5 THINGS - FLAMES VS. BLUES
The Flames close out a quick homestand tonight vs. St. Louis
Video: Brendan Parker sets up tonight's tilt
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GAME DAY VIDEO
Game Day with Brendan Parker
Pregame Interviews
GAME DAY FEATURES
'Need Guys to be Game-Breakers'
Projected Lineup
Morning Skate Photo Gallery
STAT PACK
Media Game Notes
Scoring Leaders
2021-22 Head-to-Head Stats
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Leading Scorers:
Flames:
Points - Elias Lindholm (23)
Goals - Nazem Kadri (11)
Blues:
Points - Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas (26)
Goals - Jordan Kyrou (11)
Special Teams:
Flames:
PP - 20.4% (24th) / PK - 81.7% (6th)
Blues:
PP - 21.5% (20th) / PK - 67.7% (31st)
Advanced Stats:
Flames:
Shot Attempts: 54.00% (4th)
High-Danger Chances: 51.12% (15th)
Blues:
Shot Attempts: 46.14% (27th)
High-Danger Chances: 45.73% (24th)
Essentially, there are two ways of looking at it: Four consecutive losses. Or, says the optimist …
Points in three straight.
It's the proverbial half-empty, half-full complex that on the surface, may not sound that exciting, but has been crucial to the Flames staying in the thick of the playoff race.
"Big point for us," Darryl Sutter said of a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks Wednesday. "This whole month has clearly been our best month. We have points in six of the eight games. So, the difference is the difference-maker, right? You get to the extra or late opportunities, whether it's a powerplay or overtime or shootouts.
"That's where your best players have to be difference-makers, for sure."
Whether or not you choose to look on the bright side, as the Flames' bench boss did in his postgame presser, the players are left … unsatisfied.
The truth is, they've played some excellent hockey of late and have probably deserved a better fate in most of the recent setbacks. The opened December with a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, but outshot their eastern counterparts 46-19.
In their last three - a pair of shootout defeats following an overtime decision in Toronto - the Flames have tightened things up defensively, while getting stellar goaltending from Jacob Markstrom. But goal-scoring remains a trouble spot, with only eight twine-seekers in that span.
On Wednesday, the Flames rallied back from an early, 2-0 deficit and even took a 3-2 lead, thanks to goals from Mikael Backlund, Andrew Mangiapane and Trevor Lewis, before Canucks forward Sheldon Dries evened things up again early in the second period.
The Flames outshot their Pacific rivals 38-26, but Canucks rookie Andrei Kuzmenko scored the only goal in the shootout to lift Vancouver to victory.
"It's tough when you go three in a row with extra minutes and can't grab that extra point," said Dillon Dube, who was arguably the Flames' best player with a pair of helpers, but was one of three snipers to miss in the skills competition. "We've got to bear down. We need these points. When you're playing (well) in tight games, you've got to find a way to win. That's what really good teams do, and we need to get to that and bear down and we'll be good.
"We're playing hard. Guys are battling, for sure. So. it's just to find those ways to win and this room will feel a lot better."
Video: Condensed Game: Canucks @ Flames
The Blues were in action last night, rallying from a late deficit to beat the Oilers 4-3 in a shootout.
Jordan Kyrou scored the lone goal in the 1v1 battle, after Vladimir Tarasenko tied the game with his first-ever short-handed marker at 19:41 of the third. Robert Thomas tallied the other and Jordan Binnington made 25 stops for the Blues, who entered the night five points back of the Flames in the Western wild-card race.
"When you start working, competing and working together as a group - fighting for each other - stuff starts going right and you start winning games," said Kyrou, who finished with a goal and two helpers in 23:40 in ice time.
The Blues had all sorts of penalty trouble early in the contest, including - quite literally - off the opening faceoff, when Head Coach Craig Berube had an incorrect player out in the starting lineup. That cost them a two-minute bench minor, and Zach Hyman and the league's top powerplay made short work of the advantage, grabbing an early 1-0 lead.
Connor McDavid added another PPG before Kailer Yamamoto put the Oilers up 3-1 midway through the final frame with an even-strength marker.
But the Blues weren't going quietly.
"Character comes to mind," said Binnington, who made some gargantuan stops in the third to keep the Blues within striking distance. "(We had to) overcome some self-inflicted adversity. It happens and we've got to rise up. Coming through at the end like that in the end to tie it up was massive and you could feel the excitement from the boys on the bench. It's one of those wins that we'll remember moving forward."
The Blues are 3-1-1 in their last five.
FLASHBACK FRIDAY:
Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau and Blues netminder Jordan Binnington were opponents during the 2011 Memorial Cup. Binnington was a member of the Owen Sound Attack while Jonathan Huberdeau skated for the Saint John Sea Dogs and the two teams met in the group stage of the tournament with Huberdeau scoring the game-winning goal in overtime on Binnington. Huberdeau and the Sea Dogs would go on to win the 2011 Memorial Cup with Huberdeau winning the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as the tournament MVP, while Binnington earned the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the top goalie.
The two have faced each other just twice in the NHL, with Binnington stopping all six shots Huberdeau has taken on him.
DID YOU KNOW?
Hall of Famer and Flames Franchise leading scorer Jarome Iginla scored his 1000th NHL point against the St. Louis Blues on April 1, 2011. ... Adam Ruzicka and Jordan Kyrou were teammates on the Sarnia Sting for two seasons (2016-17, 2017-18).
NIGHT OF GIVING:
Throughout tonight's game, promotions and videos will feature Calgary Flames Foundation beneficiaries and raise awareness about Foundation initiatives and programs, while thanking fans and donors.
Additionally, members of the Flames Alumni will be in attendance collecting toys and grocery gift cards for their Annual Flames Alumni Toy Drive at Section 223 to support local families in need.
CLICK FOR MORE INFO
Stick tap to Flames Communications Coordinator Jordan Bay for compiling these notes.
Follow him and the Flames PR team @FlamesPR on Twitter for more.
Flames - Trevor Lewis
He might be the most unheralded player on the roster.
All season, Lewis has given the Flames valuable minutes in a bottom-six role, but his offensive production has really come as a bonus. With his pivotal tally on Wednesday, the 35-year-old is now matched his goal total from last year (6) in - get this - 50 fewer games.
Lewis' career high is 14, but is now on a 20-goal pace in this, his 15th season.
Blues - Jordan Kyrou
Kyrou was all over the ice last night in Edmonton, but even after scoring his team-leading 11th of the year and adding a pair of apples, he saved his best for last.
"Buchy (Pavel Buchnevich) gave me a little advice on the shootout," Kyrou laughed. "That's his move."
And what a move it was:
Tweet from @bluesbuzzblog: Watching this Kyrou game winner on repeat 🤒 pic.twitter.com/7JIuZSBa7Q
Nazem Kadri on the Flames' play of late:
"It sucks, but that's the way it goes sometimes. It's a long year and I think it's just important to keep those emotions balanced. We like some of the things we do out there. but ultimately, you'd like to finish the job. But those bounces are going to bounce in our favour eventually.
"You just have to keep your chin up. It's a long season and getting down on yourself or thinking you're better than you are, both sides of the spectrum can be dangerous. With some experience, you learn that. And I think we have the right attitude in here."
