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Just about every question has been asked about the Flames this season and their play. It was then magnified ten-fold when Mark Giordano was injured. They might have an insane 10.9% shooting percentage in the third (at ES) in that stretch and they might be 41.8% CF at ES too. But they're opportunistic and taking advantage of it while they can.
I calculated those SC wrong. Backlund + Hudler + Gaudreau + Monahan account for 35.75% of the Flames scoring chances since Gio's injury.
— Mike FAIL (@mikeFAIL) March 20, 2015
One of the more fascinating micro-stats available is scoring chances. They're logged in game data much like everything so we can find ways to examine them in similar ways to possession stats. That said, this isn't measuring the players who are setting up the scoring chances yet. Once more data becomes available on that facet of the play we can get a real gauge for who are successful at setting up scoring chances consistently.
Flames Scoring Chances - ES (Unadjusted) since February 28th
Quick clarification: iSC% of team - Hudler's 20 iSC (individual scoring chances are 11.173% of the total scoring chances in this nine game stretch)
SCF% Rel - Scoring chances for relative to team. SCF% - Scoring chances for % while on ice. SCF% Off - scoring chances for while off the ice. SC+/- - the differential of scoring chances for/against. Positive = good, negative = more chances against a player. SCF - Count of actual scoring chances for a player while on ice. SCA - scoring chances against a player while on ice. SCF60/SCA60/SCP60 - projecting the chances for, against, and total per 60 minutes played. iSC - Individual scoring chances.
- No surprises you see Jiri Hudler at the tops of the team. The veteran forward has taken his game to the next level this season and has consistently been one of the top forwards on the team.
- Mikael Backlund who I'll write praise about until my fingers are raw and bloody closely trails Hudler in individual scoring chances. Keep in mind his performance and usage finds him in more defensive zone starts than the top line. He also has two linemates who aren't strong possession drivers.
- Linemates David Jones and Lance Bouma of the aforementioned Swedish god have been performing incredibly well thanks to the play of Backlund. It should be said that despite the Jones' giveaway to Getzlaf against the Ducks, he's played admirably. "Top Six Forward Lance Bouma" has found above-average success on the line too.
- Sean Monahan's play as a top six centre in his sophomore season has been nothing short of remarkable. He's being utilized in all ends of the ice but more so in an offensive role rather than his Backlundesque usage earlier this season.
- Johnny Gaudreau's pursuit of the Calder trophy is insanity at this point, Last night he secured the lead in rookie scoring and has definitely added to the discussion of whether or not he'll top Aaron Ekblad and Filip Forsberg for the best rookie this season. His ability to set up scoring chances that often lead to goals is arguably his finest ability on the ice.
Period | SCF | SCA | Differential |
1 | 62 | 75 | -13 |
2 | 63 | 83 | -20 |
3 | 54 | 76 | -22 |