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

[Azhouse]

Engelland will always have a special place in my heart.

[jayswin]

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

Of all the takeaways from game 2 on the year, how could his possibly be one of them?

I mean sure I could see them finishing ahead of the Flames if they beat us tonight, and I could also see them finishing behind us if they beat us tonight.

Could we at least wait until November for the "Welp, this is how our season will look" posts?

[Calgary4LIfe]

I, for one, am thrilled to have an Engelland on the team. Why?

I thought when Lucic ran Miller over in Buffalo, it was the catalyst that just led to that team completely falling apart. Nobody did a damn thing.

When Hartley started the game in Vancouver with all of the Flames muscle at the time, I thought that was the catalyst for Vancouver's downfall.

Both teams had a lot of warts - those two events weren't the reason, just merely what I thought of as a catalyst that just got that ball rolling faster.

Engelland puts a stop to that right away. Flames know that they can continue with the game plan of touching McDavid every chance they get.

I imagine the Oilers are going to come into the Dome all prepared for a hoedown, but once Lucic gets fed with a few punches (seriously, he really isn't that tough, especially after getting rocked a few times already) things will settle down. If not, I just expect a parade to the penalty box.

Engelland is a dependable defensive defencemen out there. Provides the team a tonne of leadership apparently, and provides them with loads of protection. I remember before Calgary signed Engelland, McGrattan spoke about other tough guys around in the league at the time - Engelland was his pick as the most technical and 'best' fighter, though there were tougher guys around.

I actually prefer a forward doing this than a defencemen - it is much easier for a team to absorb those minutes spent in the penalty box than on D - but at least he does his job exceedingly well. Lucic is a lose cannon that can hurt your team as much as help it. Engelland is that controlled deterrent that can play and has the respect of other players on his team, as well as around the league.

I am not sure I would expect fireworks tonight. It is interesting that the Flames haven't recalled Bollig (there are still guys like Maroon, Nurse, Kassian on that side). Not recalling him for this one game to me may be a statement that the Flames are not going to have him back.

Kissass ran around trying to intimidate, but he is likely to just take a bad penalty ala Lucic. I just think he is kind of a dirty player. Daniel the Nurse isn't very tough - Ferland or even Brouwer should be fine. Maroon is really the second coming of Zach "Huggy Bear" Stortini. Only guys to really worry about out there are Lucic and Kassian - just because they have that goon mentality.

Should be an interesting game. I just find it funny how an 18 year old kid has completely focused an entire team on him. Might throw their game plan out the window. I expect lots of practice time tonight for the Flames power-play units. I also anticipate that Ferland will be making a bit of a statement game if things get physical.

[direwolf]

Please, for the love of all things good and pure, just get the win. I don't care how. Dropping two to the Coilers to open up the season would be an absolute nightmare. Three things I'm hoping to see tonight:

1. No blind passes up the middle from deep in our zone.

2. Better goaltending from Elliott.

3. Backlund's line matched up against the McJesus line.

Ugh, I can't believe I'm actually a little bit nervous about playing the Oilers. Hopefully the Flames can stave off the apocalypse tonight with big solid W.

[BigFlameDog]

Engelland is a tough SOB, I'm sure Lucic wasn't looking forward to that tussle....the talent trade off was a bonus.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by BigFlameDog

Engelland is a tough SOB, I'm sure Lucic wasn't looking forward to that tussle....the talent trade off was a bonus.

Yeah having to lose engelland to that plug lucic ......

[locsofblu]

Will be watching from Vancouver. Go Flames Go!

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Should be an interesting game. I just find it funny how an 18 year old kid has completely focused an entire team on him. Might throw their game plan out the window. I expect lots of practice time tonight for the Flames power-play units. I also anticipate that Ferland will be making a bit of a statement game if things get physical.

Are the Oilers focused on him though? I mean there are a bunch of butthurt fans, but Tkachuk's slewfoot on Davidson happened in the second period of the home opener and noone challenged him to a fight over it.

Seems like a situation where this incident may be a bigger incident to the fans than to the players.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Please, for the love of all things good and pure, just get the win. I don't care how. Dropping two to the Coilers to open up the season would be an absolute nightmare. Three things I'm hoping to see tonight:

1. No blind passes up the middle from deep in our zone.

2. Better goaltending from Elliott.

3. Backlund's line matched up against the McJesus line.

Ugh, I can't believe I'm actually a little bit nervous about playing the Oilers. Hopefully the Flames can stave off the apocalypse tonight with big solid W.

It's nice that the oilers may finally be showing the slight glimpse of competency that could make battle of Alberta games worthwhile once again.

[McG]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Are the Oilers focused on him though? I mean there are a bunch of butthurt fans, but Tkachuk's slewfoot on Davidson happened in the second period of the home opener and noone challenged him to a fight over it.

Seems like a situation where this incident may be a bigger incident to the fans than to the players.

Maybe David Staples could lace 'em up and be the 13th forward tonight?

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by McG

Maybe David Staples could lace 'em up and be the 13th forward tonight?

Only if one of the flames will dummy him.

[bigbadboss101]

I love DE. He is not as big as some of his opponents but he hangs in there. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. He does well in most, except against Scott and McGrattan. Held his own against Lucic, Orr. Our team is not that tough and Edmonton has that factor over us. I am glad he is with us to protect our guys.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by nobles_point

So Staples is accusing Tkachuk of a "Semi-slew foot". And has a gif playing on his article of Hamilton's penalty clearing the front of the net, when McJesus can't hold his ground.

http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/ho...tle-of-alberta

A semi-slew foot? Really? So in other words it wasn't an outright slew-foot as the replays clearly indicate. Maybe there's a nice non-contact league for the Oilers to play in if they can't handle what the Flames doled out on Wednesday.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

I'd love nothing more than seeing Ferland hit Lucic with one of his trademark uppercut KO's he used to lay guys out with in the WHL.

[northcrunk]

The coiler fans are so butt hurt on oilers reddit. They have forgotten all about the game and are out to kill tkachuk. Good luck boys. Your not tough.

[kn]

First game ever for my gf... Let's hope the Flames light it up... first impressions and all that... I may actually be able to go to more games!

[sureLoss]

Gaudreau claims he is still adjusting to playing back in Calgary.

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Interesting quote from Gaudreau today on where he thinks his game is. Still adjusting coming back to Calgary. #Flames

[AC]

Maybe he should have been working out in Calgary the last few weeks prior to signing...

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

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.

Thank goodness you made that post to enlighten all of us on what opinions on Engelland are indeed factual and which ones are not. We can all stop debating it now.

[Badgers Nose]

Thanks Scorpion!

My guess at the score: 2-1 yawn fest, Flames win.