into today’s game against the 9-3-0 New Jersey Devils.

First some positives.

Playing How They Should
The Flames came out to a big start. 18-4 in shots in the first period. They managed the puck and kept the Islanders hemmed in for most of the game. The line of Lewis-Backlund-Coleman in particular had a strong night. They out-chanced the opposition 2-1 and out-scored the opposition 2-1.

The Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli line also played more how they should. They managed the puck well and produced a goal together. Huberdeau and Toffoli were also involved in setting up Backlund’s first goal.


Depth D
Nick DeSimone had a solid first NHL game. He unfortunately tipped a Palmieri shot on the Isles tying goal, but looked sharp otherwise. Lots of timely punches to hem the Isles into their own zone. Handled a few 2-on-1 situations well.

Sutter shortened the bench to four defencemen for the final ten minutes, but the Mackey-DeSimone pairing looked solid.


As for the negatives — let’s start with the elephant in the room.


The Referees Did an Awful Job
Frederick L’Ecuyer and Peter MacDougall failed at their jobs. They put the whistles away and let the Isles commit infraction after infraction all game. That includes a blatantly obvious goaltender interference play when Casey Cizikas kneed Jacob Markstrom in the dying seconds of the third period.

How you don’t call that is beyond me. Those two shouldn’t be officiating NHL games after such a clearly biased outing. To finally get their whistle out again, remember they are supposed to be calling penalties, and make a call in overtime? Wow.

You know what is great news for Flames fans? Those two aren’t reffing tonight at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.


First Shot Curse
Jacob Markstrom once again allowed a goal on the first shot of the game. This marks the fourth time this season.


The DNA Line
Not the best night for Dubé-Kadri-Mangiapane line. On for two goals against and zero goals for. Dubé and Mangiapane haven’t been playing to their potential of late. Both pointless in their last five games. Mangiapane a -5 in that span and Dubé a -4.

Alright. That said. Let’s look at the Devils.

Given that we saw them play a few days ago in yet another overtime loss while on the penalty kill — let’s review how the Devils have won six straight.


Speed Game
The Devils have been keeping the opposition on their heels by means of quick transition and hard drives through the middle at the right time. Tonight poses an interesting challenge for the blue line depth. While lineups haven’t been confirmed, one has to wonder if Connor Mackey gets another shot at playing the Devils this season. He was on for three first period goals against in their previous matchup.


Special Teams
The Devils rank in the top ten in both GA/GP AND GF/GP. Their solid product has a lot to do with their 86.8% PK and 20% PP.

The Flames, on the other hand, still haven’t scored a powerplay goal since October 26.

Although, to be fair, last night they were awarded zero powerplays — because the Islanders played a perfectly clean game — according to Frederick L’Ecuyer and Peter MacDougall. Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, and Alex Romanov didn’t commit one infraction. Let alone several. Someone get those guys the game puck.


Game time is 5:00pm mst. You can catch it on MSGSN in the States and Sportsnet West in Canada.


Trevor Neufeld


@Trevor_Neufeld


Stats via naturalstattrick.com and nhl.com.

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