Calgary Flames Roundtable: The bye-week blues
It’s a week that hockey fans have a love-hate relationship with: bye-week. Let’s check out the Calgary Flames while they have these days off.
The moment every hockey fan dreads: Five days with no game from their favourite team. But sometimes it can be good, especially if your team hasn’t been doing well and needs some sort of a reset. This is the opposite case for the Calgary Flames.
Heading into the bye-week, they’re on a season-high seven-game win streak, the longest active win streak in the NHL, and one of two teams that remain undefeated in 2018. Last year, they won four of five before their bye-week and had a 5-0 blowout loss to the Arizona Coyotes when they returned. And playing one of the Western Conference’s best when they return on Saturday, the Winnipeg Jets, this could be an interesting game.
However, the Flames are still in a good spot in the standings. Two weeks and one day ago, the Flames were 11 points back from the LA Kings. Now, the Kings have lost five in a row and are one point back from the Flames with the same amount of games played. The Flames are in the third Pacific Division spot and are tied with the San Jose Sharks with 54 points, but the Sharks have one game on hand.
Related Story: Flames head into bye-week on seven-game win streak
The next Pacific Division team behind the Kings are the Anaheim Ducks, who have 51 points in 46 games. Going on a five-day break can be stressful, especially if teams within the same division are still playing. But after this, the Flames are still in a good spot.
So, let’s have a virtual roundtable discussion about the Calgary Flames during this bye-week. I asked some questions to the other writers here at Flame for Thought. Let’s virtually discuss them.
Question one: With how the Calgary Flames have been playing lately, do you think this is something they can keep up for a majority of the season?
Jonathan Boulanger
100% yes. I’m scared big time for how they are gonna play coming out of the five-day break because teams have a tendency to really slip up coming out of it, but they are for real. A great forward group all around, amazing goaltending and a fantastic defence that is playing up to their potential as of late. It’s gonna be a dogfight with the Kings, Ducks and Sharks but they have the team to make the postseason and a go for a deep run.
Ian Gustafson
I think the Flames can stay this consistent if all four lines are being productive or at least three out of the four. Obviously, they won’t be able to keep up the win streak forever. If Mike Smith can continue his impressive play the sky is the limit for this team to finish off the year. A big reason the Flames have been so good lately is the production of the top line. If they can keep it up that will be a big factor.
Calgary Flames
Tom Oppolzer
I definitely think it’s possible. Even before the winning streak, the Flames were playing some really strong hockey mired by some awful luck and facing some really hot goaltenders. They obviously won’t win every game the rest of the way but they’ve put themselves in a really good spot to secure a playoff spot and if they keep playing the way they have all season there’s no reason they shouldn’t get one.
Benjamin Prokopy
Yes, but there a lot of “ifs” attached.
IF the team can continue to produce on the power play, their chances are better. The man-advantage has been an area of serious concern all season. During the 7-game streak, and leading up to the bye week, they capitalized on 25% of their power play opportunities. In all games prior to that, their success rate was near the bottom third of the league at 17.4%. They’re going in the right direction, but more power play goals are better.
IF they can more successfully kill penalties, they could go on a run. Leading up to the streak, the Flames successfully killed a basement-dwelling 77.6% of penalties against them. In the 7 subsequent games, that number shot up to 91%. Obviously staying out of the box is preferable, but a big PK is crucial to success in the back half of the year.
Finally, IF the Flames can somehow do a better job of suppressing shots, they can keep things up. Mike Smith and David Rittich have been awesome. Every fan knows it. But they need more help from their defenders. Even during the last 7 games, they faced 248 shots when only 223 went the other way. It has boggled my mind all season that a team like the Flames, with an embarrassment of riches on the blue line, is allowing this many shots on goal. Any team would be in trouble if they lost their goaltender to injury. But with the workload Mike Smith deals with every night, his loss would be devastating to any second half success.
That’s a lot of “ifs”. And they don’t even take into account the obvious ones like staying healthy and big offense. But they are necessary if the Flames want to keep it up.
Dan Raicevich
I think they can. This team looks like they are an inspired team after the coach decided to rattle their cage with a stick toss for the ages.
