5 THINGS - FLAMES VS. GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The Flames open a season-long eight-game homestand tonight vs. Vegas
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STAT PACK
Media Game Notes
Scoring Leaders
2021-22 Head-to-Head Stats
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Leading Scorers:
Flames:
Points - Nazem Kadri, Michael Stone (3)
Goals - Kadri, Stone, nine others (1)
Golden Knights:
Points - Jonathan Marchessault (3)
Goals - Marchessault, Jack Eichel, two others (3)
Special Teams:
Flames:
PP - 33.3% (9th) / PK - 75.0% (21st)
Golden Knights:
PP - 25.0% (14th) / PK - 85.7% (9th)
Advanced Stats:
Flames:
Shot Attempts: 56.33% (4th)
High-Danger Chances: 55.88% (7th)
Golden Knights:
Shot Attempts: 54.31% (10th)
High-Danger Chances: 61.84% (5th)
Saturday Night was, indeed, Alright.
The Flames put the pedal down and grabbed the season's first chapter of the Battle of Alberta, 4-3, in front of a sold-out-but-strikingly-red crowd at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Michael Stone led the way with a career-high three-point night, while Nazem Kadri scored his first goal as a Flame as the visitors raced out to a 4-1, first-period lead - ending the night for the Oilers' new, No.-1 puck-stopper, Jack Campbell. Stuart Skinner came on in relief and was absolutely stellar, stopping 31 shots the rest of the way.
While the Oilers clawed back with a pair of unanswered tallies, the Flames were certainly not guilty of sitting back and 'protecting' the lead. In fact, they saved the best for last, out-shooting the Oilers 15-8 in the third as they looked to salt it away.
"We wanted to have a better third than we did the second," said Head Coach Darryl Sutter. "Even the penalty we took that they scored on, that's a turnover in neutral (zone). Then the goal that makes it a 4-3 goal is a faceoff goal. … They've got so much ammo and they shorten the bench when they get down.
"We talk about it, being on the road and everybody's got to play against those guys."
Mikael Backlund and Andrew Mangiapane scored the others for Calgary.
Dan Vladar got the start in goal for the Flames - his first of the year after a splendid preseason that saw him record a .941 save percentage and a 1.94 goals-against average. He made 26 saves, including two 10-bellers in the dying seconds to preserve the victory.
While many were surprised not to see Vezina finalist Jacob Markstrom between the pipes, Sutter said at the morning skate that he's hoping to play Vladar at least once a week throughout the year.
If so, his workload could increase to 26 starts from the 19 he had a year ago.
"It means everything to me," Vladar said of the belief the coaches have in him. "That's why I'm here. I'm here to play my best and help the team every single time I get the call. I don't even know that coach said that, but if he said that, that's great for me. Obviously, I've got to perform really well every single time I get the call."
Stone, meanwhile, was hero of the night, scoring his first of the year in predictable Stone fashion - with an absolute missile off the half boards that went pipe and in before anyone even knew what happened.
The last Flames defenceman to record three points in a single period was Robyn Regehr (1-2-3), way back on Feb. 2, 2007.
Video: CGY@EDM: Stone scores in 1st period
"It's nice to contribute," Stone said. "That third one, I didn't really do anything, though. I just got my stick in the way (laughs).
"The first period was good - we came out with a lot of energy and did some good things. We got back on our heels a little bit in the second and managed to turn it back around in the third and finish the game off. That's good to see."
This is the first of a season-high eight-game homestand for the Flames. They'll host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, followed by the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday to close out the week.
The Golden Knights are coming off a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, and are one of only nine teams - Calgary included - that remain undefeated.
Jonathan Marchessault scored twice, Shea Theodore had a goal and an assist, while former Calgary Canuck Adin Hill made 31 stops in his Vegas debut.
Reilly Smith and Keegan Kolesar also had goals - the former bulging the twine only 12 seconds into the contest.
"I think it's good for the guys to get a taste of success early - everyone is chasing that early in the year and we don't want to be behind," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters after the game. "I thought we started well tonight, which is something we addressed. I didn't think our starts in L.A. and at home against Chicago were great. They weren't bad, but when you can put the other team on their heels, that always helps."
Video: "Four points in two games is pretty good"
LOOK BACKS AT IT:
When he opened the scoring for the Flames on Saturday against the Oilers, Mikael Backlund tallied his 167th career goal, which ties him for the fifth-most goals by a centreman in Flames franchise history (tied w/ Joel Otto). Backlund has the 14th-most points in franchise history (167-270-437) and will quickly climb the ranks as he approaches 450 career points.
DID YOU KNOW?
Backlund has 13 points (3G, 10A) in 14 career games against the Golden Knights, including five points in three games last season. Jonathan Huberdeau has eight points (1G, 7A) in eight career meetings with the Knights.
COACH SUTTER:
With the win on Saturday, Darryl Sutter now sits alone in 10th all time for wins as a head coach in NHL history (701). Sutter now trails Peter Laviolette (718) for ninth.
Stick tap to Flames Media Relations Specialist Dalton Ulrich for compiling these notes.
Follow him and the Flames PR team @FlamesPR on Twitter for more.
Flames - Rasmus Andersson
On Saturday, Andersson played the 300th game of his NHL career. His 21:36 TOI was second only to Chris Tanev, and he led all blueliners with 3:19 on the powerplay.
The 25-year-old has 114 points (17G, 97) over his five full seasons in The Show.
"Obviously, proud and excited at the same time," Andersson said. "Let's push for another 300."
Video: "Let's push for another 300"
Golden Knights - Phil Kessel
Phil 'The Thrill' has taken his talents to Sin City after spending the past three years with the Arizona Coyotes. The 35-year-old had only eight goals last year, but had 44 helpers to give him 52 points - the most he's had since the 2018-19 campaign when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Even with that - his first-ever single-digit goal total - the former 30-goal scorer remains one of the better shooters in the game.
Elias Lindholm on 'pressure' to win on long homestand:
"We take it game by game. We've put ourselves in a good spot by winning the first two games and (tonight) is going to be a good test for us again. Playing a division game, it's going to be tight. We'll take it game by game and then we'll see. We would be more worried if we were 0-2 right now."
