5 THINGS - FLAMES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS

FLAMES (30-24-14) @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS (42-20-6)

8 p.m. MT | TV: Sportsnet One/360 | RADIO: Sportsnet 960 The FAN

2022-23 Season Series: 1-0-1

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GAME DAY VIDEO
Game Day with Brendan Parker
Pregame Interviews
GAME DAY FEATURES
'He's In It To Win' - Lewis on Quick
COMING SOON: Projected Lineup
Say What: 'Never Out Of It'
STAT PACK
Media Game Notes
Scoring Leaders
2022-23 Head-to-Head Stats
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Leading Scorers:
Flames:
Points - Tyler Toffoli (56)
Goals - Toffoli (26)
Golden Knights:
Points - Chandler Stephenson (53)
Goals - Jack Eichel (23)
Special Teams:
Flames:
PP - 19.3% (23rd) / PK - 81.7% (10th)
Golden Knights:
PP - 21.3% (17th) / PK - 79.6% (17th)
Advanced Stats:
Flames:
Shot Attempts: 57.04% (2nd)
High-Danger Chances: 52.73% (13th)
Golden Knights:
Shot Attempts: 48.60% (23rd)
High-Danger Chances: 53.46% (10th)
The pregnant pause officially clocked in at three seconds.
If not for the sound of closing cupboards, the crackling of empty bottles and used-up tape, and the occasional footstep sauntering off in the distance, you could hear a pin drop.
No one in the dressing room has a better read on things than Mikael Backlund, but even he was having trouble summoning the words.
"It's tough. We've been in this spot before," the veteran said of an overtime loss on Tuesday to the Coyotes - the Flames' 11th of the season, and 14th overall, when a game goes beyond 60. "It's getting old.
"Yeah, we battled back, but after a big win against the Senators, we should come out with more jump and take charge of the game and play better than we did in the first two periods. They're a hot team and they've played well lately - and we knew that going in - but just disappointed we didn't get two points."
Jonathan Huberdeau scored late in the third period to force overtime, while Backlund and Walker Duehr supplied the offence in the opening 40 minutes. Jacob Markstrom was again stellar, despite allowing four goals on 25 Arizona shots.
Head Coach Darryl Sutter pointed to the team's pace and puck management, which were "inconsistent" in the game's early going, allowing Clayton Keller, Barrett Hayton and the suddenly surging Coyotes to take advantage with numerous breakaways and odd-man rushes.
"Guys (were) standing still with the puck instead of skating," the coach surmised.
While the Flames piled up another 45 shots - including 14 in a dominant third period - not having that same level of urgency in the front half of the game proved costly.
"Quite honest, you play a complete game, you shouldn't have that many overtime games," Sutter said of the Flames' OT record. "That's one part of it. The next part of it is you need guys to make a difference."
The Flames enter the day five points back of the Winnipeg Jets for the final wild-card playoff spot, with 14 games remaining.

The Golden Knights are the hottest team in the NHL right now, winning four straight and seven of their last eight.
Newcomer Jonathan Quick has been a big reason for that, stopping 27 shots in a 5-3 win over the Flyers on Tuesday to remain perfect (4-0-0) in a Vegas Uniform. Quick, who was traded from the Blue Jackets (via the Kings) on March 2, now has a .930 save percentage and a 2.22 goals-against average after switching from Hollywood silver to Sin City gold.
"Quick gives us a chance to win," Knights coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters in Philly. "Guys are comfortable with him. Veteran guy. He does a lot of those little things - not only stop the puck. He's been in the league a while so he's comfortable doing it."
Fellow trade target Ivan Barbashev tallied a pair, while Jonathan Marchessault had a goal and two helpers in Tuesday's victory. The Knights now lead the Pacific Division by three points over the Kings.
"We showed a lot of resilience and found ways to win games (on this road trip)," leading scorer Jack Eichel told NHL.com. "Each game had its own story and we found ways to win. With the exception of the first game in Florida (a 2-1 loss on March 7), we did a good job. Some nights it was a checking, low-scoring game. That's what we did. There were other nights where we were good offensively. It was a long road trip and to get eight out of 10 (points) is pretty good."
The Flames have outshot their opponent in 51of their 68 games this season.
With his short-handed goal on Sunday against Ottawa, Rasmus Andersson helped the Flames win their 15th straight game when he scores a goal, dating back to the 2020-21 season. The goal was also the first short-handed goal of his career, and the eighth - overall - by the Flames this season, which is tied for the fifth-most in the NHL.
The Flames and Golden Knights last met on Feb. 23, right here on The Strip. It was first time the two clubs have gone to overtime in their 16-game history, with Vegas blueliner Alex Pietrangelo scoring the OT winner in a 4-3 final.
Stick tap to Flames Public Relations Coordinator Jordan Bay for compiling these notes.
Follow him and the Flames PR team @FlamesPR on Twitter for more.
Flames - Andrew Mangiapane
Sportsnet's Rick Ball nailed it when he dropped a curling reference on the opening tally in Tempe the other night.
"Get the sweepers on that one as they work it to the house!" he shouted, with the puck gently crossing the goal-line for a 1-0 Flames lead.
Andrew Mangiapane had his broom out and was brushing away as he leapt over the pad of Connor Ingram, hoping to give it last one push to the button. And for about 20 minutes, through the first intermission, the goal looked to be his.
"I honestly don't even know if I touched it," Mangiapane laughed. "I might have skimmed it, might have not. But any way you look at it, it's good that our line was getting us off on the right foot."
The goal was later changed to Mikael Backlund, keeping Mangiapane off the scoresheet for the 10th straight game.
It hasn't come easy for No. 88 this year. He'll tell you as much - and own his part in why the Flames have had difficulty converting volume into production. But you have to feel for the guy, too. This is a player that scored a career-best 35 goals last year, and entered the season with a lifetime shooting percentage of 17.1 at this level.
This season?
He's gunning at only half that (8.5%), dropping his career mark to 14.5%.
As frustrating as it may seem, it's also reason for optimism. It's not a matter of if - but when - he sees a bump in that number and starts filling the net on a more regular basis.
It feels like it's only a matter of time.
"It's just a little frustrating at times when you're constantly getting those Grade-A's," he said. "It's good that I'm getting them, but at the end of the day, you've got to finish."

Golden Knights - Ivan Barbashev
Barbashev - who was acquired from the Blues back on Feb. 26 - scored twice against Philly and now has four goals and eight points in nine games with his new club.
The 27-year-old is currently skating on the top line with Eichel and Marchessault.
Mangiapane on the challenge of facing the Knights:
"They're a tough team to play. They have big, strong guys and definitely use home ice to their advantage. I think our biggest thing is coming out with a strong first period, don't be sloppy and really be dialled in all game long. If we do, I think that will really help us throughout the whole night."
On chasing down a playoff spot:
"We know it's an uphill battle and it doesn't matter who we're looking to catch. We've got to push and start putting together some wins in a row here.
"It will be fun if we get in."