Calgary Flames: Five Reasons They Made It To The Playoffs

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The Calgary Flames officially have that much-wanted X beside their name. In about a week, they’ll be in the race for the Stanley Cup.

It’s that time of the year! The Calgary Flames clinched a playoff spot with their win over the San Jose Sharks. This is the second time they’ve clinched in three years but just the second time in eight years. So we don’t get to write these kinds of articles a whole lot.

Now, a team doesn’t just make it to the playoffs. There are many factors and you have to be a legitimately good team. You don’t just make it by fluke or by luck. 82 games a season, it’s hard to make it by luck.

But the Flames have had many ups and downs this season. They started their year off horribly. They started off the season going 5-10-1 and by mid-November, were one of the worst teams in the NHL. In every aspect. Their goal differential, their special teams, their goaltending, etc. Basically any factor that affects a team, the Flames were struggling with.

#Flames began the season 5-10-1, were dead-last in points percentage morning of Nov. 15. 39-20-3 since then.
— Ryan Pike (@RyanNPike) April 1, 2017

But they completely turned their season around and the players and management were patient with head coach Glen Gulutzan. He had a system. Clearly, that system wasn’t working to start the year off. And fans were frustrated. But the players were patient and the management was patient, and that patience definitely paid off.

So let’s take a look at five major factors for why the Flames made it to just their second playoff berth in eight years.

Feb 15, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with right wing Michael Frolik (67) and center Mikael Backlund (11) after scoring a goal in the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports /

3M LINE

All season long, the Michael Frolik, Mikael Backlund, and Matthew Tkachuk line, or as the internet calls them, the 3M line, has been the Calgary Flames’ best and most consistent line all season long. Since Matthew Tkachuk joined that line on October 25th, they’ve kicked off as the Flames most trustworthy line.

This season they have the third highest corsi-for in the entire NHL (min. 200 TOI) with 767 and the sixth highest CF% in the entire NHL with 57.84%. So clearly, they’re not only the best line on the Flames but they’re one of the best in the entire league. All this taken from Corsica hockey.

Backlund and Frolik are also an incredible dynamic duo on the penalty-kill and are a big factor for why the PK sits somewhere in the middle of the league rather than close to the bottom, like they were last season.

But it’s not just Calgary Flames fans who are wary of this, the team is as well.

Via Calgaryflames.com:

“One of the top lines in the league, for sure, both ends,” Mark Giordano said last month. “But we’ve been saying that all year. “Can’t say much more. The goals they’ve been scoring are huge. Backs has taken that step up to a No.1 centreman and run with it. “They get rewarded for defensive play, which is what we want to be all about. They get above pucks, make good plays and good decisions. “It’s been fun to watch.”

A writer here at FanSided did an entire analysis on the 3M line which can be found here, but basically (according to Corsica), only one line sees a higher percentage of faceoffs in their own zone than the 3M line. But they still dominate offensively. And all three are among the top five for +/- on the team.

They dominate defensively, they dominate offensively, it’s hard to argue against this line. So much so that Backlund is now part of conversations for the Selke trophy.

This line has been talked about all season long and rightfully so. And no doubt in my mind that they’ll dominate in the playoffs as well.

Nov 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Calgary Flames goalie Brian Elliott (right) shakes hands with goalie Chad Johnson (31) after the game against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Flames won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

GOALTENDING

When mentioning the Calgary Flames goaltending, most people immediately think of Brian Elliott. And while Brian Elliott has definitely been a factor as of late and will completely be an x-factor for the Flames during the playoffs, this is also about Chad Johnson.

The Chad

Johnson may not be performing as well as Elliott right now, but we can’t really be blaming him for the losses. Let’s not forget that back in November, he was the Flames backbone and was a big reason they even got into a playoff spot in the first place and why they’re in one right now.

Back in November and half of December, he was there to bail out the team while Brian Elliott was still trying to find his game. In an eight game span, he had three shutouts from Mid November until beginning of December. His most he’s ever had in a season was three.

