Beyond the Boxscore: Flames can’t beat Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights

Taken By Chance – Rasmus Andersson (70.80 SCF% // 77.65 HDCF%) and Kevin Bahl (63.48 per cent // 77.65 per cent) finally had a game where they were able to push play up the ice. Andersson is usually around the offensive attack, but he’s been really close to popping one in lately. It still comes with defensive mishaps every now and then, but at least he actually helps improve the offensive abilities of the team. On the not-so-bright side of things Daniil Miromanov (23.32 per cent // 19.78 per cent) had a rough day at the office. He is not up to par in the defensive zone, constantly struggles to make a good first pass and finds himself out of place when defending regularly. I think the team knows about the struggles too, which is why he hasn’t played much. What happened in that one wasn’t great and Brayden Pachal sitting meant that wasn’t necessary. You’ve got too many RD – big deal – have one of them learn to consistently play on the left and ice your 6 best defenceman every night.

xG Breakdown –

xGF% – Joel Farabee (73.09 per cent) keeps playing just solid, North/South hockey. It’s not turning into a large number of goals, but it’s helping keep the puck out of their own net as a result. I was low no him to start the season but with the great consistent play to start the season he’s really solidified a spot. Not that he and his $5 million salary were ever going anywhere, but it’s good to see quality play coming from that cap hit. On the other side of the Flyers trade –I sing Morgan Frost’s (36.63 per cent) praises just to have him end up invisible. Nobody plays 82 good games, but I was hoping the hot start wouldn’t fade like that. Finally, credit to Jack Eichel, who took the game over in the third period – a true superstar carrying his team to victory.

Game Flow –

Game Score –

Shot Heatmap –

In The Crease – I did not hate Dustin Wolf’s performance as much as I disliked how the defence performed in front of him. He’s still letting in about one goal per night that I’m not a fan of, but he also saves about 3-5 more based of his athleticism alone. Hard to point at the one guy you can clearly tell is giving it everything he has all the time and critique him in any serious manner. Two goals aren’t enough – that’s my opinion – so the team needs to pick up their slacks in that department, Wolf has his stuff mostly figured out. 1.75 expected goals against with 3 getting behind him.

The Goals –

Flash’s 3 Stars –  

1) Mikael Backlund

2) Blake Coleman

3) Rasmus Andersson

(Stats compiled from Naturalstattrick.com // Game Score from Hockeystatcards.com // xG and Under Pressure charts from HockeyViz.com // Game Flow and Shot Heatmap from NaturalStatTrick.com)