The Calgary Flames have placed one of the best top lines in hockey this season.
But – funny story – they were just a backup plan.
Were it not for the many pre-season injuries, Johnny Godreau, Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk would not have started as Flams’ first line. The whole tan of Calgary’s attack – hell, the whole Flames season – can unfold in different ways.
And what a season the Flames would miss. Calgary was among the NHL’s elite teams, winning 50-21-11 to win the Pacific Division for only the second time since 2005-06. This prepares the Flames for a series of playoffs in the first round against Dallas, which is currently 1-1 in match 3 on Saturday night.
Of course, Calgary’s success was not just because of his first unit. But some things just have to be. Lindholm’s line had spent a short time together at the end of last season; even then it was clear how good they could be. But it wasn’t until coach Daryl Sutter’s capabilities were limited that he reunited the trio and they stormed the NHL.
“We knew right away it was a good line,” Lindholm told ESPN recently. “Those few games from last season felt pretty good. When we started this year, we immediately had good chemistry and have been around ever since. Honestly for me, this is a two-player game with world-class skills and it’s a lot of fun. I don’t have the same skills as them, but I try to contribute other things and I try to give them the puck as much as possible and they will do their magic. “
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This is the essence of what makes these three so special, the ability to complement, elevate and celebrate the unique talent of the other, as it fits into the dynamics of the group. The late Steve Jobs said that the best teammates polish each other like stones. No wonder Calgary’s big threes were so bright.
In Lindholm, their line has a capable conductor, leading with authority and exemplary two-sided play. Tkachuk is a drumbeat, relentless in his chases with puck and finishing mastery to match. And Godreau is emerging as a virtuoso, so quick on his feet and masterful in creating – and profiting from – goal chances.
It just works. Because for all their differences, these teammates see the game the same way. And this is what Tkachuk defines as true chemistry.
“It’s definitely 1000%,” he said. “We all think the game is very similar and that’s why it’s fun to play with them. We just want the puck at all times. We stand close together to do these little hands, and whenever the puck is turned, the other boys are very confident that another one of us will come into play. We are already thinking about an attack as soon as we get the puck and whoever has it plays with it. We do little things to support each other and the teams seem to have a hard time with us. “
Calgary is betting that this trend will continue.
Inside the numbers
How exactly did the best Flames team perform against the competition this season? Let’s say they dominate:
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First overall among all NHL lines in goals 5 to 5, first in expected goals 5 to 5 and chances to score 5 in 5.
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They scored 5 goals more than 5 (69) than any other regular line combination. They also generated the most chances to score 5 against 5 (284).
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The highest 5-on-5 odds created by another regular line were 207 (matched by Joe Paulski of Dallas, Rup Hinz and Jason Robertson).
This shows what the top line of Flames did as a unit. Then there were individual achievements.
Only 17 NHL players have reached the 40-goal mark this season. Lindholm, Tkachuk and Godro were three of them. He had high career results in 82 games:
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Godro withdrew with 40 goals and 115 points.
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Lindholm scored 42 goals and 82 points.
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And Tkachuk, who has never scored more than 77 points per season, broke his previous best with 42 goals and 104 points.
The flames had something to celebrate this season. Derek Leung / Getty Images
It was such a season for Tkachuk. Even he cannot fully explain why and how it happens. But he is sure that these allies were a factor.
“Honestly, I think [the puck is] I just get in more than normal, “he laughed.” I feel like I’m at least thinking the same way and preparing for every game the same way, and then when our line feels so comfortable, it’s easier. But I do not feel that I have prepared differently. I even play a lot like what I played before, but this time I’m just trying to take advantage of the opportunity we have. “
Positive statistics are a nice advantage. They are simply not what drives Tkachuk or his teammates. Tkachuk has always been proud of his physical play and has not allowed this element to fade, even when he has become a more aggressive threat. And while Calgary’s excellent season may not attract the same attention as, say, Toronto or New York, Tkachuk is also not sweating from the lack of spotlight.
