Every season, the Calgary Flames goaltending is a big topic of conversation around the league. And this season is no different.
For some reason, the Calgary Flames always have a hot topic of conversation surrounding their goaltending. I mean, to be fair, many teams do. But there’s always so much going on with the Flames crease.
Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson have both been a hot topic all season long.
First, we have Flames fans ecstatic to be acquiring Brian Elliott on a draft day trade from the St. Louis Blues. Elliott for the last five seasons has been one of the best and most consistent goaltenders in the league. But he’s never mentioned in those ‘elite goaltenders’ talks. You always hear about Braden Holtby, Carey Price, even Corey Crawford, but never Brian Elliott.
So I know personally, I was excited. In the last five seasons, of goalies who have played over 50 games per season, Elliott has the second best save-percentage, right after Cory Schneider.
Then the Flames signed FA Chad Johnson to a one-year contract. This didn’t make quite as big of headlines as the Elliott trade did, mainly because Johnson has been primarily a backup most of his NHL career and fans were mainly excited about Elliott, to be honest.
But all season long, these two goalies have practically been opposite from each other. We’d have Johnson be spectacular at times while Elliott was below average, or we’d have Elliott breaking records while Johnson remains quiet. Right now, it seems as though each of their seasons are headed in opposite directions.
First half of the season
For the first few games, both goaltenders struggled. And because of this, the Calgary Flames lost their first three games of the season and won just one game in their first six games. They were also just 5-10-1 through their first 16 games of the season until about mid-November. But right after that from that mid-November mark, people became hopeful.
They were hopeful because Brian Elliott is bound to get into his old habits again, right?
Well, not really.
It’s ok, there’s still Chad.
It took Elliott a little longer to get into the old swing of things. But no need to fret because Chad Johnson stepped up to the plate and became the hometown hero the team needed. At one point, he had three shutouts within a span of eight games and helped the Flames to a six-game win streak.
And they managed to climb their way up to a playoff spot by December for the first time all season.
And Brian Elliott would have to witness this from the bench since he was primarily acting as Johnson’s backup. Throughout November until December 10th (the end of their six-game win streak), Johnson had the second best record of all goaltenders, going 12-3-0. He also had the second best save-percentage and GAA of goalies who played at least ten games in that span, with 0.939 sv% and 1.79 GAA.
Elliott on the other hand in that span didn’t have the same kind of luck that Johnson did. Elliott went 0-5-1, had a sv% of 0.869 and GAA of 3.68. Now, I’m big on non-goalie-shaming. I always tried to give Elliott the benefit of the doubt and kept saying, “give him time, he’ll come around”. In addition, he didn’t quite have the best support in front of him. But the same argument could be made about Johnson and he still rose to occasion.
Related Story: Chad Johnson wins Elliott/Bishop/Fleury debate
But then January came and fans were ecstatic. Johnson had been performing well and the Flames top line was finally starting to produce and contribute more. The Flames were now in a playoff spot heading into the new year and fans knew this team would be pushing hard for the second half of the season.
Or so they thought.
January
January came and the team somewhat fell apart – including the goaltenders. The Calgary Flames at one point had a four-game losing streak where they allowed 4+ goals in each of those losses. And in the last two games in that four-game losing streak, one was to the Toronto Maple Leafs where they were shutout 4-0 and the last loss was 5-1 against the Montreal Canadiens. After that Habs loss, head coach Glen Gulutzan called the team ‘pathetic’ about three times in six seconds. So safe to say he wasn’t impressed.
But it’s a good thing he called the team pathetic because oh boy, did they ever take that to heart.
Related Story: Brian Elliott vs Chad Johnson Debate
Since January 26th
After that Habs loss, the Calgary Flames won 3-2 against the Ottawa Senators on January 26th to head into the All-Star break on a high note. And after that win, the coaching staff decided to implement a win-and-start goaltending method. Basically, if you win, you start the next game. No matter how bad the team played and how well you played, if you lose, the other goalie would start.
This would give some healthy competition to both Elliott and Johnson.
And did Elliott ever take that to heart.
Calgary Flames
Moose
Now, I hate to say I told you so, but… oh who am I kidding I love to say it.
Since January 26th, Brian Elliott has the best record in the NHL, going 16-2-1. He also has the third best sv% (minimum 10 games) with 0.932 and the fourth best GAA (min. 10 games) with 1.99. He was also a big factor in the Calgary Flames reaching a ten-game win streak which tied a franchise record that was held by the Atlanta Flames in 1978-1979, before they relocated to Calgary. They did however beat a Calgary Flames franchise record with that win-streak.
But that’s not the only record.
Brian Elliott reached a personal career high with an 11-game win streak. He also tied a Flames franchise record with that 11-game win streak, previously held bye Mike Vernon in 1989. Hm, something else happened that year I think, hey?
During that 11-game win streak, Elliott had a sv% of 0.942, GAA of 1.72, and two shutouts. There were all better than Vernon’s numbers during his 11-game win streak.
Via Calgary Herald:
"“Getting on a roll like that, that’s always a good thing,” Vernon said Monday, the day after Elliott equaled his franchise feat. “I think the thing that differentiates when I did it and when Brian Elliott has done it is I think the points are just harder to come by now, with the tight race. They’re still fighting for a playoff berth. And to put an 11-game streak together, that’s a great feat and I think it’s come at a timely fashion for the organization.”“Any time you’re mentioned in the same sentence as a guy like Mike Vernon, it’s an accomplishment,” said Elliott."
If the Flames do end up making playoffs, which they had a 99% chance of making it right now, he’ll definitely be a big x-factor for this club.
However, as spectacular as Elliott has been as of late, Chad Johnson hasn’t been what the Flames would have hoped for coming into the second half of the season.
The Chad
It seems as though Chad Johnson and Brian Elliott have each done complete 180s. Since January 26th, Johnson’s record is a mere 2-3-0 with a sv% of 0.894 and GAA of 3.21. He actually played in the game against the Boston Bruins on March 15th. Now, why this game in particular was important was because this was the 11th game after the Calgary Flames 10-game win streak. One more win and they would have officially set a new all-time franchise record.
But unfortunately, the Bruins won 5-2 that game, meaning the Flames win-streak would remain at 10 games. And while the team didn’t exactly play their hardest, three of the four goals Johnson let in were softies. He should have had those goals and many argued that if Elliott had been in net, he would have stopped those shots Johnson let in and the Flames could have potentially had that 11th win.
But I’m not a big fan of talking about “what-ifs” and I don’t think it’s exactly fair to pin it all on Johnson. Let’s not forget that he was a big reason for that sudden burst the Flames had from mid-November to mid-December and was a reason they climbed up to a playoff spot in the first place. Which now we could also say that he’s been a big reason the Flames are where they are now.
Next: Potential Playoff Scenario: Facing the Anaheim Ducks
But that being said, unfortunately right now, it seems that Johnson’s season is going down a wrong turn while Elliott’s going exactly where it needs to go, and then some.
Let’s just hope Chad Johnson can find that sudden spark again and be a legitimate backup for when the playoffs start.