Calgary Flames: Three Stars Of The Week November 28-December 4
Another week is done in the NHL and yet another busy four-game week for the Calgary Flames. Who made our cut for the three stars of the week?
The Calgary Flames had yet another busy four-game week, but they haven’t slowed down. The Flames went 3-0-1 this week which earned them seven points out of a possible eight. They also had one shutout this week and a very fun 8-3 win, which we will get into later down.
Here are Flame for Thought’s three stars of the week. And spoiler alert, Chad Johnson didn’t make the cut this time. I think making him a star of the week/month three times in a row, we’d give a chance to other players. Right?
THIRD STAR
Dec 4, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan (23) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Special Teams
It’s no secret that the Calgary Flames have immensely struggled with special teams basically all season. However, this week it looked much better. They were tied for fourth this week on the PP with 27.3% and were tied for sixth on the PK with 92.3%. They’re still second last on the PP (they used to be last) with 12.6%. They’re now third last (they used to be second last) on the PK with 77.9%. So yeah, we know that these still aren’t great numbers or stats, but if they continue the way they played on special teams this week, those numbers will continue to improve week after week.
Another impressive feat this week is that the Flames had three power play goals. And all of those came on home ice. Before this home stand, they only had one PPG on home ice and they’re now at four which of course isn’t good, but seeing how they only had one before, this is a positive outlook.
Again with more impressive feats, the Flames also scored a short-handed goal in the game against the Anaheim Ducks on December fourth where they won 8-3. They scored two power-play goals and one shorthanded goal that game. Because of the help with their special teams, they went 3-0-0 in their three-game home stand this week. Before this, they only had three home wins in total this season. Which they now just doubled in one week. Good job special teams. Keep it up (please).
SECOND STAR
Dec 2, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames right wing Kris Versteeg (10) celebrates his first period goal withright wing Michael Frolik (67) and center Sean Monahan (23) against the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Kris Versteeg
Yes, that is Kris Versteeg hugging Sean Monahan’s legs while he’s on the ice. Versteeg had a bit of a whirlwind the last month. He suffered an injury early November due to a groin injury and would be out of the lineup until November 23rd. Before that injury, he had just four points in 12 games.
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When he returned to the lineup, he set up what would end up being the game-winner. But unfortunately in that game, he had a weird collision and looked like to be in pain. He played the rest of the game, but in practice the next day, he left early, and it was undisclosed as to why, but the Calgary Flames later released it was an upper-body injury.
He then finally returned to the lineup (again) on November 27th, and he has a point in every game this week. He’s now on a four-game point streak and in those four games, he has five points. Two goals and three assists. He also has a power play assist in those points, and he scored in a shootout in the game against the Minnesota Wild where the Flames won 3-2.
He now has ten points in 18 games, but a more impressive feat is he’s +8 for his +/- which is second highest on the team. On the season, he has four goals on 25 shots which gives him a 16.0% shooting percentage which is second highest on the team out of players who have played at least 15 games. In this week alone, he has a 20% shooting percentage.
Let’s hope he can stay healthy and he can keep up this point-streak. So please, nobody injure him (please).
FIRST STAR
Dec 4, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan (23) controls the puck as Anaheim Ducks center Logan Shaw (48) defends during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Sean Monahan
Sean Monahan also had a bit of a weird month. You can tell he wasn’t quite himself. He didn’t have that confidence that Calgary Flames fans know and love. He was passing pucks when he should have been shooting, he was having lots of giveaways, etc. But this past week, he has definitely found that bit of confidence he had been lacking practically all season.
Like Versteeg, he is now on a four-game point streak. Exactly like Versteeg, he has the same amount of goals (two), assists (three), +/- (3), and power play point (one). He may not be shooting as often as Flames fans would like, but good news is that he has a great shot percentage right now, so when he does shoot, you know it’ll be a dangerous shot.
I don’t know what happened or who talked to him, but whatever it is, it’s working. After a long and tiring ten-day road trip, maybe something he needed was just to come back home. He has now climbed his way up to third on the team for points with 13 and if he keeps up the way he’s playing, he’ll be continuing to climb up that Flames points ladder.
Whatever he’s doing, let’s hope he doesn’t stop (please).
HONORABLE MENTION
Dec 4, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) celebrates his goal in front of fans during the first period against the Anaheim Ducks at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Johnny Gaudreau
I wanted to add Mr. Johnny Gaudreau as third or second star, but there were other things I needed to talk about. You know how great that is as a fan? Having too many players/good things happening in the week that you can’t narrow down just three. Last week, I was having trouble even finding three.
The story with Johnny Hockey is also a bit of a whirlwind. After signing a big contract literally two days before the season started, he didn’t quite live up to the big expectations everybody had for him.
He did start to get his groove back around early November. But of course, just when he was on a roll, a few days later, Johnny Hockey gets a fractured finger and would be out six weeks.
Or would he?
After getting injured on November 15th, Calgary Flames management reported he would be out six weeks. Well, a couple weeks later and they said it’s looking more like four weeks. But Johnny had other plans in mind and decided he was going to play not even three weeks later. With some extra protection on his glove, he made his way onto the Flames lineup on November fourth against the Anaheim Ducks. He opened up the scoring just two minutes into the game and it seems like he didn’t miss a single beat.
He finished the night with one goal, one assist, and four shots. I will say one of the Flames goal that was a power-play goal, he was on the ice for and he did contribute to make that goal, however he didn’t get an assist for that. He also was just third on the team out of forwards for ice-time. Main reason having to be that he was double shifting a little bit when Micheal Ferland left the game early.
This guy really didn’t miss a beat at all and he deserves an honorable mention.
Well, those are the three/four stars of the week according to Flame for Thought. If you had to pick an extra player, who would it be?
This whole week really was one of the Flames best weeks and let’s hope they keep this up. We all know how good December treated them last year. Let’s hope they can repeat it and go into the New Year in a comfortable spot.
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