From the 15th of November (Johnson’s first shutout as a Flame) until December 10th (the end of a Flames six-game win streak), Johnson had the most wins out of all goaltenders in the league with 11 (min. 6 games), he had the second best record going 11-2-0, he had the best sv% with 0.946 (min. 6 games), and the best GAA with 1.61.

In that 13 game span, he also allowed two goals or less in 10 of the games and the highest he allowed was three goals in a game.

Now unfortunately, he has somewhat fallen a bit, but because of him, the Flames were able to enter a playoff spot for the first time all season and they even managed to jump to second place in the Pacific Division early in December and a large reason was because of him.

Now, like I said, he’s somewhat fallen a bit, but it’s a good thing Brian Elliott has found his game.

Moooooooose

The Calgary Flames lately have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL and a big reason for that is Brian Elliott. Since January 26th, Elliott has the most amount of wins out of every goaltender in the league with 18 and he has the best record going 18-3-1. He was a big reason why the Flames had a ten-game win streak which tied an ultimate franchise record, dating back to when they were still the Atlanta Flames. A big reason for that was Mr. Moose himself.

Elliott also had a record of his own. He not only beat his personal career best of 10 straight wins, but he tied a franchise record of 11 straight games, which was set and still held by Mike Vernon in 1989.

Something else happened that year, I think… Foreshadowing, perhaps?

I’d also like to note that in that 12th game for him, he still managed to make 36 saves, but unfortunately the team in front of him couldn’t perform and back him up. But that’s in the past now.

As we’re all aware, the Flames are in the playoffs. And a big reason for that is Brian Elliott and if they can go far, that reason will also be Brian Elliott. He has the experience, the confidence, and an entire city chanting his name. Let’s just hope that Chad Johnson can get back to his November Chad Johnson self and be the notable backup we all know he can be.

Feb 26, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Calgary Flames forward Micheal Ferland (79) celebrates his second period goal with forward Johnny Gaudreau (13) and forward Sean Monahan (23) against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

PUTTING FERLAND ON THE TOP LINE

Micheal Ferland is definitely an underdog and is highly underrated. But putting him up on that first line alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan was one of the best ideas Glen Gulutzan has had all season long.

Via Calgaryflames.com:

“It was just a gut feeling,” said Gulutzan, when asked what led to him putting Ferland with Monahan and Gaudreau. “Just the way he’d played prior to that coming off the break. He’d had a lot of jump, was playing hard.”

Well keep listening to your gut, coach. Cause it’s working.

Ferland was initially put onto that top line on February 21st, when the Flames won 6-5 in OT against the Nashville Predators. And Ferland? Well, he scored 46 seconds into the game. So clearly putting him on that top line paid off early. He ended up getting another goal that game as well.

That game marked the beginning of the Flames franchise-tying win-streak of 10 games.

Calgary Flames

Via Calgary Herald:

“He’s sneakily skilled,” Gaudreau said of Ferland. “Guys look at him just as a fighter and a big tough guy, but he’s smart with the puck. He’s intelligent, he can read the play and he has a great shot, too. He played great (Tuesday) for us and it was good to get a bit of chemistry there.” “All the coaches tell me, ‘When you have a chance to shoot the puck, just shoot the puck,’ ” Ferland said. “I think last year and the year before, too, I would always look to pass first before I would look to shoot. And now, I think, just being kind of selfish and shooting the puck more.”

Keep being selfish, Ferly.

And not to mention how much this has helped Gaudreau and Monahan. Since February 21st, Gaudreau’s tied for fourth in points in the league with 25 points in 19 games. Sean Monahan is right behind him, being sixth in points with 23 points in 19 games. Gaudreau’s also tied in first for assists since the 21st.

Since then, Ferland also has seven goals in 17 games. Before that, he had eight goals in 55 games.

