Flames had the right to drum up a victory on Saturday to end their road swing, but fell to a better team and now is staring at a crucial six-game homestand
It’s fair to say the Calgary Flames would have deserved a victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Saturday’s night’s clash.
It’s also fair to say the better team won the 3-1 affair.
The Flames fell on the short side of the game despite plenty of scoring chances, including a Connor Zary breakaway in the opening seconds and a big-time push to the final buzzer.
Goaltender Dan Vladar was OK in goal, but Ryan Johansen’s wraparound tally that made it a 2-0 game should not be surrendered, and it proved costly.
Calgary (8-10-3) has played 14 of its first 21 games this season on the road, but now has six straight at home against, starting with Monday’s visitors, the Western Conference-leading Vegas Golden Knights (14-5-2).
More efforts like the one in Denver and the Flames will net their share of victories. Whether it will be enough to become a playoff team remains to be seen, but at least games will be meaningful and interesting until we discover the fate of all the team’s pending unrestricted free agents.
However, it may be enough to beat the suddenly struggling Golden Knights (the defending Stanley Cup champs are 3-5-1 in their last nine games and have been shutout in two of their last three outings).
Here are three more takeaways from the game, without one of them being the putrid power play that was blanked on four chances in Denver (only netting one shot) and on a one-for-29 skid:
Line ’em up
The Flames do not have a legitimate top line, but what the club has settled into, and somewhat keeping in place, are a trio of second/third-line calibre units and a legitimate fourth line.
Curiously, the only line that scored in Denver — Mikael Backlund’s goal set up by Jonathan Huberdeau and Blake Coleman — was taken to task analytically. The other three fared well against a talented Colorado squad.
It took a long time for the Flames to find something close to consistent lines. Now would be a good time to keep things in place as much as possible.
Vladar’s ups and downs
According to moneypuck.com, Dan Vladar is ninth lowest in the league in goals saved above expected. The eye test is no better.
Vladar’s 3.60 goals-against average is the worst of his career, same as his .869 save percentage. The 3-2-1 record is acceptable, but even in his victories, the big netminder has been guilty of surrounding that one questionable goal.
With Dustin Wolf waiting in the wings, and coming off another yet another sparkling 41-save performance in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Abbotsford on Saturday, it’s all but a certainty Vladar will either be dealt away before next season or be in a big-time dogfight to remain with the Flames in the 2024-25 campaign.
Calgary’s need for better is two-fold. Stronger performances by Vladar will mean more success, and a healthier potential return among the trade winds.
By the way, Jacob Markstrom is currently 19th best in goals saved above expected.
Looking forward
After facing the Golden Knights, the Flames play host to the Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils during this homestand.
Not exactly an easy stretch of games. Of those squads, only the Wild are below the Flames in the overall standings.
A lengthy stretch of games at the Saddledome should be an opportunity to build momentum and work on specific elements of the game (ie. the power play).
If the Flames manage to reach both those goals during this six-pack, it will be a big achievement.