Jacob Markstrom shined in his Calgary Flames debut.
All eyes were on Jacob Markstrom as he took over the crease for the Calgary Flames on opening night. Louis Domingue would be the backup due to David Rittich needing to take care of a family issue. Unfortunately, Markstrom’s performance wasn’t enough to take home two points.
Flames Got Off To A Hot Start
Markstrom had it relatively easy to start. Matthew Tkachuk scored the first goal, less than five minutes in. Patrik Laine fired back about two minutes later. The goalie wouldn’t need to worry too much more that period as Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm provided some insurance.
The comfort would not last forever though. Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor scored in the second period to tie it up at three. It wasn’t necessarily that Markstrom couldn’t get it done. I believe it had to do with the Flames getting a little too confident and underestimating their opponent as a whole.
The Number game
Markstrom went 23-26 on even-strength goals and 7-8 on the power play. His save percentage after his first appearance dipped to a .882. It was the first game back in a competitive setting. The last time he played a true game was back in August in the Edmonton bubble.
Impressive Moves
One of the most impressive plays of the entire night was Markstrom in the third period. He managed to escape the crease, find his way back, and then make a gorgeous glove save.
.@markscheifele55 is all of us after that save by Jacob Markstrom. 😳#NHLonSN | #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/tARYAYVQ5L
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 15, 2021
Hockey fans are in midseason form with the overreactions. Even though it is a shortened season, there are still plenty of games to be played and points left on the table. The Flames did walk away with one point and that is positive.
The good thing about this is that it was only one game. The Calgary Flames play again on Saturday night against the Vancouver Cancuks. It will be a homecoming for Markstrom as well as half of the Flames roster. Kidding. Kidding.