Calgary Flames

Calgary Flames Game Day: Round 1, Game 3

What is ultimately turning into the “sheep jumping over a fence” series of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs registers its third game tonight. With the series tied 1–1, and heading to Dallas, the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars have been in a struggle to score first and then sit back and do nothing the rest of the game.

The Flames are much better than they have shown so far these playoffs, at least that is what we were led to believe this season. What’s interesting is after winning 1–0 in Game 1, the team was applauded for their defensive chokehold over the Stars, and then suddenly when the team loses 2–0, the ghosts of playoffs past come around the corner.

The team absolutely needs to score more—and they will—but they can’t shy away from their game plan too much. Thursday was messy, but aside from the empty net goal, it was another 1–0 game. The Stars cannot score frequently, and once the Flames find that touch things should go back to the way they were this season.

Hopefully.

Round 1, Game 3

Calgary Flames @ Dallas Stars

American Airlines Arena

7:30PM MDT

Lineups

Calgary Flames

Dallas Stars

Series so far

TeamCF%xGF%SCF%HDCF%SV%
Calgary Flames61.5%54.2%56.9%50.0%94.9%
Dallas Stars38.5%45.8%43.1%50.0%98.2%
All stats at 5v5 via Natural Stat Strick

The Flames have absolutely been the better team at 5v5, but still have absolutely no goals to show for it. Their numbers mostly improved after Game 1, aside from an inevitable drop in SV% when going from a shutout to allowing… one goal at 5v5, but the most interesting thing is that neither team has been able to generate any strong HDCF.

That may seem obvious after the two games witnessed, but both goaltenders really haven’t been completely tested yet and that should be the difference as the series shifts to Dallas.

Players to watch

Dallas: Tyler Seguin

Every time the broadcast brings up the image showing that Tyler Seguin hasn’t scored in X number of playoff games, it makes me cringe. You know he’s eventually going to break that streak, but you just hope it’s potentially next year.

Seguin had a much better Game 2 in which he was more physical and really got up in the play more often. On home ice you just know he’s going to level up his intensity a bit more and that should scare the Flames.

Calgary: Andrew Mangiapane

The road warrior this season, Andrew Mangiapane is absolutely going to score tonight. He just has to. It’s the law.

In all seriousness, Mangiapane has had a very quiet two games in Calgary. The second power play unit has been listless, and although Mikael Backlund and Tyler Toffoli stood out on Thursday, Mangiapane was very, very quiet.

I doubt it stays that way for long.

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