[Game Takes] Flames 5 Canucks 4 (OT)

[Bingo]

Flames 5 Canucks 4 (OT)

- Tyler Toffoli with two goals including the OT winner
- Backlund bounces back from tough turnover
- Markstrom gives up four on 12 shots and then shuts the door
- Jets win, but Flames keep it tight

[Strange Brew]

Tyler Toffoli has the been the team’s best player. If you had told me that at the start of the season, I would have been real worried about what that meant about the teams performance.

And here we are. The team is battling though, love to see it.

[Sylvanfan]

Looked so much like so many other games this year that ended with 0 or 1 point. Finally something breaks the right way. Glad to see Backlund set it the winner after an uncharacteristic turnover and bad break had him on for a couple against tonight.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Tyler Toffoli has the been the team’s best player. If you had told me that at the start of the season, I would have been real worried about what that meant about the teams performance.

And here we are. The team is battling though, love to see it.

I think most of us are still worried, now and the future

[Flamesfan05]

Toffoli saves the season all year long
Markstrom had a good last 10 mins and OT but really the Flames will have to help him , not the other way around if they want to win

[AndyM]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Toffoli saves the season all year long
Markstrom had a good last 10 mins and OT but really the Flames will have to help him , not the other way around if they want to win

How wet is your blanket?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I think most of us are still worried, now and the future

Yeah that was kind of my point. Your ceiling is rather low when he is your best player, credit to the team for making it fun this late in the season. It would be a great time to put it all together.

[Enoch Root]

I liked Mangiapane's game last night - he and Toffoli were effective together

Coleman could have had 2 or 3 goals, and Huberdeau was creating some plays.

Weegar continues to be the Flames' best defenseman. 3G, 6A, 9P, +7 in his last 8 games.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I think most of us are still worried, now and the future

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Yeah that was kind of my point. Your ceiling is rather low when he is your best player, credit to the team for making it fun this late in the season. It would be a great time to put it all together.

Except he hasn't just been our best player, he has been an elite player, for the past while.

7G, 8A, 15P, +7 in his last 11 games - that is a 52G, 112P pace

Toffoli and Weegar are putting up elite numbers over the past month or so, which is why the Flames are 8-3-2 in their last 13

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I liked Mangiapane's game last night - he and Toffoli were effective together

Coleman could have had 2 or 3 goals, and Huberdeau was creating some plays.

Weegar continues to be the Flames' best defenseman. 3G, 6A, 9P, +7 in his last 8 games.

Mangiapane looked like his 2021/22 self last night. Weegar is taking it upon himself to lead that D core. I think he was just as surprised as anyone, though, when he ended up in all alone on Demko on that one scoring opportunity.

[D as in David]

The Huberdeau-Backlund-Coleman line was below 50% xGF% again last night. Does xGF% take into account strength of competition? I'd imagine that line gets most of the tough shifts and would explain why it's the lowest of the Flames' lines. I'm not forgetting, however, that relatively speaking, Huberdeau brings down Backlund & Coleman in comparison to the other wingers that have been on their line.

[Vedder]

In my opinion the only way Stone comes back in at this point is if it’s an 11-7 situation like the Leafs and Oilers have been doing. It might actually work out okay if Lucic comes out. Lewis is there for defensive situations and PK. Walker gets to play up with some more offensively minded forwards. And stone fills in on PK and gives you another PP2 option.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by D as in David

The Huberdeau-Backlund-Coleman line was below 50% xGF% again last night. Does xGF% take into account strength of competition? I'd imagine that line gets most of the tough shifts and would explain why it's the lowest of the Flames' lines. I'm not forgetting, however, that relatively speaking, Huberdeau brings down Backlund & Coleman in comparison to the other wingers that have been on their line.

There's no adjustment for strength of competition, but it's certainly a variable.

When you play against better players it's harder to get to 50%.

But Backlund was doing it all season to the tune of 65% until the most recent trio.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by D as in David

The Huberdeau-Backlund-Coleman line was below 50% xGF% again last night. Does xGF% take into account strength of competition? I'd imagine that line gets most of the tough shifts and would explain why it's the lowest of the Flames' lines. I'm not forgetting, however, that relatively speaking, Huberdeau brings down Backlund & Coleman in comparison to the other wingers that have been on their line.

I’m just guessing but I would bet whatever we think the Flames #1 line is, teams focus on Huberdeau, especially paired with Kadri.