Ramina Shlah
I agree with everyone else here. The Calgary Flames have played good hockey for a majority of the season so far and have played great hockey since December. Like Tomas said, they were even playing really well in December, they just weren’t getting rewarded for it. I think they’ll be as successful this second half of the season as they were last season.
Question two: Last season, the Flames won four of their last five before bye-week, but came back and lost 5-0 to the Arizona Coyotes. Do you think there’s a big chance they may have a blowout loss on Saturday vs. the Jets?
Jonathan Boulanger
Yes. Like I said, teams tend to lose ground in the standings coming out of breaks, especially the Flames. It’s really disappointing considering that they have been playing at such an elite level lately, but Saturday against the Jets could provide a bump in the road for a team that looks like they can do no wrong lately. It will be a true test of consistency and if they pass it, they truly will be on the road to establishing themselves as an elite team in the NHL.
Ian Gustafson
Well, there is always a chance. The Winnipeg Jets are second in the Central Division and a very good high scoring team with the most goals for (153) in the western conference. Although I don’t see this happening with the way they have both been playing, I expect a close game.
Tom Oppolzer
Anything is possible but I don’t buy too much into the rust argument, if they get blown out by Winnipeg it’ll be because Winnipeg is a really good team in their own right. That said, if you do buy the rust argument you can rest easy because Winnipeg is also on their bye week. Last season Arizona had played two nights prior to that game so they were more in “game shape”, Winnipeg will be in the same situation as Calgary.
Related Story: Flames Daily - Falling victim to the curse of post bye-week
Benjamin Prokopy
Yes.
I hate the bye week. Not only does it prevent me from watching my favourite team for a week out of the season, but is a roadblock to momentum for every single team. Sure, every player tries to stay active. I imagine they skate informally.
But a season in any sport has a rhythm that a player gets accustomed to. The cycle between practices, games, travel, nutrition, and rest is just as important to a hockey player as any skill. Take that away for 5 days and the player is affected. There is time required before he can regain that momentum again.
It is that loss of momentum that cost the team last year against the Coyotes. And it is that same loss of momentum that will cost them against the Jets.
It is possible that, because Winnipeg is a far superior team to Arizona, the Flames will come more mentally prepared than they would have last year. I hope that’s the case. Because their bodies will simply not be ready.
Dan Raicevich
Negative. I don’t think the Flames will be blown out on Hockey Day in Canada against the Jets.
Remember, the NHL made rule changes to the bye weeks so that teams cannot play their first game back off a bye week against a team who wasn’t on their bye week. The Jets have had a bye week as well, and therefore they are going to be dealing with the same adversity.
But, unlike the Flames who can sleep in their own beds, the Jets are travelling and making the short plane ride West, so give the upper hand to the Flames
Ramina Shlah
I actually didn’t realize that the Jets were also on their bye-week (thanks Dan), so this makes me feel a little better. And while they’ve been great, since the start of 2018, they haven’t been incredible. Their special teams, however, have been quite good in their six games before the bye-week, which may be of concern, but the Calgary Flames’ special teams have also been quite good. So this could be anyone’s game. While I don’t think it’ll be a blowout loss, if the Flames do lose, I’m anticipating a one-goal game.
Question three: After losing 5-0 to the Coyotes, about a week later, the Calgary Flames started their ten-game win streak. Even if they have a blowout loss to the Jets, are you worried?
Jonathan Boulanger
Yes. Any type of slide has me worried because we can’t always rely on them to put together a huge win streak to keep themselves in the race. They need to keep winning on a regular basis and doing it the right way. Hockey is a game of confidence and if you don’t have it, things can go south real quick.
Ian Gustafson
If the Flames have a blowout loss to the Jets on Saturday I won’t be worried because like I said before the Jets are a high scoring team. The Tampa Bay Lightning are the best team in the league and the Flames made them look very average. I don’t see the Flames going on another ten-game win streak but I do see them staying consistent.
Related Story: Flames improve to five-game win streak vs. Bolts
Tom Oppolzer
No, every team in the NHL loses big one in a while. I don’t think Tampa Bay is too worried even though they lost 5-1 to the Flames.
Benjamin Prokopy
Yes.
As I pointed out in question 1, there are still issues that, though improving, still need to be addressed. I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but special teams play and shot suppression are critical for this team’s success.
