[Game Takes] Oilers 2 Flames 1

[Bingo]

Oilers 2 Flames 1

- Flames dominate all night but can't solve Skinner
- McDavid scores on a powerplay goal for the game winner
- Markstrom solid in the Flames nets
- Woodcroft with more comments after the game

[Cheese]

All I see from the Oil is a team that sits back and hangs on waiting for the power-play opportunity. Unfortunately for the Flames, they are just snake-bitten trying to score goals at all. Not sure what will turn this team around.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Cheese

All I see from the Oil is a team that sits back and hangs on waiting for the power-play opportunity. Unfortunately for the Flames, they are just snake-bitten trying to score goals at all. Not sure what will turn this team around.

One or two new forwards. The current group isn’t going to do it on their own. They’ve tried everything they can and it’s not happening. Maybe for a game here and there. But not consistently enough to win 4 playoff series against top teams.

They probably can’t afford those players with their current cap structure.

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by Goriders

One or two new forwards. The current group isn’t going to do it on their own. They’ve tried everything they can and it’s not happening. Maybe for a game here and there. But not consistently enough to win 4 playoff series against top teams.

They probably can’t afford those players with their current cap structure.

So many close losses, OT/SO losses, just shows your point about 1 or 2 new forwards is painfully accurate... how many of those OTL or one goal losses would be wins with one more solid forward, i know easier said than done with the salary, Milano hurts ( although no guarantee how he would do here) but would have been a cheap option. phillips of course...

[Erick Estrada]

Woodcroft is an interesting coach. I think he disrespects the Flames on purpose to keep the Oilers confidence level high when they meet. It's served them well as they have dominated the Flames. Also hard not to ignore his comments about the Flames shot volume as lots of goaltenders have good statistical nights facing the Flames.

Overall I thought it was a good hockey game and the Flames simply have too many undisciplined players as Mangiapane's penalty in the 3rd period was as brain dead a penalty as you will ever see in a close game like this. It really seems like some of the Flames players are oblivious to what's a penalty in today's NHL or just lack hockey smarts.

[Naitix]

If you did not like that game from Huberdeau, you won't like any game from him. I thought he was phenomenal, multiple amazing passes including a couple empty net set ups that team keeps failing to capitalize one, lead the team in takeaways and was relentless on the puck. You need to look at the bigger picture, some of you are too close minded. If Kadri and Toffoli would have scored from those passes, Hub would have had 2 assists, Flames win and everyone would be talking about how amazing he was. It is not his fault his teammates could not finish.

I am supper happy with the game, this teams biggest issues are getting Huberdeau, Weegar and Markstrom going, and all 3 had an amazing dominant game. I do not care that they did not win - look at the bigger picture.

I also thought Oilers were quite whatever, do not think that team will do any damage come playoff time. I have not looked up their 5v5 stats but I imagine they are quite bad right? How can you be barely in the playoffs while having the best powerplay % since they started tracking it. Relying on the pp for your scoring might be the worst playoff strategy

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Woodcroft is an interesting coach. I think he disrespects the Flames on purpose to keep the Oilers confidence level high when they meet. It's served them well as they have dominated the Flames. Also hard not to ignore his comments about the Flames shot volume as lots of goaltenders have good statistical nights facing the Flames.

Overall I thought it was a good hockey game and the Flames simply have too many undisciplined players as Mangiapane's penalty in the 3rd period was as brain dead a penalty as you will ever see in a close game like this. It really seems like some of the Flames players are oblivious to what's a penalty in today's NHL or just lack hockey smarts.

The Oilers statistically have been dominated by the Flames more than by another team they've faced this year.

They've just found a way to win 2 of the 3 games.

32nd spot for team's the Oilers have faced at 32.4% xGF

That's terrible.

Don't confuse dominated, with fortunate.

[Naitix]

Another point, I know we usually do not get many high danger chances and just put a volume of non-threatening shots on net but that really was not the case last night. We had plenty of chances to score and beat Oilers to pucks all night long. Oilers were completely flat 5v5 and I did not feel threatened by their offense all night long

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The Oilers statistically have been dominated by the Flames more than by another team they've faced this year.

They've just found a way to win 2 of the 3 games.

32nd spot for team's the Oilers have faced at 32.4% xGF

That's terrible.

Don't confuse dominated, with fortunate.

They beat the Flames easily in five games last spring and won the season series this season. Sure seems like domination to me. I live in a world where win/loss > xGF. You don't so we will agree to disagree here. There's no luck involved here as the Oilers are simply very confident against the Flames and it shows in the final scores.

[Strange Brew]

This game was very different than the playoff series. IMO this was a clinic on how to beat the Oilers. The Flames just couldn’t get it done.

