[CP Story] The Flames Possessed

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2017/02/t...mes-possessed/

A look inside the Flames shot and scoring chance metrics from this and the past two seasons.

[Erick Estrada]

Flames are playing better team hockey but the lack of top skill in the forward ranks is hurting them as is the below average goaltending. Get a top goaltender and one or two more finishers on the wing and this team could be quite good.

[GranteedEV]

We have every forward playing one level too high on the right wing and it is affecting our danger level. Frolik is a 2RW playing 1RW. Brouwer is a 3RW playing 2RW. Chiasson is a 4RW playing 3RW. Hathaway is a 5RW playing 4RW. All these guys need someone to push them down the lineup. Jiri Hudler, for us, was a 1RW playing 1RW and he influenced over his entire career shooting percentages consistently enough that his departure should not be overlooked. His career on-ice shooting percentage resembles that of guys like Crosby and Thornton and we have failed to replace him. Yes we are getting more shots but they are coming from the wrong personnel. I don't think the Flames are especially unlucky either as our expected goals track decently with goals.

[Mike F]

nm Didn't read properly

[handgroen]

great read thanks

[Cali Panthers Fan]

That's one of the most thorough pieces I've read on this team in some time. Well done sir!

It pretty much confirms what I've seen this year: 5 on 5 offense is down, but our top players have been below par much of the season, dropping that high danger shooting percentage; goaltending has had some good moments, but overall they are giving up too many goals compared to the rest of the league; team defense is much, much, much stronger than we've seen in some time.

The last point gives me hope, since the teams that often do well in the playoffs know how to play a tight defensive game for long stretches. The Flames have done that this year, and it's been a very long time since I've been able to say that (from the Sutter coaching days). Teams that have talent, but play loose, often are out in the 1st round.

So when people talk about firing Gulutzan, I shake my head. Patience has paid off. The guy knows what he's doing, it's just a team missing a few key pieces at the moment.

We might make the playoffs this year, and we might even surprise a team in the 1st round, but even if we don't the foundation is being laid and we will see in a season or two that this team has been slowly making all the right moves to become a perennial playoff threat. That's the goal, and I'm encouraged to see they're moving in the right direction.

[Enoch Root]

Interesting article, thanks.

I didn't think that calling them lucky 2 years ago really told the story.

And likewise, calling them unlucky this year would be a dis-service.

Two years ago, the compete level made the difference. That extra effort kept pucks out, and it made the difference offensively.

This year, the problem is a lack of compete level. They might not be shooting from farther out, but they definitely push the offence to the sides and shoot from poorer angles. Other than Tkachuk, few show the gumption to drive to the front of the net. Defensively, they are much more sound, but they still leave too many people open right in front.

Luck shmuck. You earn your bounces.

[Dion]

That was one of your best articles.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I don't think the Flames are especially unlucky either as our expected goals track decently with goals.

I was somewhat tongue in cheek about luck.

The Flames were called lucky throughout the 14/15 season ad-nauseam, so it certainly stands to reason that when their shooting percentage is below the league average this season they have to unlucky!

Can't have one without the other.

Really the PDO thing is funny. If you have a below average save percentage and/or a below average shooting percentage then you are unlucky according to many, but it could just be a roster issue with crappy goaltenders or guys that couldn't hit the ocean from the beach.