I was going into the game expecting the effort/focus issue to come up. At least to start ... I think it crept in later.
Honestly it didn't. They played a pretty air tight first period and weren't rewarded for it. That's not to say we should chalk it up to luck and just move on, because there's a bigger issue that needs to be solved, and it's been around all season.
Getting more chances.
Playing a possession game is great, it's a good start, but you have to get blue chip chances at some point and then when you do you cash in on them and this game isn't an issue.
In all fairness the Flames had five attempts there were deemed high danger in the first period, and that's a pretty good pace. But when they get them they just don't finish.
Lack of skill? Confidence? Not enough players going to the tough areas to the deemed high danger chances don't come with traffic and rebound threats?
Defensively, the team is decent when it comes to giving up chances, they're ranked 9th, but offensively they're ranked right where their goal production is when it comes to chance rates ... 23rd.
As an aside ... under Ward they are still ranked 9th defensively, but 18th offensively in chance generation.
Coaching? Personnel? Jam?
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