Practice notes April 11

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

Hope it’s not the Flames’ game. The Flames seem to be great at giving up landmark goals like “first career NHL goal”

This year the Flames have allowed two first career NHL goals. Minnesota and St. Louis are tied for the league with five allowed each. Boston and Toronto have not allowed a first career NHL goal this year. In the previous two seasons, Calgary has only given up one first career NHL goal in each season.

The Flames have allowed the 10th most first career NHL goals over the last 10 years, with 19, 5 behind the league lead of 24 held by Minnesota. Since the Flames franchise entered the league in 1972, they have allowed the second most since that time, with 154, 8 behind New Jersey at 162.

https://morehockeystats.com/league/firstgoals

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Just give it a try:

Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk
Mangiapane-Dube-Tofolli
Coleman-Backlund-Jarnkrok
Lucic-Carpenter-Lewis

2nd line is getting stale.

That 2nd line might work for o-zone starts. Will be scary bad in their own zone.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Are Mangiapane and Dube horrendous in their own zone? Toffolli is an excellent two-way player.

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

Are Mangiapane and Dube horrendous in their own zone? Toffolli is an excellent two-way player.

Is anybody anymore? Other than McDavid, I mean, who gets a free pass for some reason.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

This year the Flames have allowed two first career NHL goals. Minnesota and St. Louis are tied for the league with five allowed each. Boston and Toronto have not allowed a first career NHL goal this year. In the previous two seasons, Calgary has only given up one first career NHL goal in each season.

The Flames have allowed the 10th most first career NHL goals over the last 10 years, with 19, 5 behind the league lead of 24 held by Minnesota. Since the Flames franchise entered the league in 1972, they have allowed the second most since that time, with 154, 8 behind New Jersey at 162.

https://morehockeystats.com/league/firstgoals

that's awesome- so recently not so bad, but historically us old geezers aren't far off when we think of it as a problem. 5th worst since 1980 when in Calgary


in terms of long standing clubs, Philadelphia seems to be the 'best' at not allowing first goals (would be interesting to see if Flyers fans feel that way)

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Kylington - Jarnkrok - Ruzicka

The Doghouse Line

Add Valimaki and Stone on D and it's complete.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by looooob

that's awesome- so recently not so bad, but historically us old geezers aren't far off when we think of it as a problem. 5th worst since 1980 when in Calgary


in terms of long standing clubs, Philadelphia seems to be the 'best' at not allowing first goals (would be interesting to see if Flyers fans feel that way)

Yet another data point that clearly shows the age of a poster

[joejoe3]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

https://twitter.com/user/status/1513627033967988741

Kylington looking at the lineup

[TheScorpion]

Kylington should easily crack this lineup. I like Mackey but c'mon. We're talking about a guy who has 27 points while being really strong defensively, for the most part.

[Burning Beard]

A little competition is never a bad thing. Let them fight it out for the final spots.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

A little competition is never a bad thing. Let them fight it out for the final spots.

Are Gudbranson and Zadorov also included in this competition? For my money that pairing has been a weak link over the last six weeks. I don't think either of their spots should be locked down.

I would honestly run with this:

Hanifin-Andersson
Kylington-Tanev
Mackey-Gudbranson

[activeStick]

I'm glad Sutter would never let one game of Mackey supplant the 64 from Zadorov

[TheScorpion]

He let Kylington supplant Zadorov at the start of the season when Zadorov was struggling and Kylington was the superior option. Zadorov got back in, was flat-out great for a couple months, but has taken a noticeable dip of late.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Sutter give Mackey a legit look. He's already 25.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Are Gudbranson and Zadorov also included in this competition? For my money that pairing has been a weak link over the last six weeks. I don't think either of their spots should be locked down.

I would honestly run with this:

Hanifin-Andersson
Kylington-Tanev
Mackey-Gudbranson

You are a bit of a call up homer though...the six D will be the six D that got the Flames to first place unless there is an injury or illness. Gudbranson isn't even in the conversation.

[TheScorpion]

Well it was hard to not be a call-up homer last year given the inadequacy of the Flames' bottom six, which was a big reason why they missed the playoffs. I had advocated for changes to the forward lineup this year too and they addressed that via trade.

Gudbranson has regressed from a good #5 to a fine 6/7 over the course of the season. He's fine but he's not indispensable and he's certainly not someone who I would omit from consideration if there are potential spots on the defensive lineup up for grabs. He's certainly been worse than Oliver.

Zadorov has really struggled lately but was much better than Gudbranson at his best. I would only take him out right now to give him some rest down the stretch.

Mackey has earned a shot, he's been their best defensive prospect for the last two years and was probably a top-3 defender in the A this year. It's not like they're pulling a guy out of junior, he's 25 and he's already here and playing very well.

[dino7c]

Mackey is next in line but he is behind those six and maybe Stone. Kylington is better offensively but Gudbranson is a better PKer. Zadorov and Gudbranson will be massive in a playoff series where physical play is more important.

Gudbranson and Zadorov would be owning the AHL too so that doesn't automatically give Mackey any advantage except over Vali.

All that being said Mackey will be a regular next season IMO

[TheScorpion]

He shouldn't be behind Stone at this point. Stone is a pure fill-in.

I get what your point is but mine is that if you give Mackey a few games here and there toward the end of the regular season I think you might find it harder and harder to take him out. Sort of like the run Ruzicka had before he turned into a cap casualty.

Re: your edit — Mackey is TOUGH and I don't think enough people realize it. He's been in like 10 fights since joining the Heat, and against big competition too. You're not sacrificing much, if any, toughness if you go from Zadorov to Mackey. Experience, maybe.

[dino7c]

Zadorov is one of the hardest hitters in the NHL, Mackey might be tough but he is not matching that physical play.

[Johnny Makarov]

Zadorov redefined our team's identity this year. You can see opposing players just cringe going into the corners with him.

Team's better sweep us in the playoffs because there is no way they can hang in with us in a 6-7 game series.

[dino7c]

Sutter wanted Zadorov and Gudbranson because "our Dmen spent too much time on their ass in front of or net"

His words...if both healthy they are 100% in the playoff lineup.