[GDT] Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers / 7:00 PM / SN1 / SN960 / Scotiabank Saddledome

[SuperMatt18]

I would love to see a big clean hit on McDavid - just to see that entire organization and city lose their minds.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

What a stupid column, and the day and age of gooning things up is over.

But basically if the Oilers start being rambunction, or going after Tkachuk, I would tell a Lucic that if they don't knock it off, I'm coming at McDavid with my elbow at eyeball level.

The oilers can't afford the escalation. I would love to see the oilers try to do a Hartley and start those slowfooted cement heads on the ice, it would be a quick 1-0 lead.

My biggest fear when Edmonton signed Lucic was he beating up our guys handily. The only good thing out of Wednesday was Engelland eliminating that fear. He had no issue with Lucic.

[PepsiFree]

Big, clean, no injury but puts a little bit of the fear of God into him.

Tkachuk would be the ideal candidate, not because of his ability to throw big hits, but because of the heightened rage it would induce.

It might almost instantly re-ignite the battle of Alberta.

[FlatLandFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

My biggest fear when Edmonton signed Lucic was he beating up our guys handily. The only good thing out of Wednesday was Engelland eliminating that fear. He had no issue with Lucic.

I was chuckling after he pushed McSaviour into the boards he looked up at Lucic and kinda gave him the "well lets go " look
and then held his own with a bull of a man.

[Toonage]

Tonight, at the very least, please no Kassian dekes for goals.

[McG]

personally I don't care about "the battle of alberta" unless that refers to the flames beating down the greasers. I don't want competitive, I don't want close, I don't want edgy or exciting. I want the Flames to beat the Oilies large every single time.

Tonight would be a good place to start.

I'll have the remote firmly programmed for the end of the Jays game and the start of the Flames.

5-1 Flames; Tkachuk, Brouwer, Giordano, Bennett, Monahan

1 shortie, 1 pp, 1 EN, 1 @ 5v5, 1 @ 6v6.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by FlatLandFlamesFan

I was chuckling after he pushed McSaviour into the boards he looked up at Lucic and kinda gave him the "well lets go " look
and then held his own with a bull of a man.

It's why I don't get the Engelland hate that happens on this board.

He's a bit overpaid but I would rather have his toughness on the roster as our 6th d-man than waste a forward spot on Bollig.

Would have no issues bringing him back next year at a reduced cap hit.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by McG

personally I don't care about "the battle of alberta" unless that refers to the flames beating down the greasers. I don't want competitive, I don't want close, I don't want edgy or exciting. I want the Flames to beat the Oilies large every single time.

Tonight would be a good place to start.

I'll have the remote firmly programmed for the end of the Jays game and the start of the Flames.

5-1 Flames; Tkachuk, Brouwer, Giordano, Bennett, Monahan

1 shortie, 1 pp, 1 EN, 1 @ 5v5, 1 @ 6v6.

Same here. There is this constant longing in Alberta for this rivalry to be great and amazing. I don't really care. Crush them beneath the heels of our boots. Forever.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

He's a bit overpaid

A bit?

Sorry but if, after announcing the three year deal, Bob McKenzie has to clarify that the number he quoted was the AAV and not the total value then you're more then "a bit" overpaid.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It's why I don't get the Engelland hate that happens on this board.

He's a bit overpaid but I would rather have his toughness on the roster as our 6th d-man than waste a forward spot on Bollig.

Would have no issues bringing him back next year at a reduced cap hit.

As one of ENgelland's biggest detractors, even I will say he is a decent depth defenseman and way better than a Bollig who barely belongs in the AHL.

The problem is when people outright lie to pump him up as a staple to a good top 6.

That he's strong defensively (he's not, and wasn't in Pittsburgh/Bylsma's system either)

That he's a great penalty killer (he's not. The other night we barely dodged another goal against where Engelland was laid out on the ice doing who-knows-what instead of clearing the crease like people think he does.. that's just a microcosm of what he has done on the PK since he got here and if you look into the records there is no evidence that he is a good penalty killer, whereas the records are very kind to little Kris Russell on the PK)

That he "stepped up" when paired with Brodie in a top 4 role (he didn't, Brodie stepped up and even then couldn't stay above water)

That he is needed to hang with skilled big teams like Anaheim (he isn't, because those teams salivate at the chance to play him)

That he fills the shut down Dman void left by Regehr (he doesn't, nope.)

He is what he is, a #7D who does have a nice wrist shot and can play #6 bottom pair without being a glaring liability IF he has a strong skating puck moving #5 partner to carry him.

Anything more and he is in over his head, and yet the Flames continue to play him in over his head in ways that hurt the team. Top Four. Paired with slow, right-hand shooting Wideman. Possibly but hopefully not both tonight.

These kind of scenarios just to keep Engelland in your top six are ripe to blow up in your face. What he does bring is not enough if he's not being played in a manner that shelters him adequately. Simply put between Brodie, Hamilton, and Wideman, he is the fourth best right side D on this team and that means he should be in the press box until there is an injury.

