[GDT] BOA Round 1 7:00pm MT SNW and Fan960

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

They're not way better defensively, last year they had a 3.34 gpa this year they have a 3.10 fpg average. that's 9 gaa in 40 games difference. This is more because the Oilers had a hot start goaltending wise then any better defensive play. In fact when you watch them play, I'd argue that the crucial "This guy scored" stat is up thanks to their top line and their I don't give a crap defensive scheme.

Five on five through 40 games their xGA/60 this season is 2.36

Last year through 40 games their xGA/60 was 2.38

Just better goaltending as you said.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I've always thought there are those that are optimistic that see themselves as realistic, just as there are those that are pessimistic that see themselves as realistic.

Truthfully neither side owns "realistic", and they likely have a bias.

Both groups an important part of a discussion group because they keep the center established.

I honestly have a tough time shooting down either side the way the season has gone to date. This is a frustrating team to watch at times, so you never really know what you're going to get. Luckily they are playing a team that has gone more Hyde then Jekyll of late.

When you say “of late”, did you mean “the last decade”?

They’ve been extremely consistent once December rolls around.

[calumniate]

Spector coming up on hockey central

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm not overly excited about this one. I feel the Flames are a good matchup for the Oilers as they bleed high quality scoring chances and take a lot of minor penalties which plays into their lone strength.

Agreed. With how the Flames play, and how explosive McDavid and Drai are together, this has another disappointing loss written over it.

You also never know which Flames team you're gonna get. Too much jekyll and hyde to be confident they should win this winnable matchup.

[ReinhartonD]

A couple of days off for the holidays, likely with travel involved, won't recharge the only two good forwards on that team enough to overcome the fact they've been hitting the wall for the last couple of weeks. Tippett, like every other coach that is pulled into that vortex of suck, is flip-flopping between trying to have two lines and just putting them together. Last few games they've been mostly separated, except on the PP, and I think that works in our favour since our D is deep enough to handle two lines with only one threat on each.

Koskinen has looked shaky recently and his numbers are coming back to what most expect of him. Smith has been .850ish terribad, so they're also overplaying Koskinen right now as well. This version of the coil has better D than recent years, but it's still not that good. I'm glad it's in their barn as they will face more pressure when things go badly for them; as others have mentioned, Flames just need to avoid penalties. You can't look at the direction each team has been going in the past month and not feel good about the Flames' chances tonight--should be fun.

[direwolf]

Man, if we lose to that dumpster fire of a team, that would be rock bottom IMO.

Please, for the love of all that is holy...just win this game.

[ForeverFlameFan]

May the current crappiest team lose.

Alberta has been hot garbage as of late.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

If Tippett wants to win, he’ll give Koskinen the start. What will be interesting is if Mike Pouty Smith will complain because he won’t play his old team...

Flames win 8-3. Neal with the hat trick.

Smith will be chomping at the bit to start against his former team but given how terrible he's been of late the coach will have to make the tough decision of pleasing his guy or starting the goaltender that gives him a better chance of winning. I have to think the win is more important to them so I would think that Koskinen will get the start.

[Toonage]

^ Koskinen confirmed this morning

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/starting-goalies/

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Toonage

^ Koskinen confirmed this morning

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/starting-goalies/

Crap. Smith in net would be the Flames best chance of winning. They are going to have to be opportunistic for a change to win this one.

[Toonage]

Watching Smith get shelled would have been cathartic.

[TheIronMaiden]

The Flames key to winning will be staying clear away from penalty trouble.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

The Flames key to winning will be staying clear away from penalty trouble.

Big time, but expect to see the Oilyaz flying circus in full force.

[Toonage]

Lines today from Edmonton:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1210630363522850816

For the browser impaired:

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Gaudreau-Monahan-Backlund
Lucic-Ryan-Dube
Bennett-Jankowski-Frolik

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson

Rittich

[1_Flames_Fan]

Stay out of the f*$*ing box!!

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[868904]

Surprised Rinaldo isn’t in. Kassian and Nurse have been very belligerent of late.

Is Lucic going to drop the gloves with those two?

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Crap. Smith in net would be the Flames best chance of winning. They are going to have to be opportunistic for a change to win this one.

Jesus, really? How about the better team just out plays the other and the flames win as they should. No need to cower at the thought of koskinen.

[Yamer]

Would have been fun to see Rinaldo in the lineup.

[Bonded]

I wonder if we see Lucic and Kassian go at it

[Toonage]

I too would prefer Rinaldo (or even Rieder) in over Frolik.

Honestly its too bad Czarnik isn't up with the team as him with Bennett & Jankowski have been pretty good together and would make an ideal 4L