Health is a concern as well, particularly among forwards. With Michael Frolik and Kris Versteeg out, Garnet Hathaway and Andrew Mangiapane have stepped in admirably. But I get the sense that the Flames are running out of guys to call up if someone else goes down.
Dan Raicevich
Not at all. With the way this team has played over the course of the last month, the Flames are showing signs of finding their game at the right time
Ramina Shlah
There are some mixed opinions here. I’d have to agree with the three that said they’re not concerned. Like Tomas said, every team has a blowout loss here and there and Tampa Bay isn’t too concerned after losing to the Flames. After the Calgary Flames 8-2 blowout loss to the Detroit Red Wings, they won the next two games and embarrassed the Washington Capitals. I won’t be concerned and like I said, I don’t think it will result in a blowout loss regardless.
But I’m always wrong so watch the Flames lose 7-0 now.
Question four: Do you think the Calgary Flames will make the playoffs, especially with that crucial run coming in March vs. Pacific Division opponents?
Jonathan Boulanger
I do. The X-factor: Mike Smith. If he keeps playing the way he is, not only will the team succeed, but they will play well enough for Brad Treliving to possibly make a move to beef up the roster even more (A la Evander Kane, Mike Hoffman, Max Pacioretty) which is good news. Just please, don’t let it be the Ducks in round 1.
Ian Gustafson
The Calgary Flames getting a playoff spot will depend on how Mike Smith plays the rest of the season. It also depends on how much Gulutzan plays Smith. If they over play him he could burn out before the Playoffs even start. The Flames should have full confidence in David Rittich as he has played solid this season. Try to give Smith some rest and I think the Flames will be in the Playoffs come April.
Tom Oppolzer
I’m calling it now, I’m 100% sure that, barring any major injury *knocks on wood* the Flames will make the playoffs this year in a Pacific division spot. The Ducks are looking really bad and the Kings have been on a free fall for about a month and didn’t look great before that. So long as they can keep up with San Jose I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Flames get home ice in round 1.
Benjamin Prokopy
Yes.
I’ve spent the overwhelming majority of this roundtable spewing doom and gloom. But, and I say this as objectively as possible, the Calgary Flames are still the best team in the Pacific Division. And, in order to make the playoffs, they have to win the all-important “4-point” games against interdivisional rivals.
I think LA’s recent streak of 4 losses indicates that they rely too heavily on 3 or 4 players. That is simply unsustainable. I further believe Anaheim has proven itself to be a very beatable team this year. Vegas has obviously surprised a lot of people. However, as the back half of the season unfolds, teams will be taking them more seriously. I expect them to get knocked down a bit.
I would like to see Calgary string a few more wins against San Jose, though both games were very close this year. Besides Vegas, they are the divisional opponent that has surprised me the most. I thought they had an ageing group that would have trouble scoring goals. Thus, they would fall out of contention pretty early on. Shame on me.
Finally, everyone in the league seems to be beating Edmonton. I’d love to see Calgary do the same.
Dan Raicevich
Not a doubt in my mind. At the start of this season, I predicted the Calgary Flames will make the playoffs. Not only did I say they would make the playoffs, but do damage in the playoffs.
The offense seems to be rounding into form. The defense seems to be blending well together and the goaltending duo is giving this team a chance to win each and every night.
I’mm not only confident in this team being able to make the playoffs, but there is a chance that they could lock up home ice in the first two rounds by winning the Pacific Division.
Ramina Shlah
I also agree with everyone else here. The Calgary Flames are already in a better spot at this point than they were at this point last season with a much stronger team. Glen Gulutzan has been (finally) utilizing his players better. While it’s not perfect, it’s getting better. Mike Smith has been there to back the team up, David Rittich has proven to be a reliable backup, Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton have been a great duo, TJ Brodie and Travis Hamonic have been finding their chemistry, the top line is producing immensely again, three of the four lines are quite strong. There’s a lot we can praise about this team.
The one thing they need to work on is their powerplay, but even lately, that’s been getting better. I don’t think there’s a doubt that they’ll make the playoffs, and they may even get home-ice advantage in the first round.
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There’s our roundtable! Let’s hope the Calgary Flames can extend to a season-high eight-game win streak tomrorow night.