GDT - BoA Installment I (10/15)

[slapshot™]

For a change, the Edmonton Oilers are chasing the Calgary Flames for supremacy in Alberta. The provincial rivals clash for the first of eight meetings this season as the Flames try to snap a three-game losing streak.

Edmonton has long held the upper hand in the "Battle of Alberta," especially when the Oilers won five Stanley Cups from 1983-1991. Calgary won just one of four playoff series between the teams in that span.
The Flames, however, enter this season as defending Western Conference champions and easily won the 2003-04 season series, 4-1-1.

Both teams have not qualified for the playoffs in the same season since 1990-91, when Edmonton eliminated Calgary in seven games in the first round.

Edmonton expects to return to the postseason after missing out in 2003-04 following the additions of center Michael Peca and defenseman Chris Pronger. Peca, one of the league's best defensive forwards, has no goals and two assists in his first five games. Pronger also has no goals and two assists this season.

The Oilers suffered a second straight loss, 3-2 to Dallas on Friday.
Jason Smith and Jani Rita scored to help Edmonton rally from a 2-0 deficit in the second period before Steve Ott's third-period goal sent the Oilers to their first home loss this season. Oilers center Shawn Horcoff, who had six points in the first four games, injured his right shoulder in the second period and didn't return. His status for Saturday is unknown.

Calgary is trying to recover from its third straight loss. The Flames raised their Western Conference championship banner on Thursday before a 3-2 overtime loss to Dallas.

Another bad start was too much for Calgary to overcome. The Flames have yet to score in the first period this season, and managed only six shots over the first 20 minutes on Thursday. "I'd like to score seven, eight, nine, 10 goals in the first period one of these games," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said.

Calgary star forward Jarome Iginla, tied for the league lead with 41 goals in 2003-04, is off to a slow start with one goal this season. He had two goals and five assists in six games against Edmonton in 2003-04.

STANDINGS (through Oct. 13): Oilers - 6 points, 1st place, Northwest Division. Flames - 3 points, 5th place, 3 PB, Northwest Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Oilers - Raffi Torres, 4 goals; Ales Hemsky and Radek Dvorak, 4 assists; Horcoff, 6 points; Ethan Moreau, 12 PIM. Flames - Tony Amonte, Daymond Langkow and Chuck Kobasew, 2 goals; Roman Hamrlik, 4 assists; Amonte and Hamrlik, 5 points; Darren McCarty, 15 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 13): Oilers - Power play: 21.4 percent (6 for 28 ), 6th in NHL. Penalty killing: 84.4 percent (27 for 32), 17th. Flames - Power play: 6.5 percent (2 for 31), 29th. Penalty killing: 58.1 percent (18 for 31), 30th.

GOALTENDERS: Oilers - Jussi Markkanen (2-1-0, 0 SO, 2.20 GAA); Ty Conklin (1-1-0, 3.48 ). Flames - Miikka Kiprusoff (1-3-1, 4.45); Philippe Sauve (0-0-0, 3.00).

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Oilers - 1-1-0 on the road; Flames - 0-0-1 at home.

For the Oil to win:

- solid netminding (Markkanen)
- special teams (get PK back on track and continue with PP)
- continue to win the face-offs

- oh yeah...beat the crap outta Calgary every chance they get!

[KB in Kelowna]

For the Oil to win:

- solid netminding (Markkanen)
- special teams (get PK back on track and continue with PP)
- continue to win the face-offs

- oh yeah...beat the crap outta Calgary every chance they get!

Lay an old fashioned whoopin on them!

[PDO]

Have to admit I'm worried. No Smyth, no Horcoff, no Ulanov and no Harvey.

Peca HAS to step it up offensively tonight, and Markkanen needs to be pretty close to perfect.

[Newfie John]

The odds are stacked against the Oilists tonight, but for some reason I'm thinking they're going to win. I think Markkanen is really going to fly with his opportunity tonight. 3-1 Oil, Raffi Torres with a couple of points.

[PDO]

The one bright spot for the Oilers is how brutal the Flames have been on the PK. If we can get some powerplays we may be able to bury Calgary.

[PDO]

Pisani is out with a "stomach muscle pull".

Our depth is certainly being tested.

[PDO]

First period thoughts...

- Kipper is looking good. Really good.
- Why on earth is Cross on the ice against Iginila?
- I guess the "crackdown" is officially over. Infractions all over the place by both teams, none called.
- Jussi had no chance on either goal. Crap luck that Calgary got a lucky bounce on the first one.

[J.R.]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/bigpuke.gif
Chris Millen is having multiple orgasms in the booth regarding the Flames' play tonight.

It remains 2-0 in favour of Calgary after two. The Oilers will have to capitalize on their powerplay chances against the league's worst penalty kill unit. I expect the third to be fast, hard and quite possibly ugly.

