GDB -08 and -07: Alberta Double Dip

Photo credit:Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

6 years ago

The Oilers and Flames will continue their annual two-games-in-one-night preseason matchup as each fanbase will get to see live preseason hockey. Both fanbases are excited for the season, and both Alberta teams expect to be in the playoffs at the same time in consecutive years for the first time since 1990 and 1991. It is difficult to build a rivalry when your chances of meeting in the playoffs are virtually impossible. Only twice since 1991 have both teams been in the playoffs at the same time, 2006 and 2017. Each year Anaheim defeated Calgary in the first round. Had the Flames won either year they would have faced the Oilers in the second round.

Since 1991 Edmonton has made the playoffs eight times while Calgary has danced in the postseason eleven times. Both teams are poised to be competitive near the top of their division, not floudering near the bottom, and hopefully this reignites the once-great rivalry.

Unlike last season, when Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl, Johnny Gaudreau and Mikael Backlund were either just returning from the World Cup, or still playing, tonight fans will get to watch the best players from each team in one of the two arenas.

The Oilers play twice tonight, in Winnipeg on Wednesday, and then they will make some significant cuts. The harsh reality of the NHL for AHL players or young pros is they need to make an impression quickly if they want to win a job. Even then it might not be enough if you’re on a competitive team.

Realistically the Oilers have an opening for the #7 defenceman, and maybe the 14th forward. The best battles I see in training camp involve players already on the roster.

Which three wingers among Drake Caggiula, Anton Slepyshev, Jesse Puljujarvi and Jussi Jokinen will be in the top-nine on opening night. Slepyshev’s ankle injury makes that a bit clearer today, but what if he returns for games next week?

But many players can use the preseason to get noticed and tonight many players will be hoping to catch the coaching staff’s eye.

LINEUPS

In Edmonton…

Oilers:

Maroon-McDavid-Strome
Laleggia-RNH-Puljujarvi
Pakarinen-Letestu-Kassian
Hamilton-Downing-Russell

Nurse-Gryba
Lagesson-Fayne
Jones-Bear

Talbot and Pasquale

Flames:

Poirier-Bennett-Foo
Shinkaruk-Stajan-Lazar
Glass-F.Hamilton-Camarossa
Klimchuk-Hrivik-Pollock

Kulak-Stone
Bartkowski-Andersson
Wotherspoon-Healey

Lack
Rittich/Parsons

In Calgary…

Oilers:

Lucic-Draisaitl-Caggiula
Khaira-Kelly-Yamamoto
Callahan-Malone-Rattie
Polei-Gambardella-Chase

Klefbom-Larsson
Auvitu-Simpson
Lowe-Paigin

Brossoit and Ellis

Flames:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Versteeg-Backlund-Frolik
Mangiapane-Jankowski-Brouwer
Gazdic-Dube-Hathaway/Carroll

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Valimaki-Kylington

Smith and Gillies

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QUICK HITS

Yamamoto was getting some PP time with Draisaitl’s line and Klefbom. He is starting on the road, which we haven’t seen for a first round pick of the Oilers in quite some time. This is a good thing, as it shows me they have a plan and he will be in the WHL this year, as he should. Playing him on the road is wise, because the Flames will ice a more NHL-laden lineup and he’ll get a taste of what it is like to play against proven NHL defenders. He will get a few preseason games and then I expect he will be in Spokane before heading to the World Juniors. Playing him on the road is great and will give him a good indication of how difficult it is to attack and play against NHL defenders.
On my radio show last week we discussed wildcards for the Oilers. Joey Laleggia was my pick. He is very gifted offensively. He was drafted as an offensive D-man, and played there until midway through last season. He was then moved to the wing and he finished the season with 20 goals. He has great skill and he can make plays. The injury to Anton Slepyshev, and a slight tweak to Jussi Jokinen (he skated today and is feeling good now) opened the door a bit for Laleggia. He is still a long shot, but he has to make an early impression on the scoresheet to get the coaches attention. A good preseason could mean a call up when injuries occur later in the season.
Jujhar Khaira might be this year’s Tyler Pitlick. Khaira was drafted in 2012. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy with the Oilers, but he has size, can skate and has some ability. If you recall last year Pitlick was a last minute addition to the first preseason game. Benoit Pouliot was scheduled to play, but got the flu and Pitlick got in. He scored, and then continued to score in the preseason and regular season. Unfortunately he got hurt again after 31 games, but his performance in the preseason forced Todd McLellan to play him. Khaira has to do the same.”If he can stay healthy and stick with us here, we will introduce him to the penalty kill,” said McLellan when I asked about Khaira. “Unfortunately we haven’t been able to see Jujhar play regularly because of injury. He has looked good. He skates well and knows how to use his body to gain position,” continued McLellan. In previous years, Khaira started well, but his play would tail off and he’d be out of the lineup or get injured. He needs to be more assertive, like Pitlick was last year, and earn his spot. Play well enough that McLellan has no choice but to slot him in the lineup every night and find more icetime for him. Khaira’s size and speed would be a great asset in the bottom six.
Lagesson will return to Sweden instead of going to Bakersfield. He wants to improve his skating and puck handling and doing it in Sweden, on the bigger ice surface, where they spend more time on skill development, should be good for his development. He has looked better than the young defenders going to Bakersfield, and next year when he comes to camp he should be even better and make the competition among young defenders more fierce.
With Benning and Russell not playing in either game, Darnell Nurse was running the first unit PP for the home game group along with McDavid, Maroon, Strome and Letestu. I don’t put much into powerplay units until late in the preseason, but the Oilers would like to see Nurse make a few more plays in the offensive zone. Smart to give him some PP time to hopefully build some confidence.
I spoke with Nugent-Hopkins today about being more assertive offensively and scoring more. We also discussed how last year he set a career high in shots, yet he didn’t score 20 goals. “Confidence was a factor. It is for any player, and I felt I was getting a lot of good looks but didn’t capitalize,” said RNH. He has looked good in the scrimmages and more assertive with the puck, and I’ll be watching him closely tonight. If he can get some early confidence, and I believe he will because of not having to face the opposition’s top lines, then he should return to being a 50-point player. He needs a good offensive start to the season.
The Flames Matthew Tkachuk left practice early on Sunday with some hip soreness. The Flames said he wasn’t on the ice today for precautionary reasons.

GAME DAY PREDICTIONS

GAME DAY PREDICTIONS: The home squads win both games. Edmonton won both last year, 4-2 at home and 2-1 on the road, but the Flames clearly want to win at home by dressing their top-four defenders and top two lines. Oilers win 4-2 in Edm and Flames win 3-2 at home.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: McDavid scores a goal and more people get on board for my 120-point season prediction.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: RNH and Puljujarvi combine for two goals and are dangerous all night. Puljujarvi has looked much quicker in camp. He worked on his first step this off-season and so far the results have been very noticeable.

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