Terrible: Calgary 0 – Oilers 4
Welcome back Flames Forum fans to another fantastic (we hope) season! The wait is finally over, and the anticipation has been killing all hockey fans around the globe. Today the puck dropped literally across the world with Carolina v. Minnesota in Finland to start things off. But forget about those two no name teams, let’s talk Flames, Oilers, Battle of Alberta part 1 of 8.
Unfortunately for Flames fans they crapped the bed in a big way. This evening’s battle was ALL Edmonton in every way. No hyperbole can describe how bad the Flames played. In all facets of the game they were utterly pathetic. Even the goon Ivanans got knocked the F out by McinTyre (another fantastic Darryl Sutter move to pick up a fighter who can’t fight (McGrattan is worse how?) and who’s locked down for two years…..and can’t skate). Yes Flames fans, if tonight is any indication, it’s going to be a long year.
You would think in the very leastcoasted through the game.
Calgary seemed to have some edge in the first period; even Oilers goalie Khabibulin looked very shaky. But the Flames couldn’t press and the Buhlin-Wall found his game, and the young stars for Edmonton put on a show getting the team and crowd into the game.
It tough hockey to watch. Edmonton crapped their pants for two years and got some nice youth, some energy, some moves up front. Calgary has a pantload of defencemen.
A ton of Flames fans don’t really know what to think about this year. Most are rolling their eyes with the ‘moves’ the GM did over the summer. Nothing was blown up and the same faces were still in camp. Only notable surprises on opening night were Steve Staios and Cory Sarich sitting in favour of Adam Pardy and TJ Brodie (take the 66 off dude). Brodie has a lot of learning and gave up the tide shifting second goal.
The other factor was the extent of injuries that totally changed the complexion of the opening roster. When it came time to bring the A game the Flames looked alike an old uninterested team incapable of mounting offensive pressure.
The worse part is there are few changes that can be made. If Brendan Morrison is your second line center, and not by choice, you know things aren’t looking good.
Tonight, last year’s Flames showed up, a little bit slower, a little bit older, a little less tough, and relying on their goalie for 40 minutes to stay in the game. Not a good start, not a good start at all.
Notes: Conroy was a late scratch in favour of Sutter who was supposed to go to the farm after being put on waivers….6 million is the value of sitting Staios and Sarich, both of which could’ve been used tonite instead of the Brodie experiment.
Here we go again… I know it is only 1 game but man does this team look just like a carbon copy of last year. Wait, it is. No finish at all, slow, uninterested. If this game is any indication of how the year is going to go, we may just have the worst and most frustrating season in Calgary Flames history.
It was a pathetic performance and I would have traded the 7-0 preseason win for a 4-1 win last night. Conspicuously, nothing has changed save for some new faces – yes, the Flames have reverted back to their own style and the Oilers were back in form like they were during the Gretzky, Lowe and Currie years.
Mikka had been magnificient a few nights ago and had became the first star! But last night, his performance had zeroed down while Khabibulin stood tall and high. One aspect I cannot figure out is Kiprussoff’s performance – he rockets sky high in one game, but slacks immediately after and I am not sure why Brent Sutter has not figured this trend – Why was Karlsson not put in for that game?
Yes, the Battle of Alberta show was evident last night and it came as no surprise who would win. Although the Flames did well when it came to shots on goal, they were just unable to perform in the third and the Oilers were all over them. I wasn’t sure I liked the hit on Hagman or the one on Ivanans.
The Calgary Flames Hockey Club has exceptional players particularly with the new look. However the question remains, can they take up this challenge for the rest of the season as fans had expected?? As a die hard fan, I only hope that what was evident yesterday was just a one-game performance.
Go Flames Go!!!
Ugh, I woke up and we still lost 0-4. Not only that, we were BEAT DOWN like last year’s oilers, how lame is that? No leadership in this group, just a bunch of OLD hockey players.
And the pardy Brodie experiment? I think Sarich and Staois would’ve been better…… Let’s see who shows up Sunday.
Fire everyone named Sutter immediately. The ownership group is a joke.