[PDO]

I hate Millen.

Oilers have a successful PP.

Chris Millen - "And the Oilers had no puck control at all."

Jim Hughson - "Sigh."

Priceless.

Kipper is playing out of his mind.. the Oilers should have scored 4 times already. Not a whole lot you can do about it. We've been the superior team (.. for the 2nd night in a row..).

[PDO]

The sky isn't falling.

We outplayed Calgary, badly. We were down 2/3 of our topline. It was the 2nd game of back to back games. Kipper played outstanding. We lost, it sucks, but we're still 3-3, and we're that much closer to Smyth being back in the lineup.

[Canadian26]

The differance was kipper tonight. Im not a big fan of cross at all, I seriously would have prefered him traded like the 2nd day we got him...

Edmonton has to stop getting down 2 goals early, thats the only thing that cost us the game tonight. Anyone notice the trend that when we score a goal on the PP we win the game?

The flames PK was really good tonight IMO, they are very aggressive on their PK usually... Kipper obviously was the best player hands down.

This was a frustrating lost...

[J.R.]

The Oilers are missing Smyth and Horcoff badly. Credit has go to Kiprusoff for his first good game of the season. After three losses in a row, fortunately Edmonton has a couple days off before playing in Glendale, AZ.

[slapshot™]

I hate Millen.

I second that!

Conklin has struggled early this season as he has missed the pre-season.

Uh...duh...who had the broken collarbone!?!?

What a knob.

Kipper kept the Flames in the game tonight. It could've gone either way but Kipper was the difference. I feel the Oil shoulda taken the body more and a couple of dust-ups would've made the diff. (in Edmonton's favour).

I think Pisani is really coming along well. A couple of the other younger youngsters eg: Winchester and Brodziak did well too. Raffi is showing better form than he did last year with the Road Runners.

[PDO]

I wonder what Ethan Moreau would be worth around the league right now.

[slapshot™]

I wonder what Ethan Moreau would be worth around the league right now.

One bad game...give him a break! *wink*

[TimmyTabasco]

I wonder what Ethan Moreau would be worth around the league right now.

Bag of pucks :nod: :thumb:

[PDO]

Bag of pucks :nod: :thumb:

So slightly more than Special Ed and Cloutier? :wave:

[TimmyTabasco]

So slightly more than Special Ed and Cloutier? :wave:

:rollover:

Well..Moreau could land you a used bag of pucks

Special Ed and Cloutier packaged together, could land you a new bag of pucks..and a case of hockey tape:wave:

[Canadian26]

I would rather get rid of cross than moreau. I seriosuly dont know why the oilers still have him on the team, I cant stand the way he plays...

[PDO]

I would rather get rid of cross than moreau. I seriosuly dont know why the oilers still have him on the team, I cant stand the way he plays...

Cross is fine for a 6th defenseman.. he's actually exceeded my expectations this year. You can't blame him for most things that happen to him. You wn't find a team in the league who has a 6th defenseman you'd want on the ice against Iginila or Naslund.. no reason to start expecting that now.

Moreau has been taking bonehead penalty after bonehead penalty and has just been plain ineffective thus far.

[TimmyTabasco]

Moreau has been taking bonehead penalty after bonehead penalty and has just been plain ineffective thus far.

Trade him and someone to the Isle for Niinimaa or Kvasha :nod: Both are rumoured to be on the outside

[PDO]

I've heard the Kvasha rumors are false.. but maybe Janne could resurrect his career here? If a deal around Semenov for Niinimaa could be worked out, I'd be estatic..

Pronger - Staios
Smith - Niinimaa
Bergeron - Ulanov

Let the good times roll!

[TimmyTabasco]

I've heard the Kvasha rumors are false.. but maybe Janne could resurrect his career here? If a deal around Semenov for Niinimaa could be worked out, I'd be estatic..


I am pretty sure his career would turn around. Remember he was crying when he left? ;)

NY may want someone like Staios before Semenov

[PDO]

I am pretty sure his career would turn around. Remember he was crying when he left? ;)

NY may want someone like Staios before Semenov

Yeah, I think they would.. and if they do, then there's no point in us taking a chance like that, espeacilly when you take contracts into consideration.

[Canadian26]

Cross IMO has alot of stupid plays, maybe its the fact that I dont like him I notice his stupid plays more. Staios has been great on the blue line thus far, and I wouldnt trade semenov, hes got good potential and can probably become one of the better d-men in the league with pronger here.

Moreau has more assets than Cross IMO, hes great on the PK and hes a good leader. I agree with the stupid penalties though, but hes no the only one... I'd say maybe give him a game or two to settle into things and I would bet he'll stop taking stupid penatlies.