Now maybe they don’t have the finishers, that’s another question. But that is exactly how you play the Oilers.

[Yikes]

Originally Posted by Naitix

If you did not like that game from Huberdeau, you won't like any game from him. I thought he was phenomenal, multiple amazing passes including a couple empty net set ups that team keeps failing to capitalize one, lead the team in takeaways and was relentless on the puck. You need to look at the bigger picture, some of you are too close minded. If Kadri and Toffoli would have scored from those passes, Hub would have had 2 assists, Flames win and everyone would be talking about how amazing he was. It is not his fault his teammates could not finish.

I am supper happy with the game, this teams biggest issues are getting Huberdeau, Weegar and Markstrom going, and all 3 had an amazing dominant game. I do not care that they did not win - look at the bigger picture.

I also thought Oilers were quite whatever, do not think that team will do any damage come playoff time. I have not looked up their 5v5 stats but I imagine they are quite bad right? How can you be barely in the playoffs while having the best powerplay % since they started tracking it. Relying on the pp for your scoring might be the worst playoff strategy

100%, I don't know what the possession numbers were but I felt the Flames dominated the game. Huberdeau could have had 4 assists, Weeger....more please! Oilers were lucky last night, I don't really care that the Flames lost, other than bad penalties I liked the game they played...EVEN MARKSTROM was on point. Keep it up, sit Mange for a few, look for the winger that #10 needs.

[Burning Beard]

The scoring will come I think. The games are changing already and the Flames are built to win when the whistles go away and games tighten up. Also the puck luck has to come around. How many posts have there been lately. Then Connor McButtcrack puts one off the post and in. Very frustrating.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

They beat the Flames easily in five games last spring and won the season series this season. Sure seems like domination to me. I live in a world where win/loss > xGF. You don't so we will agree to disagree here. There's no luck involved here as the Oilers are simply very confident against the Flames and it shows in the final scores.

Well if you want to talk about last year's playoffs talk about them.

If you want to walk into a game story from last night and say the Oilers dominated you're going to get pushed back.

I live in a world where actual stats can now be looked up to refute people who make conclusions for impact.

Confident teams don't spend the entire night in their own zone in a fire drill.

And save me the platitudes about wins and losses. We are all aware how the standings and season series work. Wanting to dig into the how and why and how much doesn't mean I'm oblivious to team's records.

A season series loss to the Oilers where the Flames give up more than they give up against other teams speaks to a systemic issue that needs to be fixed. The opposite points to a team that just got the results and didn't deserve them.

[Enoch Root]

Yeah, the Flames have played the Oilers well all season, and last night was the best by far. The Oilers have gotten the breaks so far, but suggesting they are dominating the Flames is really missing the mark, IMO. If the Flames keep playing like that, the Ws will come.

Some numbers from the 3 contests this year:

Record: 2-1 Oilers
Goals scored: 8-7 Oilers
Power plays: 11-8 Oilers
Power play goals: 3-1 Oilers
Even strength goals: 5-5
Short handed goals: 1-0 Flames
Shots: 131 - 77

The Flames outshot the Oilers by 54 shots over the 3 games and yet the Oilers got 3 more power plays.

And the difference in the series was that they outscored the Flames 3-2 on special teams (due, in part, to getting more PPs).

Suggesting they have been 'dominating us' is pretty silly.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Naitix

Another point, I know we usually do not get many high danger chances and just put a volume of non-threatening shots on net but that really was not the case last night. We had plenty of chances to score and beat Oilers to pucks all night long. Oilers were completely flat 5v5 and I did not feel threatened by their offense all night long

They had a few looks on the PP, but how many real scoring chances did the Oilers have 5 on 5? Other than the goal (which was a 60 ft shot), maybe a couple others?

The Flames had 15 or 20 really good looks. I think their biggest problem (other than the misfortune of the 2 posts), was missing the net on at least half a dozen glorious chances.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

They beat the Flames easily in five games last spring and won the season series this season. Sure seems like domination to me. I live in a world where win/loss > xGF. You don't so we will agree to disagree here. There's no luck involved here as the Oilers are simply very confident against the Flames and it shows in the final scores.

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

This game was very different than the playoff series. IMO this was a clinic on how to beat the Oilers. The Flames just couldn’t get it done.

Now maybe they don’t have the finishers, that’s another question. But that is exactly how you play the Oilers.

Yeah, the games this year have been nothing like the playoffs. The Flames have adjusted their game and are completely shutting the Oilers down, 5 on 5.

I hope the Oilers feel they can keep playing like that, because if they do, the wins will start going the other way.