[PGT] Oilers 7, Flames 4 -- Nadir

[bubbsy]

Meh, i've cooled with my initial reactions from last night.

It's one game, and this isn't new territory for the flames.... Remeber the 2010/2011 season, flames got rocked 4-0 against the oilers. Oilers were a lottery team that year finishing 33 points below the crappy flames.

Outside the flames doom and gloom, gotta give credit where credit is due. McDavid is a definite game breaker. Mathews, Eichel, Mackinnon, these other top pick Cs are great, they excel and are better at thing over other Cs and/or top players in the league (offensive vision, shooting, 2 way game, etc). The thing with McDavid, is he has something that no other player in the league has, or has had in the last decade or two.

- His short burst speed and breakaway speed is unparalleled.
- Add to that the hands to actually make plays at that top level speed, (ie. his hands are as fast as his skating, this ain't no M. Lombardi speed/skill)
- Then you have the drive to actually make use of those and almost always use that to go directly to the net

I just don't know how teams defend how he plays. I am actually really excited to tune in to watch some of the more defensively sound teams in the NHL play against him (Blues, chicago, kings, tampa,etc). You can't have your d playing back, as they give up the zone too easily, you can't be overly aggressive at the blue line as he'll blow past 90% of the leagues dmen. You hear all the time about not letting him get speed thru the neutral zone, and i'd love to see how a flat out trap deters him, but in the new NHL that method has proven quite ineffective for players who can carry the puck at great speed (ie. mcdavid's best 2 assets). Kid is nuts, just unreal. If he can stay healthy, he'll be up there with Gretzky/Lemiuex when all is said and done, he's that good in my opinion. I'll also take a shot at the oilers here... What would have happened if they didn't get mcdavid??? I seriously think the NHL saw the tire fire with no real direction, and with the big budget arena, if the team didnt' improve, economy going where it was, it could have become a really nasty issue going forward. I have my aluminum tin on for sure now, oilers getting mcdavid was no accident.

Anyways....
Outside of crappy goaltending, some questionable defensive pairings, and general sloppy play by both teams (especially the flames), what i saw yesterday was an uncontrollable player in mcdavid, that created scoring chances or powerplays at will. Other than that, the other oiler lines didn't do much (decent goaltending and they dont' even get on the scoreboard other than perhaps the kassian breakaway). Their d suffered similar brainfarts and giveaways, their goaltending was pretty suspect, their specialty teams need some definite work.

All in all, i expect a closer match up on friday, but i still see mcdavid rolling to a multipoint night.

I also hate ragging on the refs, i didn't like the penalty shot (i didnt' see a penalty on gaudreau on the same play mind you, it was just good defense leaning on a smaller player), and perhaps a missed call on gaudreau, but then there were missed calls on the flames also (pretty sure flames got away with a too many men penalty). Was it even? No, but it wasn't as brutal as some make it out to be, though hard to say given that the timing/result of the penalty shot changed the entire flow of the game (i know i'm contradicting myself a bit there, sorry am "typing out loud").

[Drak]

Game one, and just one game.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Firebot

My biggest issue by far from Gulutzan is not the Defense pairings. It's not the bad line matchup (he never once chose Backlund's line to play against McDavid).

It's the complete apathy shown from behind the bench when Gaudreau was mauled without a call, while McDavid was awarded a phantom penalty shot. Hartley would have taken a bench penalty for that, and you know what, you need to get some emotion going.

It's one game, but a lot of these issues seen last night should have been tinkered out of the lineup during preason instead of using the preseason to give tryouts to the likes of Higgins. The last game of the preseason should have been our full starting available lineup at the time.

We are playing 3 games in 4 nights with little time to adjust, and it's a long season, but as we saw last year, it can quickly be lost in the first few weeks.

So taking a penalty helps how exactly? A coach is fully capable of not taking a penalty and get the best out of his players.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Yes and as a matter of fact that was retroactively added to the CBA. There is a slight chance the whole team played like preseason crap but a good persecution complex will be far more fun to foster than any analysis of their play.

The refs were pretty bad last night. I'm not one to cry conspiracy, and I haven't thoroughly crunched the numbers, but it seems to me our PIM/game has gone up by a moderate amount since Wideman-gate. Coincidence?

