Shootout woes lead to shakeup
Bob Hartley continues to try to solve the mystery behind the Calgary Flames shootout record.
Their latest experience — Monday’s 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild — predictably had the head coach answering questions about their struggles. Again.
“My philosophy goes with our record,” Hartley said. “If it’s not going to work, I’m not going to keep putting the same guys out.
“We need to change this trend. These are very important points that are sitting there.”
Already this year, the Flames have given up extra points three times in shootouts. That stat, in just 10 games, adds to a 3-9 mark from last year and — the bigger picture — the Flames haven’t fist-pumped for a shootout win since a 3-2 decision over the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 11, 2012.
So far, Hartley’s tapped eight different shooters to work their magic. Some have been the usual suspects (Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay) and others (grinder Blair Jones on Monday) have not. Tanguay (versus Vancouver) and Jiri Hudler (versus Minnesota) have been the only players who have been able to beat netminders in 11 overall shooting attempts. For everyone, confidence is clearly an issue.
“From the goaltending to the guys we put out there, we need to have a swagger,” Hartley said. “We need to believe that we can be the difference. It’s a one-on-one, you have centre stage. We need to find a way to get some goals, get some wins, get some confidence.
“Right now, I’m debating if I should play four forwards on four-on-four and just go all-out. It’s just not good. Not good at all.”
Mixing up lines
Against Minnesota, Hartley used more than a few different line combinations to generate some action. To start the game, he had Matt Stajan at centre with Alex Tanguay and Lee Stempniak. Then, at one point during the second period, he had captain Iginla with Jiri Hudler and Roman Cervenka at centre.
To start the third, Iginla was back with Tanguay at centre and Curtis Glencross. Hartley said, despite the result, he liked what he saw from the group at the end. “I felt, in the third period, when we put the veterans all together,” he said. “That’s their job. When things don’t go well, you need to take charge and I think they did.”
C-NOTES
Centre Ben Street, after his first two appearances in the NHL, is returning to Abbotsford. On his way up is Paul Byron, who has registered 15 points in 35 games ... Michael Cammalleri will play Wednesday against Dallas ... C Stajan did not practise Tuesday — “maintenance” — but he’ll suit up.