“We may care less whether we are underestimated or not,” Tkachuk said. “Although I think Johnny and Lindy are still two very underrated players in this league. The important thing is that we are a very difficult team to play. We are physical and I think for our line we have to lead the way. We know that Johnny will not go there and crush the boys, neither me nor even Lindy, but as long as we play hard and lead with the puck, then we will play well. If you come here to play against us, you will get a full 60 minutes of hard work and play. “
Straight from Suther’s lips – um, Tkachuk’s – to the ears of the rest of the playoffs.
How did they get here
Like their skill sets, the journey of all the Flames warmers was completely different.
Godro was the first, but hardly the most announced song he had to release. Drawn a total of 104 by Calgary in 2011, Godreau then spent three exceptional seasons at Boston College. On the same day (April 11, 2014), when Godreau won the Hobby Baker Award as the best hockey player in the NCAA, he signed an entry-level contract to join the Flames. His debut in the NHL came in Calgary’s last game of the 2013-14 campaign. Godrot hasn’t looked back since.
Tkachuk was next, as a highly valued sixth overall pick for the Flames in 2016. He entered this draft with all the weight and expectation of eventually becoming a true NHL star, and Tkachuk immediately signed with Calgary to begin. He has joined the Flames list to start the 2016-17 season and is constantly approaching reaching these high initial predictions.
Finally, Lindholm landed with Calgary on the day of a different draft. Carolina’s fifth overall pick in 2013, Lindholm spent four seasons with the Hurricanes before being changed to Calgary on Draft Day 2018 with Noah Hanifin, Dougie Hamilton, Michael Fairland and prospect Adam Fox returning. in Carolina. Lindholm quickly took a niche for himself in the top six of the Flames. He was under the radar of an associate who had a long overdue break this season.
Matthew Tkachuk had high hopes right from the door after being selected sixth overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. Jeff Vinnick / NHLI via Getty Images
Initially, Lindholm had Godreau as a frequent companion. It was then Tkachuk, stapled to his wing. Tkachuk and Godro have never played together regularly in a 5-on-5 before this season. Of course, it made sense to spread that amount of talent in the Flames until it became clear that they were the strongest when they were lined up.
“When we’re on the ice, he’s just there; it just clicks, ”Lindholm said. “I think we’re all pretty calm and when we get to the rink, it’s all about winning games and having fun. When you have a good year, you don’t think much outside. You just make plays and you feel like you’re making the right decisions all the time. It’s fun to play with these two and see the success they achieve. “
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The game itself was also more enjoyable this time. Calgary had disappointing results in the pandemic NHL 2020-21 campaign, finishing fifth in the Northern Division and missing the playoffs altogether.
It was a difficult pill to swallow, and none of the Big Three of the Flames wanted to be reconsidered — or repeated. The opportunity to start new ones this season was not taken lightly, knowing that more time and experience would only make their group stronger.
“I like to play with one line and I try to keep it as consistent as possible so you can create chemistry together,” Godro said. “Then you know where you are on the ice, you learn from each other. As each game goes on, you learn things about the other two players and try to put it all together and make your line successful, and when you do this game in games and practice all year, you just keep getting better and better. as a line. “
It is true that knowledge is the key to any good relationship. But there is another cliché in hockey circles, which also applies to the individual game of each experienced player, something he must accept in order to achieve a season in his career.
And Toronto Maple Leafs defender Mark Giordano saw that he was coming a mile.
“Really hard to stand up”
For 14 seasons, Giordano was the frontman of the Flames. He took over the captaincy of the team. He won the Norris trophy. And before being selected by the Seattle Kraken in the enlargement draft last summer, he watched as Gaudro, Tkachuk and Lindholm came to Calgary in search of the best version of themselves.
Now they seem to have discovered it, in part because of a significant change.
“They are learning how to play defensively much better than their first few years. That’s the honest answer,” Giordano said of how the trio has grown. “This is the biggest difference I see this year from everyone …
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