[SuperMatt18]

I thought the game was promising.

Flames by far the better team at 5v5 and played with sound structure most of the night. Some bad bounces and a bad mistake by Tanev and Zadorov after we made it 3-2 was the difference.

Overall you could see why they brought in some of the depth players they did, as the seemed to fit the roles that Sutter wanted them to fill perfectly. It’s too bad that Coleman and Pitlick were out because they would have helped balance the top 9, and are meant to be big parts of the PK too.

Lots of complaints about our top forwards but they were all over 70% xGF at 5v5…the points will come if they keep that up.

Also outside of the Powerplay the Flames handled McDavid at 5v5. 29% xGF, 3 shots, and 1 high danger chance. He burned them on the PP and then an empty netter.

Biggest concern to me is the Zadorov-Tanev pair, who both really struggled at times tonight and were 25% xGF as a pair.

Also in 2:21 seconds with Kylington at 5v5 the team looked great, don’t understand what the coaches are seeing over the last 10 days that seemed to drop him out of favour.

Overall it felt like a typical Flames season opener on the road.