[kevman]

Where are the advanced stats guys when you need them?

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Just have to ask yourself a few questions about Treliving to calm these worries down.

We know the man is a methodical tireless worker ... so he didn't hire a bad coach because he was too lazy to interview other people.

We know the man is process driven ... which means this wasn't a scan hockeydb and make a decision. We can probably assume (actually we've heard) that there was a pretty in depth process with systems and what ifs that helped them arrive at what they want behind the bench.

Burke doesn't know him, so that panic cycle can be skipped this time around. And even if he did we've seen enough hints lately that Treliving is going his way and not Burke's now.

So then what are we left with?

1. The process failed and they hired a dud
2. Treliving himself is a dud as he got the right guy with the wrong system.
3. It's one game

To add to this, we know a couple things they were looking for in a coach from the reasons they gave for canning Bob. Possession system, aggressive without puck... yes, we saw a bit of that. But the big one is the ability to make adjustments, and that to me is the biggest reason this team is Bob-less. He simply did not adapt last year. Assuming this is a thing that was high on their list of required coaching qualifications, we should see those adjustments. I get that there's a balance of learning a new system and abandoning it in its infancy because it didn't work. The D's gotta change though. Surely this much is obvious.

[automaton 3]

As others have mentioned - not a great start for a new coach.

Hartley's hard-line approach with the players apparently wore thin - but on the bench I thought he generally made good reads and the correct decisions. I thought that he out-coached the opposition on a regular basis in his time here.

I didn't see that last night. Lots of puzzling decisions. And his bench demeanor reminded me a bit of Jim Playfair (I don't understand what is happening).

Hopefully first game jitters for the coach. But a rough start.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

You do have to wonder if the Wideman issue with the referees is going to be a storyline all season.

Flames were one of the last penalized teams in the league last year. Won't be hard to see if that changes.

I have a very simple solution to this, don't play him. His play by itself has been a complete liability for a full year, let alone being public enemy #1 of every ref in the league.

Going to be a long season if this org insists on having three guys who should ideally be #7s, in the top 6 all year.

[hockey.modern]

I like this quote.

Wes Gilbertson @WesGilbertson:

"Sometimes I’ll say a few things people don’t want to hear, but somebody has to do it." On Troy Brouwer, already wearing 'A' in Calgary...

[Boxman]

After Treliving's reference to a "clunky" training camp, he seems to have expected this.

Some quotes from the interview:

It's been a clunky camp for me. ...our camp with Johnny not here... Sean skating on his own 3/4" of camp... Backlund gone and then injured... disjointed... still have flexibility... roster room, finalize rosters today... had to manage situation (with big signings)... Tweak team and the roster in the next short while..."

A different system means changes. Not the same as last year and the years before. If we have:

- Same D-lines
- Same activation of defensive players
- Same lack of possession
- Same breakouts

Then we have the same system as last year. No one wants the same as last year. I am concerned about getting players to buy in and the new coach. This is the most important aspect of the team game.

DISCLAIMER: The new system may include:

- New D-lines
- New forward lines
- New breakout strategy
- New players
- Different levels of defense involvement in the offence
- Losses and poor performance while the players learn and until everyone buys in

I am OK with all this. Because the old system sucked. Almost any set of team strategy will be better than that. I think that it takes the time and games that it takes, no one knows how long that will be.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Was it even? No, but it wasn't as brutal as some make it out to be, though hard to say given that the timing/result of the penalty shot changed the entire flow of the game (i know i'm contradicting myself a bit there, sorry am "typing out loud").

This. It was all to perfect. McDavid get's a phantom penalty shot in his first game in "his" new arena. That's not to excuse Elliot for looking terrible on that shot but that one call and result changed the entire flow of the game.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Firebot

My biggest issue by far from Gulutzan is not the Defense pairings. It's not the bad line matchup (he never once chose Backlund's line to play against McDavid).

It's the complete apathy shown from behind the bench when Gaudreau was mauled without a call, while McDavid was awarded a phantom penalty shot. Hartley would have taken a bench penalty for that, and you know what, you need to get some emotion going.

It's one game, but a lot of these issues seen last night should have been tinkered out of the lineup during preason instead of using the preseason to give tryouts to the likes of Higgins. The last game of the preseason should have been our full starting available lineup at the time.