If there is a fit for him, fine, let him be your #6. But if he is the odd man out then he is the odd man out, it's not the end of the world if he has to sit in the press box.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by Parallex

A bit?

Sorry but if, after announcing the three year deal, Bob McKenzie has to clarify that the number he quoted was the AAV and not the total value then you're more then "a bit" overpaid.

Since then he has proven to be worth more than what we thought we were getting at the time. I think he's about $1m overpaid but it's not the end of the world. I know lots of people aren't a fan of his but I think he provides a combination of competence and physical edge that would otherwise be missing. He's fine for a 6th D but I am happy his contract is expiring this year, though I would take him back for 2 x 1.5m or 1 x 1.75m.

The wtf moment for me was the adding of Grossman. We don't need two guys like that in the 6/7 role, not to mention Engelland is better anyway.

[Enoch Root]

Engelland is a great #6 - he just needs to be paid as such. I would be happy to see him re-signed, but it needs to be at $2M per, or less.

[McG]

I like that Engelland will stand up to Lucic etc; much better than wasting a Giordano or someone like that on a scrum. it is a good tradeoff for me. we can't have lucic (slowly) skating around challenging everyone just because someone checked mcgoldenboy.

The fact that he can play at a certain level is good; the right value for AAV is what I think people are asking about.

[Weitz]

I would expect a better game from Gio as he looked pretty bad on Wednesday.

I think this will be a better played game and be lower scoring for sure. Both goalies bounce back.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I would expect a better game from Gio as he looked pretty bad on Wednesday.

I think this will be a better played game and be lower scoring for sure. Both goalies bounce back.

Well he was paired with Wideman last game and Brodie this game. I think we'll see 2 different Giordanos.

[The Professor]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

As one of ENgelland's biggest detractors, even I will say he is a decent depth defenseman and way better than a Bollig who barely belongs in the AHL.

The problem is when people outright lie to pump him up as a staple to a good top 6.

That he's strong defensively (he's not, and wasn't in Pittsburgh/Bylsma's system either)

That he's a great penalty killer (he's not. The other night we barely dodged another goal against where Engelland was laid out on the ice doing who-knows-what instead of clearing the crease like people think he does.. that's just a microcosm of what he has done on the PK since he got here and if you look into the records there is no evidence that he is a good penalty killer, whereas the records are very kind to little Kris Russell on the PK)

That he "stepped up" when paired with Brodie in a top 4 role (he didn't, Brodie stepped up and even then couldn't stay above water)

That he is needed to hang with skilled big teams like Anaheim (he isn't, because those teams salivate at the chance to play him)

That he fills the shut down Dman void left by Regehr (he doesn't, nope.)

He is what he is, a #7D who does have a nice wrist shot and can play #6 bottom pair without being a glaring liability IF he has a strong skating puck moving #5 partner to carry him.

Anything more and he is in over his head, and yet the Flames continue to play him in over his head in ways that hurt the team. Top Four. Paired with slow, right-hand shooting Wideman. Possibly but hopefully not both tonight.

These kind of scenarios just to keep Engelland in your top six are ripe to blow up in your face. What he does bring is not enough if he's not being played in a manner that shelters him adequately. Simply put between Brodie, Hamilton, and Wideman, he is the fourth best right side D on this team and that means he should be in the press box until there is an injury.

If there is a fit for him, fine, let him be your #6. But if he is the odd man out then he is the odd man out, it's not the end of the world if he has to sit in the press box.

You spend a lot of time thinking about Engelland.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Fischy13

Reading about Corey Perry last night and the little prick he is, anyone think Tkachuk could be as talented and we have the next Perry on our hands?

I certainly hope so

[MarkGio]

Would've like to have seen Kulak in tonight based on the Oilers speed.

If the Flames lose this one, I could see the Oilers finishing ahead of the Flames this season

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Would've like to have seen Kulak in tonight based on the Oilers speed.

If the Flames lose this one, I could see the Oilers finishing ahead of the Flames this season

You put a lot of emphasis on two games. It's 2.4% of the season, nothing can possibly be decided at this point.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Will GG match up Monahan against McDavid when he has the last change? Would think that he would be trying to get Backlund's line out against McDavid.

Originally Posted by automaton 3

Flames have an excellent defensive duo in Backlund-Frolik, not sure why you wouldn't use them against McDavid at every opportunity.

Definitely. Backlund is so underrated as a defensive forward. If the Selke trophy didn't evolve into a "a good defensive forward that also has at least 50 points" from "best defensive forward period," he'd be a candidate. Also, his line created the most offense last game so having him and Frolik out there with increased minutes to cover McDavid shouldn't adversely affect the offense.

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Yeah, but we're also assuming that Wideman and Engelland are the third pairing. Wait until Gulutzan plays Wideman for 25 minutes again.

I think the only reason Wideman got that many minutes is due to the wacky D lines. I'd expect a more normal 26:00 for pairing one, 21:00 for pairing two and 13:00 for pairing three (adjusted for PK/PP times). Hopefully anyways.