[PGT] Oilers 7, Flames 4 -- Nadir

[KootenayFlamesFan]

It's been said already but I am also baffled as to why once again the last game or two of the preseason isn't being used to put a full lineup together to get ready for the season. Money, Versteeg, JG I understand. But this team wasn't ready for Game 1. Again. Last night was a preseason game, but it wasn't supposed to be. Hoping to see more from everybody on Friday.

[SuperMatt18]

Giordano-Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Kulak - Engelland

I hope we see that Friday.

[FlamesAddiction]

E77iot was the different IMO. Let in too many soft goals. He has to be better than that or the season is already lost.

But it is worth mentioning that the team was scrambling a lot in the defensive end, but it is hard to say whether it was because they were rattled after letting in 2 goals on the first 2 shots, or if they really don't know what to do.

I also hope that we have more tricks up our sleeve to gain the offensive zone than just dump and chase or chip ins. Coaching needs to be more creative.

[the_only_turek_fan]

The Flames loss was as predictable as the meltdown on this board.

[Looch City]

I know it's just one game but I'm getting tired of watching this team #### the bed and look so amateur at the start of the season. What is it like 4th season in a row?

We need to be better prepared and that falls on the coaches.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

I know it's just one game but I'm getting tired of watching this team #### the bed and look so amateur at the start of the season. What is it like 4th season in a row?

We need to be better prepared and that falls on the coaches.

2-16-1-1 in the last 20 seasons to start the year. It's all Iginla's fault.

[Resolute 14]

Eh. Let the Oilers have their game 1 Stanley Cup. We all know this is their high point and that they won't be there come game 83.

We will get better, obviously. But a lot of mistakes and coaching decisions that can't happen. Need to fix that.

[BigT112]

Ugly? Yes. Frustrating? Yes. However, it's not the end of the world. It's one game. They will rebound.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

I know it's just one game but I'm getting tired of watching this team #### the bed and look so amateur at the start of the season. What is it like 4th season in a row?

We need to be better prepared and that falls on the coaches.

We have gone through some different coaches and it's still an issue. One game doesn't make for a bad start but if it's a bad start after 10 games, might be time to figure out why.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

2-16-1-1 in the last 20 seasons to start the year. It's all Iginla's fault.

When was the last time the Flames won a season opener?

I'm remember 2001 when Turek shut out the Oilers. Cant think of one since.

[flambers]

Positives,

Face-offs, Flames completely dominated
Penalty Killing, Flames were sharp

Items of concern

Defense had a difficult time with the Oilers speed.
Chemistry is still lacking,
Top players were very rusty.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Giordano-Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Kulak - Engelland

I hope we see that Friday.

Though I much prefer these over last nights lines, I do worry about the softness of that 2nd line.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

It's been said already but I am also baffled as to why once again the last game or two of the preseason isn't being used to put a full lineup together to get ready for the season. Money, Versteeg, JG I understand. But this team wasn't ready for Game 1. Again. Last night was a preseason game, but it wasn't supposed to be. Hoping to see more from everybody on Friday.

Yup I was thinking this the past few days as well. The entire 1st line sat out the pre-season, none of the D pairings have played together, and the goalies have each played about 100ish minutes in a Flame jersey. They kinda had it coming game 1.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

When was the last time the Flames won a season opener?

I'm remember 2001 when Turek shut out the Oilers. Cant think of one since.

2010 vs Van

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

It's been said already but I am also baffled as to why once again the last game or two of the preseason isn't being used to put a full lineup together to get ready for the season. Money, Versteeg, JG I understand. But this team wasn't ready for Game 1. Again. Last night was a preseason game, but it wasn't supposed to be. Hoping to see more from everybody on Friday.

It's pretty obvious that the Flames have not been making good use of the preseason the last few seasons and I kind of feel this is something maybe the GM has to step in and mandate to the coach that they need to get better preparation out of the preseason games for the starters. Lots of people saying they expected this loss (myself included) because they always lay an egg in the opener but I have to ask why is it allowed to continue? Why are they not trying measures to get the team out of the gates faster?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

I don't understand the hate for Grossmann. He played fine and he wasn't there only one making mistakes. We outplayed them for pretty much the whole game and came up short. Add in any other dmen, give us Crosby or Ovechkin, bring in Scotty Bowman, that won't help bad officiating and especially a goalie with a save percentage under .800. We had tons of chances and scored 4 goals. Most times than not 4 goals wins games.

You are like the 2nd or 3rd poster to state this while ignoring the fact his turnovers were directly responsible for the first two Oilers goals. Just over a minute into the game his first turnover set the tone for a bad night and it was a turnover that simply can't happen in any level of junior or professional hockey as it's the first thing they teach defensemen to never throw the puck up the middle of the ice from deep in your own end. Two bad giveaways leading to goals is a lot of damage for only 11 minutes ice time and I don't hate the guy but he was garbage last night end of story.

[habernac]

If the Gaudreau hook is called and the McDavid penalty shot doesn't happen, this would have been an interesting finish.

Elliott with a tough start, hope it was opening night jitters. Looked like a team that wasn't prepared.

Burn the game tape, onto the next one.

[AltaGuy]

I continue to be very angry at the D pairings. I feel as though we threw away points against the Oilers that were there for the taking.

Brodie and Giordano as a pairing is the most dominant force we have on our team - when they are on the ice the flow all goes the other way. Play them 30 minutes last night as a "warmup" for them, and I bet we win the game easily.

If Gulutzan wants to move away from that strength, I'm ok with it, but do it gradually and don't throw points away against our rivals. Just baffling to watch all three pairings struggle when we know we could have had one that would dominate half the game.

[Wood]

Backlund is an elite penalty killer. Him and Frolik are great

I thought Wideman was our best Defenseman last night. All 6 need to be way better, but outside of being targeted by the refs Wideman played solid and at least contributed

Nothing else positive. They need to be so much better

[Flames_F.T.W]

I understand that it's only the first game of the season, but I'm still frustrated.
1) How has it become a pre-requisite that we lose the first game EVERY year?
2) It's annoying that basically every poster on this forum had better D pairings than our coaching staff. I understand spreading out our best D over 3 pairings, but that also means spreading out our crappy D so that every pairing has a weak link. If nothing else, make adjustments once it's apparent things aren't working.