Multiple players have definitely benefitted from this switch and the top line finally contributing is a big reason the Flames season turned around and they’re able to be in a playoff spot.

Feb 23, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Calgary Flames defenseman Michael Stone (26) shoots the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

BENCHING WIDEMAN AND ACQUIRING STONE

The benching of Dennis Wideman was basically what splurged the Calgary Flames into their ten-game win streak. Not only that, but the acquiring of Michael Stone from the Arizona Coyotes in a trade also splurged the Flames.

With Stone in the lineup, the Flames are 13-4-0.

But the benching of Wideman didn’t only help the team as a whole, it helped his defensive partner TJ Brodie.

Brodie has always been one of my favorite players. He’s an extremely good skater and he has good hockey IQ. However, having a player like Dennis Wideman as his defensive partner wasn’t exactly helping his case. Wideman continuously had turnovers after turnovers. Almost every game, he would have a turnover that leads to a goal. And there’s not much that Brodie can do in that case.

But with Wideman, Brodie’s +/- was -25, a team worst. It was also second worst in the entire league.

That was until February 21st, the day Stone made his Calgary Flames debut. Since then, Brodie’s +/- is 8, fifth best on the team. Of course, Wideman has played in a few games since then with Stone having an injury, but that’s when the Flames morale was much higher than it was to start the season.

Now on the year, Brodie’s +/- is -17, which of course still isn’t ideal, but when you think about how his season started, it’s a big improvement. Since the acquisition of Stone, the Flames record has gotten better, their goal differential has gotten better, and their blue line has gotten better. It’s not so much Stone himself who has fixed this team, I mean if you look at his CF%, it says otherwise.

But it definitely helped Brodie’s morale and helped the team’s morale. And now with a legitimate top 4 on the blue line, it’s easier to see why this team is going to the post-season.

DOUGIE HAMILTON

Dougie Hamilton is arguably having his best season of his career this year. He has already beaten his career-high in points with still three games left in the regular season. He has 49 points in 78 games right now.

Him and his defensive partner, captain Mark Giordano, have been the best defensive duo for the Flames this season, ever since they were paired up earlier this season. Dougie this season has a +/- of 12 which is tied for second on the team and Gio has +21, a team lead. Much better compared to Dougie last season where he had -14, which was second worst on the team, and many fans thought he was a waste of a trade.

Just for fun, Gio had -5 last season, so much like what happened with the Stone trade, Dougie’s also helping out the people around him.

After a bit of a slow and rough start and some trade rumors, Dougie owes his season moving upwards by being paired with Giordano.

Via Sportsnet:

“He’s been real solid all year. He’s having a great year statistically as you can see, but he’s really taken a step for us in other areas too.” said head coach Glen Gulutzan. Like in the locker-room, where the quiet, cerebral Toronto native is so well liked – and needed – his playing partner, Mark Giordano, jokingly offered to massage his injured ankle to ensure he’s able to stay in the lineup. “I’ll take it,” chuckled Hamilton, whose promotion to the top pairing this year says plenty about his continued progress. “This year has been a lot of fun. It obviously wasn’t the best start for me or the team, but I got to play with Gio and kind of changed everything. Playing against the other teams’ top lines is a lot different.”

The numbers say it too that Gio and Dougie are arguably one of, if not the best defence pairing in the entire league.

Which Canadian team has the best defense pairing?https://t.co/s00zVxjvbN pic.twitter.com/N8JGZ1XVEQ
— Andrew Berkshire (@AndrewBerkshire) March 27, 2017

And how could we not mention Dougie here when we love being Dougie photobombs so much:

I mean, we’re practically bffs now. It would just be rude for me to not mention him.

Next: No new arena means no more Calgary Flames?

Well, there you have it! The Calgary Flames managed to enter the playoffs for just the second time in eight years. And boy, will this ever mean a lot to captain Mark Giordano, who hasn’t played in the playoffs with the Flames since 2007, his rookie season.

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