Switching struggling Jonathan Huberdeau and Andrew Mangiapane pays off for the Flames as they snap a two-game slide
Switching up the lines was the tonic for the Calgary Flames in their 4-3 New Year’s Eve victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
Jonathan Huberdeau, moved to a line with Elias Lindholm and Yegor Sharangovich, made the kind of pass the club has expected to see on a regular basis on Dennis Gilbert’s go-ahead goal. Meanwhile, Andrew Mangiapane, who swapped spots and skated with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman, collected three primary assists for the Flames (15-16-5).
“Both those guys to me, tonight, put the proper effort in,” coach Ryan Huska said. “Their work was there, their compete was there. It’s nice guys we expect to generate for us get rewarded when they’re putting in the proper effort.”
While Dennis Gilbert and Blake Coleman both collected one goal and one assist, and Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund also tallied, the focus was on the struggling forwards.
Huberdeau snapped his 12-game point drought. Mangiapane, who had managed only three points in the previously 12 games, seamlessly rejoined a line with Backlund and Coleman.
“It feels good. It’s been a while,” Huberdeau said. “I think it’s more about the whole game, creating stuff. Every game has to be like that, creating stuff.”
The trick will be for the maligned skaters to build off that game during Calgary’s upcoming four-game home trip.
Now three more thoughts on the clash.
Gilbert makes good on his chance
Gilbert, the depth defenceman, snapped a 37-game goal drought with his third-period goal. His celebration was worthy of the tally.
“Not really my calling card or what I’m know for by any means, so anything I can offensively and chip in is gravy,” he said. “A lot of emotion, it was super-exciting.”
Gilbert was often paired with Rasmus Andersson and that meant a few more scoring opportunities than he had all season.
“Maybe that’s why I was a little more open today, everyone’s worried about where he is in the o-zone,” Gilbert said. “But I’ll take it.”
He’ll happily take the goal, too.
“It’s my first goal at home as a Flame and feeling the building jump up; It’s a big game for us, a tie game,” he said. “It’s a really cool memory.”
Mr. 500 comes through
The goal, ended up the game-winner, but Blake Coleman was deservedly rewarded in his 500th regular-season game.
Funny enough, his team-leading 13th goal was an empty netter, but it capped a very strong game.
Great goaltending
On the surface, both Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom and Philadelphia had middle-of-the-road games. At least based on the scoresheet.
Both surrendered three goals and made 28 saves.
Even on moneypuck.com, they were below the expected goals against.
Had either goalie been off their game, the final score could have been a one-sided affair. Had they both been sup-bar, we could have witnessed a 1980s style 7-6 clash.