GDB 2.0: A clean sweep?

7 years ago

(Perry Nelson / USA Today Sports)

We love HOME games; have Liquor Depot deliver in under an hour. Click, pick, sit back and watch the game.

It feels like there might be some actual animosity returning to the Battle of Alberta, and it’s about freaking time.

The BOA hasn’t had much hatred or competitiveness for quite some time, but many of the requirements are in place. The Oilers have a superstar in Connor McDavid. The Flames have a greasy agitator in Matthew Tkachuk. The Flames have many excellent players in Johnny Gaudreau, Mark Giordano, Sean Monahan and TJ Brodie. The Oilers have some skilled toughness with Milan Lucic, Patrick Maroon, Zack Kassian and Darnell Nurse.

Could it be we are actually on the verge of having a meaningful rivalry again? I sure hope so.

Sports are more fun when players despise or fear their biggest rivals.

Tkachuk has Oilersnation in a lather after taking Brandon Davidson to the ice with a slewfoot/push that has Davidson on the IR for a few months. Flamesnation is resigned to the fact they will have to face McDavid for the next decade and it scares the shit out of them. They will pretend it doesn’t, but deep down you know and they know it’s the truth.

The Oilers and Flames have amassed some high-end talent, as well as some dirty, physical players, who can make this rivalry great again, and many are 28 years old or younger.

Gaudreau                                               McDavid
Brodie                                                     Larsson
Monahan    Draisaitl
Hamilton                                                 Klefbom
Bennett                                                  Nugent-Hopkins
Backlund                                                Eberle
Tkachuk Puljujarvi
Jokipakka           Nurse
Frolik    Lucic
Bouma Maroon
Ferland                                                  Kassian

While my job has eliminated much of the true fan in me, it has not suppressed my loathing of Calgary. I grew up watching the Oilers and Flames when both teams were good and the rivalry was extremely intense. I respected the Flames’ great players, but it was outstanding watching the Oilers bludgeon them on the scoreboard and in the alleys most nights.

The rivalry was great because both teams were good, and they met in the playoffs regularly when the games mattered even more.

I’d love for that to return. It is better for the game and for you younger fans who haven’t experienced a true rivalry; trust me, you’d love it. Many years later I still enjoy watching Calgary/Edmonton games in any sport, but the Flames always invoke feelings of repugnance within me.

Neither organization has been consistently good at the same time since 1991, which was also the last time they met in the postseason. The intensity of the rivalry has dipped, mainly due to no playoffs, but it has always been simmering.

We have been privy to some really exciting and intense games sprinkled in over the past 25 years, but it would be great to see that ratcheted up a few notches in the coming years.

I understand the game is different today, we won’t see line brawls every time these teams meet, nor we will see ten goals a night, although a repeat of Wednesday would be great tonight, but these teams have the potential to finally become good at the same time.

The harsh truth, however, is Edmonton will be better just like they were between 1983-1991. Flames fans will want to deny it (who wouldn’t?), but over the next few seasons it will become apparent.

While the Oilers have been beyond awful for the past seven years, they did have 85 points in 2009, Calgarians have mocked the Oilers endlessly, but what’s hilarious about that is the Flames only made the playoffs once in those seven years. Their bragging was akin to me saying I have the best hair at a bald convention. Meaningless.

Tkachuk has Oilersnation annoyed. McDavid has Flamesnation fearful.

Let’s hope this is the beginning of another decade of a heated, competitive rivalry!

LINEUP

Kassian gets moved up after a strong first game. “I know what my role is, and it isn’t to score 30 goals. It is nice to get promoted, but I can’t change my game. I need to be physical, smart and create some chances. I just need to get the puck to those two and they will make things happen,” he said yesterday. The Oilers also opted to add some size to the lineup by matching up Eric Gryba with Darnell Nurse. It was smart for McLellan to shelter Benning and not give him the added pressure of playing his first game in a potentially hostile environment.

Oilers lineup courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com

Flames

It didn’t take long for Glen Gulutzan to change his defence pairs. You can guarantee the Giordano/Brodie pair will be out against McDavid’s line as often as possible.

Flames lineup courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com

QUICK HITS

For the first time in years the Oilers roster is built to not be intimidated physically. They have a lot of skilled size, and their puck possession game will improve because of it, and if the game gets nasty Lucic, Maroon, Kassian and Nurse can step up. They should not get pushed out of many games this year.
Gulutzan was content going head-to-head with the Monahan line versus McDavid line on Wednesday, but it didn’t work out well, and I’m curious how he will counter tonight. Gaudreau and Monahan were dominant on home ice last year and I’m curious to see how Gulutzan deploys them tonight. I’m guessing Backlund’s line will see more of McDavid.
I really liked the subtle plays Larsson made on Wednesday. His positioning is great, but how he reads and reacts to the play was impressive.
Did Brian Elliott have those ketchup coloured pads to start Wednesday’s game, or did the offensive bloodbath he endured change them?
Tkachuk is a player you hate, but would love to have on your team. Being an agitator is a tough job. You walk a fine line, and most coaches expect you to cross the line now and again, but he’ll need to avoid any actions resembling a slewfoot. Andrew Shaw received a major penalty for his last night and the refs will be on the look out for it now.
The Oilers have only defeated the Flames in their first two meetings of the season five times in franchise history: 2008, 2000, 1985, 1983 and in 1981.
A reminder you can enter our free NHL Fantasy hockey draft at draftkings.com/gregor1260. You need to enter before 5 p.m MDT today. It is free and the winner wins cash. Good luck.