Post-Game: Jets set for playoffs, Flames not

On Wednesday evening, the Winnipeg Jets came into Calgary needing a win over the Flames to punch their ticket to the post-season. The Flames needed a regulation win to maintain any flicker of playoff hope. The Jets were poised, structured and opportunistic and the Flames were, well, not, in a 4-0 Jets win at the Saddledome.

The rundown

The Jets scored four times, each coming as a direct result of some challenges and miscues from the Flames.

They went up 1-0 in the first period after the Flames were caught up ice just over a minute into the game, leading to a three-on-one rust that saw Adam Lowry put a shot over a sliding Michael Stone and past Jacob Markstrom’s glove.
They went up 2-0 in the second period on a shorthanded two-on-none rush where Lowry scored again. That was caused by Nikita Nesterov putting a pass into Andrew Mangiapane’s skates, leading to a turnover and the odd-man rush.
They went up 3-0 late in the second period, as the Flames pressed but hit a post. The puck bounced past Juuso Valimaki at the offensive blueline and Blake Wheeler scored on a breakaway the other way.
They went up 4-0 early in the third period on a power play. Mark Giordano collided with Chris Tanev, who lost an edge. That allowed Mark Scheifele to find Wheeler with a nice pass for a tap-in.

Markstrom stopped Andrew Copp on a late third period penalty shot.

Why the Flames lost

The Flames weren’t awful, but they never really had enough sustained pressure to put the Jets on the ropes. The Jets, on the other hand, were completely content to feast on the Flames’ miscues. They played a patient, calm game, and were able to coast to victory.

Don’t put this loss on Markstrom. He didn’t make any big saves to save the Flames’ bacon, but he didn’t get very much help from the guys in front of him.

Red Warrior

Let’s go with Giordano. The Flames’ captain played a ton, put pucks on net, and was generally quite good aside from Tanev accidentally wiping him out on the fourth Jets goal.

The turning point

It’s a cheat, but let’s go with the entire second period. The Flames pressed, had good looks, but found ways to (a) not score and (b) give the Jets enough daylight to bury them completely.

The numbers

Data via Natural Stat Trick. Percentage stats are 5v5.

Corsi
For%
O-Zone
Face-Off%
Game
Score
Lucic
81.3
66.7
0.920
Backlund
80.0
80.0
0.800
Tanev
75.0
22.2
1.200
Giordano
72.0
25.0
1.310
Dube
70.0
66.7
0.270
Valimaki
63.6
44.4
-0.650
Lindholm
60.9
60.0
-1.020
Gaudreau
60.9
75.0
-0.990
Tkachuk
60.9
75.0
-1.060
Ryan
60.0
33.3
0.090
Stone
59.1
50.0
-1.510
Ritchie
58.8
25.0
-0.240
Mangiapane
57.9
25.0
0.190
Robinson
55.6
33.3
0.230
Monahan
52.6
25.0
-0.200
Andersson
52.4
62.5
0.010
Nesterov
50.0
62.5
-0.800
Nordstrom
42.9
33.3
0.160
Markstrom
—
—
-2.640
Domingue
—
—
—

This and that

This was Johnny Gaudreau’s 515th career game, passing Guy Chouinard for sole possession of 19th all-time on the Flames franchise leaderboard.

This was the second time this season the Flames have failed to score a goal.

Calgary’s tragic number is down to 0.5. They cannot catch Toronto, Edmonton or Winnipeg. If Montreal gains a point in any way, or the Flames fail to win all their remaining games, the Flames will be eliminated from playoff contention.

Up next

The Flames (22-26-3) are back in game action on Sunday when they host the Ottawa Senators.