[Game Takes] Flames 4 Penguins 1

[SuperMatt18]

They've been feast or famine on the metrics for sure.

Dominated Colorado, Edmonton and Vegas (Even with the first period considered they had 63% xGF in that first period).

Turned south against Buffalo for whatever reason where they were really slow and got dominated on the rush.

The Carolina game was weird because watching that game I didn't think Carolina dominated as much as the stats showed, especially in the 2nd and 3rd.

Last night it's mostly score effects IMO - once the Flames went up 3-0 they kind of sat back a bit and the Pens really pushed.

Overall they've been sloppy at 5v5 though -

This year averaging 2.74 xGF per 60, 2.61 xGA per 60, and giving up 10.86 High Danger Chances per 60.

Last year that was 2.79 xGF per 60, 2.29 xGA per 60, and 9.6 High Danger Chances per 60.

So they have some work to do defensively. Although last year they were sloppy the first 10 games or so too and I remember wanted to fire Zadorov and Gudbranson into the sun.

[activeStick]

Yes, I was alluding to the same sort of thing in the PGT. From an eye test, I feel like the Flames look less dangerous than last year (except for Kadri's line which is dangerous 70% of the time) and it applies to both in the offensive zone and the neutral zone. But then I feel like safer plays are being made in those zones most of the time than last season. Defensively, they look like around the same, maybe slightly worse compared to last year but it's also been less than 10 games.

[Textcritic]

^
I think all those home games to start the season have contributed to the sloppy play. Teams have to play simple and disciplined on the road in order to win in the NHL, and with such a long stretch of road games to start last year I believe it pushed the Flames into forming their structure and identity early. It's great that they are taking advantage if all of these home games, but this team really needs to get on the road. I bet they tighten up a lot next month.

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[HitterD]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

^
I think all those home games to start the season have contributed to the sloppy play. Teams have to play simple and disciplined on the road in order to win in the NHL, and with such a long stretch of road games to start last year I believe it pushed the Flames into forming their structure and identity early. It's great that they are taking advantage if all of these home games, but this team really needs to get on the road. I bet they tighten up a lot next month.

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I agree with this, and also want to point out that the Flames’ quality of opponent over the first 6 games might also contribute to the sloppy play. They have basically (besides Buffalo) exclusively played teams expected to be contenders. There’s always 2 teams on the ice, and good teams will have moments in any game where they dominate, thus making the flames look sloppy for periods of time as well.