Quote:
Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!
Looking at it from a numbers perspective, are the Flames a bad team?
Actually, the Flames look like a powerhouse team with absolute garbage goaltending.
Dominant possession numbers. Comfortably “out-Corsi” every team in the league except Carolina.
And they’re not just peppering teams with low-quality shots. They generate above-average numbers of high-quality and medium-quality scoring chances too. On top of which they absolutely FLOOD other teams with low quality shots.
They have a low shooting percentage, but that’s not such a big deal when the Flames are doing all of the shooting.
They’re elite defensively.
Second fewest shots against in the NHL. And most of those shots against are muffins, because they’re a top-5 team at suppressing high and medium danger shots.
But they’re getting a sub-900 save % from both goalies. Bottom 5 in the league in most circumstances.
At even strength, with the game within a goal, the Flames have the 2nd worst sv% in the league.
When playing with a lead, league-average teams like Pittsburgh are posting a .914 sv%. Calgary’s goalies are posting a combined .875 sv%.
And again, it’s not because they’re facing more difficult shots than other teams. It’s because our starter has been awful and our backup has played like a backup.
I’m not saying Sutter is perfect or beyond reproach.
I’m saying that if the Flames put a 5 gallon bucket with a brick on top into the net, they’d be challenging for the division.
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Duds like last night where the puck doesn't go in stick out when they are fighting for their playoff lives. Woulda been nice for the goaltending to show up for the whole season versus the last 20 games.