A comeback from 4-1 is reason for optimism, but the Flames can not afford to keep turning pucks over and early deficits
A moral victory in a loss. This early in the season and with the way it started for the Calgary Flames, a 5-4 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs can be seen as a positive.
As the Flames try to climb out of their hole, there was some of the same-old, same-old that got them behind the eight ball, but also plenty of positives in Friday’s loss.
Rookies Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil both continue to impact the club, and not just because of their goals.
After a slew of turnovers played a huge part in them falling behind 4-1 less than five minutes into the second period, the Flames regrouped, started by Nikita Zadorov’s goal, continued with A.J. Greer’s deflection tally and capped by Pospisil’s rebound marker.
Credit to goaltender Dan Vladar for recovering after he surrendered the fourth goal. On top of some clutch saves in the final seconds of the second period, Vladar stood tall when his team was outshot 12-4 in the third period while Calgary cued a comeback and then clung to the tie.
The Flames had plenty of opportunities to win in the wild overtime, too, especially when Andrew Mangipane had a breakaway chance.
The Flames want to keep building their game, and there were blocks put in place the past few outings. Now, they need to find ways to win in extra time (0-2 so far this season), cut down those dastardly turnovers and take early leads.
Here are three other thoughts as Calgary (4-7-2) heads to Ottawa for a Hockey Night in Canada clash against the Senators on Saturday.
Following Huberdeau
In the first game after being benched the whole third period, Jonathan Huberdeau was under the microscope. The verdict? A little bit of good, but still plenty of work to do.
His first two pass attempts didn’t connect. A couple of opportunities to make an offensive-zone play in the second period were near disasters, and his shootout attempt was more of a wish and prayer than attempt to score.
Maybe it will be seen as a step forward, but he has a long way to go.
Zary continues to shine
Nazem Kadri now has a five-game point streak, and was cheated out of a goal by a quick whistle, but so much credit for his play and that of Yegor Sharangovich must be given to rookie Connor Zary, whose play helped both of those more experienced players take flight.
Zary, who scored Calgary’s first goal with a nifty offensive play to get off the original shot and a creative rebound goal immediately after, has points in all four career NHL games. Only Sergei Makarov (seven games) and Sean Monahan (five games) have longer runs to start their career for the organization.
But Zary’s impact has been beyond that. He continues to show how patience and creativity with the puck is key. How long before he has a dip in his game remains to be seen, but Zary has shown to own a solid base in his game.
A step forward for Lindholm
Lost in Huberdeau’s struggles this season has been the below expectations play of Elias Lindholm. It has not helped that he’s often played with the struggling Huberdeau, but Lindholm has looked far from a top-line center who deserves a long-term contract it the $9 million per season range.
Lindholm found whatever he needed in the second half of the game. All of sudden, he was driving the play, taking pucks to the net, making key defensive plays and more.
Lindholm had two golden chances to convert in overtime, too.
More of the same will go a long way to making his case.
QUICK HITS: We likely will never know how close coach Ryan Huska was to pulling Vladar after the fourth goal, but one reason for not could be that the club does not expect Jacob Markstrom to be OK to play in Ottawa, therefore Dustin Wolf would get the start … With his two-goal, three-point night, William Nylander has collected eight goals and 24 points in 21 games against Calgary.