[Game Takes] Flames 4 Stars 1 (Series tied 2-2) - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bingo · 05-09-2022, 10:56 PM

Flames 4 Stars 1 (Series tied 2-2)

- Flames get to Oettinger three times
- Calgary puts up 54 shots
- Top line goes off
- Markstrom great in win
- Don't overlook Lucic impact on opening face off

Badgers Nose · 05-09-2022, 11:07 PM

That was a very exciting game. I'm not going to be able to sleep for a couple of hours. Need to wind down.

transplant99 · 05-09-2022, 11:35 PM

Face offs were a huge difference tonight as well.

It was one area that Backlund was really good in on an otherwise iffy night.

Lindholm was lights out though.

bigrangy · 05-09-2022, 11:54 PM

At just a hair over 6 expected goals for, that’s the Flames’ best offensive performance in a game since the bubble year.

Couldn’t come at a better time. Unreal that the game was still in doubt near the end. Flames will still need to dig deep but that was a huge statement game that needs a great followup on Wednesday.

Cheese · 05-10-2022, 05:55 AM

That was one of the most dominant games Ive seen the Flames play.

What worried me was after minutes of sustained pressure seeing Dallas go down the ice for an opportunity...those are generally back breakers but Marky stood tall!

jmac98 · 05-10-2022, 06:34 AM

Big win for many reasons. Of course tying the series is number one, but beyond that, Gaudreau scoring and doing so on a breakaway (PS) is huge after missing the game prior. It stops the immediate narrative of his lack of post season production thus far, and cancels any focused attention on missing a breakaway(s).

Beyond that, just winning a game they outright deserved to win is huge. Peppering a goalie who’s playing well can be frustrating if you cannot score and it can be deflating. But they managed to persevere and capitalize and ultimately break through. Much like the Gaudreau situation, it cuts off the negative narrative of not being able to beat a goalie and being stymied, etc.

Many dark clouds were lifted after this game.

Roof-Daddy · 05-10-2022, 06:57 AM

The Stars are honestly lucky they didn't get swept. Flames have been the better team in every game IMO, only bad luck and running into a white hot goalie has had them win two games.

Bingo · 05-10-2022, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

Face offs were a huge difference tonight as well.

It was one area that Backlund was really good in on an otherwise iffy night.

Lindholm was lights out though.

I thought Backlund was great last night.

Awesome on face offs as you said, but a beast killing penalties and five on five.

Only forward with a higher xGF% last night was Dube, ... Backlund was a true shut down guy in a very important game.

Only issue I had with him was the two penalties. Get your elbow down!

sa226 · 05-10-2022, 07:48 AM

Yeah, I thought Backlund was great last night. His neutral zone play is close to elite.

The elbow was bad, full stop.

The holding penalty, I'm not so sure he didn't intend to take that. Negate the 2 on 1 and take their chances on the PK. Hard to say. I think Pavelski helped it along.

JohnnyB · 05-10-2022, 07:51 AM

Lindholm's improvements in face offs was huge. He went from being dominated in them last game to dominating them this game.

Many Flames really stepped up their games in that match, and showed much more consistency.

flambers · 05-10-2022, 07:54 AM

I like how Lucic played, Flames were much better with Faceoffs

Still struggling to score, hitting the goalie or just missing.

However they had control, which is great to see

transplant99 · 05-10-2022, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingo

I thought Backlund was great last night.

Awesome on face offs as you said, but a beast killing penalties and five on five.

Only forward with a higher xGF% last night was Dube, ... Backlund was a true shut down guy in a very important game.

Only issue I had with him was the two penalties. Get your elbow down!

Well he was responsible for letting a guy go right down broadway (Heiskinen maybe?) after marking him at the blueline then just stopping, and i did not like his game away from the puck at times....perimeter stuff. Then you add in those penalties....and it was a very average game in my eyes.

He can be better and has been in the past.

One other thing...what i would not give to know exactly what it was Looch said to Benn...because Benn did not say a word back and could not get away from him fast enough.

Enoch Root · 05-10-2022, 08:32 AM

Great write up!

Those shot stats are insane - 20-7! Can't remember a team putting up 20 high danger scoring chances before.

Interesting to see Dube's splits - he has been okay in the series, I thought, but last night was his best game for sure.

As for Backlund, I thought he did some great things, but there were also a few times that he had me yelling at my TV. Can be a frustrating player.

I thought Looch making his presence felt was a huge turning point.

Erick Estrada · 05-10-2022, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

Well he was responsible for letting a guy go right down broadway (Heiskinen maybe?) after marking him at the blueline then just stopping, and i did not like his game away from the puck at times....perimeter stuff. Then you add in those penalties....and it was a very average game in my eyes.

He can be better and has been in the past.

One other thing...what i would not give to know exactly what it was Looch said to Benn...because Benn did not say a word back and could not get away from him fast enough.

Weird game from Backlund for sure as when he wasn't being great he was being terrible. IMO there's simply no excuse to have your elbow up high like that in a game of this magnitude where you are trying to hold onto a lead and bleed the clock. Bennett and Hamilton drew the ire of Flames fans due to poorly timed penalties but the reality is that Michael Backlund has been guilty of this his entire career and it's really hard to win in the playoffs when players are being selfish like this. I imagine Darryl will have words for him as be brought up the penalties in his post game presser.

Strange Brew · 05-10-2022, 08:54 AM

There have been better results but when was the last playoff game the Flames actually played this well?

Erick Estrada · 05-10-2022, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

There have been better results but when was the last playoff game the Flames actually played this well?

Sample size isn't huge. I suppose 2014 game 6 against the Canucks they were pretty good.

Bingo · 05-10-2022, 09:57 AM

Pulled all the modern era playoff games, and if you just sort by expected goal splits it's the 6th best playoff game they've played since 2014, or 4th if you exclude the Winnipeg games.

1. Vancouver Series game 6 (2015)
2. Flames Stars game 1 (2020)
3. Flames Ducks game 3 (2017) Loss
4. Flames Jets Play In game 3 (2020)
5. Flames Jets Play in game 4 (2020)

Bingo · 05-10-2022, 10:03 AM

Straight series domination ...

2020 Jets series 61.7%
2022 Stars Current 58.2
2017 Ducks sweep 56.6%

Roof-Daddy · 05-10-2022, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingo

Straight series domination ...

2020 Jets series 61.7%
2022 Stars Current 58.2
2017 Ducks sweep 56.6%

#### you Elliot!

GioforPM · 05-10-2022, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Weird game from Backlund for sure as when he wasn't being great he was being terrible. IMO there's simply no excuse to have your elbow up high like that in a game of this magnitude where you are trying to hold onto a lead and bleed the clock. Bennett and Hamilton drew the ire of Flames fans due to poorly timed penalties but the reality is that Michael Backlund has been guilty of this his entire career and it's really hard to win in the playoffs when players are being selfish like this. I imagine Darryl will have words for him as be brought up the penalties in his post game presser.

Timing was bad but maybe retaliation for Gaudreau was the excuse. Hit our best guy, we hit yours.