– Final Weeks In Numbers – February and March – 2010 Flames –
Of all the months in a long hockey season, the 2010 Flames played more games in February (12) than in any other month. Must have been a leap year. They played a few more games in March (3). Here are some thoughts from the Final Weeks In Numbers.
The 2010 Flames played their final 10 games on the road. This of course, included GSL Playoffs and Fed Playoffs. In those 10 games, the team was 7-2-1. That is an impressive way to finish the season.
As you might expect, at the end of the season and in the playoffs teams are generally playing their best hockey of the season. Spaces are tighter. Decision making has to happen at a much faster rate. Good structure or positioning is worth half a mile of skating. And the numbers reflect that as well. The Flames were held scoreless during the 3rd period in 5 of their last 7 Fed games. Lower scoring totals, for and against. Wins are much more difficult to come by.
- The 2010 Flames played 7 postseason games. 4 games in the GSL Playoffs, and 3 games in the Fed Playoffs.
- Over the 7 games, they had a record of 5-1-1. Pretty awesome!
- They outscored their opponents, 19-13 in the playoffs.
- They were outscored in 3rd period action, 7-5, but they won the 1st and 2nd periods, 7-3 in each.
On February 11th, the 2010 Flames dressed all 17 rostered players, and they all played together for the first time since October 22, 2023. Every player played 9 or more games in February.
Last night, I had a lengthy talk with a lifetime hockey player, who has also coached youth hockey and high school hockey for well over a decade and we were talking about team and player expectations. He said, “Everyone wants to be the goal scorer, and get on the scoresheet. But that’s not realistic. The sooner the players understand that there is a role for every one of them, the better for them and for the team. For some players, their role isn’t to be the goal scorer. It’s to be a good teammate, move the puck, support the others, and not allow goals. They all have roles, important roles”.
I remember a defenseman that I watched play for several years. He rarely scored a goal or even had an assist. But the team didn’t allow goals when he was on the ice. He played in the defensive end, unloaded a massive slap shot every once in awhile, and he was a huge part of the team every season.
Every single player has a role, an important one. There are no numbers to measure some of these things. But I will still give you a number for it. The number is one. One player. One team. One collective goal. All play for the one. And you can divide that however you want, but it’s always for the one. Or at least it should be. And that is the way that these 2010 Flames are a one team.
I have watched the 2010 Flames for five seasons now, and among my favorite things of all is their celebration of goals. I don’t need scripted garbage. Anyone can do that. Plus it’s all copycat anyways. But exuding pure joy, as if the completely miraculous and unexpected has happened, now that’s fun and refreshing. Even five years later. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)
February, 2024
- Total games played in February: 12.
- Overall record: 8-4-0.
- Home games in February: 4 (all 4 games at West Side Arena).
- Record at home: 1-3-0.
- FEb. record on the road: 7-1-0.
- Feb. Goals for: 33.
- Feb. Goals against: 23.
- Goals by period GF/GA: 1st – 10/6. 2nd – 12/8. 3rd – 11/9.
- Losses and Margin: 4 Losses, outscored by a 15-3 clip.
- Wins and Margin: 8 Wins. Outscored opponents, 30-8.
- PIM: 108 Minutes in Penalties, or 9.00 minutes per game.
- Goals scored per game: 2.75. Lowest full month average of the season.
- Goals allowed per game: 1.92. 2nd best month of the season.
- Assists per game: 3.92.
- Championships: 1 for 1. GSL Playoffs Champions!
Over a span of 30 days starting on Feb. 3rd through Mar. 3rd, 1inawesomewonder wrote up 26 hockey games. No one is quite sure why.
Countless hours of my life have been spent in the tracking of numbers while loving the sports and players that produce them.
You can find more 2010 Flames material in these pieces, here. 2010 Manchester Flames.
The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributors, mostly mine, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the schools, coaches, players, or characters listed in any of these blog posts. Or, maybe they do, but you would have to ask them directly.
Either way, “It’s a great day for hockey” ~ the late “Badger” Bob Johnson.
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