We are playing 3 games in 4 nights with little time to adjust, and it's a long season, but as we saw last year, it can quickly be lost in the first few weeks.

Totally agree with this. There's been significant change in temperament behind the bench. Obvious way to early to judge it but it does seem a bit more casual. If the fire and passion isn't coming from behind the bench its got to come from the players. Gio might need to step up a bit more in being a vocal leader.

[automaton 3]

I get experimenting with new D-lines in the preseason.

Game 1 on the road seems like a pretty terrible idea though.

[Iniggywetrust]

Certainly some positives out of last night games.

Penalty kill looked good. Great pressure on the puck.
Backlund and Frolik looked good. Especially Backlund. Strong, fast, creative.
Engelland looked good as well. Not out of place in the top 4
Power play had some good looks and created plenty of chances

We have a new coach, new system, new players. It will take time to get it all together.

That still sucked though. Watching every gush about the oilers, and then have them put up a 7 spot on us. Good thing we get a chance to avenge on Friday, at the dome!

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

The thing with McDavid, is he has something that no other player in the league has, or has had in the last decade or two.

- His short burst speed and breakaway speed is unparalleled.

I don't know man.... Dennis Wideman almost caught him on a breakaway... Dennis freaking Wideman

[nik-]

If the new system has a good d-man always paired with an anchor, then it's not a good system.

Teams around the league have different skill levels in their pairings for a reason, and the reason isn't that no one has ever thought about pairing weak with good before.

[Reign of Fire]

I am a Jacksonville Jaguars fan and I'll tell you one thing, it sucks to have a coach that doesn't know how to utilize talent. I know its one game, but I question some of the coaching decisions already. Starting Grossman and splitting the D. But I am going to wait and see before any judgements are passed. I just hope Treliving found another Treliving (of coaches) and not a Gus Bradley.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Iniggywetrust

We have a new coach, new system, new players. It will take time to get it all together.

Coaching change is a big one. The minute Treliving decided to make that change, we should have realistically expected some growing pains. Hopefully they are short.

[Mattman]

One thing that bothered me last night was seeing the lines switched up half way through the game (i.e. Brouwer on the 1st line, Ferland with Bennett a couple times)

I mean I get we are losing the game by 2 goals, but moving players around and expecting them to produce and magically find a way to start playing better doesn't make sense to me. Like you had all of pre-season to figure this out and you kept the same lines rolling through pre-season.

Just another reason why I'm not sold on Gulutzan and the coaching staff.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I didn't see any issues with Wideman's game last night. I thought he was actually one of the few bright spots on the team. He saved what I thought was going to be a sure goal by Eberle by picking Eberle up and lifting his stick. Wideman played a fine game, and if he plays the rest of the season like that, Flames are going to be lucky to have him.

Grossman wasn't ALL bad - those two first turnovers directly leading to goals were not good. Sure, you can argue that someone should have been covering for him on the 2nd, but he made a terrible play with the puck. He seemed to just telegraph what he was going to do, and by the time he did it, the pass was dead. It looked like he got flustered at that moment trying to hard to make a play. However, that first turnover was atrocious, and I bet it threw Elliott off his game, and set the tone.

Anyways, I thought Russell looked really good for the Oilers. Still too expensive to have brought him back.

I didn't like how Gulutzan didn't change things up so much. Monahan's line was not working out well against McDavid's line, even though Monahan owned McDavid in the face-off dot. Backlund has better speed and defensive IQ - and Backlund + Frolik form a pretty difficult tandem to get away from. These guys should always be getting the tough minutes.

I hope Wideman keeps up his play like this. He was pretty steady. Loved the Engelland scrap with Lucic. I am sure Lucic barked at the Flames when it was obvious the Flames were going to focus on McDavid and be physical with him. Lucic wasn't much of a deterrent.

As for Grossman - if the Flames felt they needed some extra muscle, I sure hope they recall Bollig and keep him on the bench until the exact moment his presence is needed. Grossman is difficult to shelter out there. Way easier shelter a forward than it is a defencemen - and Bollig isn't horrible defensively anyways. Not that I am advocating in bringing Bollig back, but if muscle is what Gulutzan wanted, I would prefer they dress Bollig than Grossman.