GDB 49.0: THUNDER ROAD

7 years ago

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

Sooner or later, no matter where you come from, there is a point of no return. A moment in life when turning back, returning to the safe past, is no longer enough. When reaching a brand new day is not just something, it is the only thing. Challenges lie ahead, but they lie beyond Calgary city limits. Let’s get it on.

STANDINGS TODAY

This is music, sweet music. Edmonton has a chance to go up NINE points over Calgary with 33 to play, and in the Bettman league that is a big damned mountain. This has been an unusual winter in Edmonton, the temperatures have been up and down like a theremin, and the Oilers are in this race and gaining some clearance. Important days ahead, and this thing is not over, but hell’s bells this is a fun ride.

TOUGH SCHEDULE AHEAD

It was important for the Oilers to do well in January, because the February schedule is daunting. After that, March brings much good news, but consider the next five weeks after tonight:

The rest of January: At Ducks, At Sharks, home to Wild
The first week of February: At Nashville, At Carolina, At Montreal
The second week of February: Off week
The third week of February: home to Chicago, home to Arizona, home to the Flyers, At Chicago
The fourth week of February: At Tampa Bay, At Florida, At Washington, At Nashville, At St. Louis.

A SPOT OF BOTHER

Despite the dandy home record on this recent stand (4-1-1), Edmonton bled shots (44-32 Nashville advantage) last night, and that is a concern. They also got outchanced from me to you against the Predators, and it will be important to have a better showing tonight. Calgary is rested, Edmonton are not, and the Flames will be focused on getting one clear win this season against the Oil Drop. Important for Edmonton to have a strong start this evening, which is not exactly their forte this year.

LINEUPS

Oilers

Update: Brossoit gets the nod tonight for his first NHL game of the year.

Flames

Lineups (subject to change) are courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com.

NOTES

If the Oilers run Laurent Brossoit in net tonight, it will represent a massive opportunity for the young netminder. Edmonton has a need at the position, and badly need a viable solution to the problem. An internal one, that doesn’t require an asset out, would be the ideal result.
Connor McDavid remains atop the scoring charts today, he is 48gp, 15-40-55 and projects to score 94 points on the year.
Cam Talbot earned an All-Star nod, but as it turns out the rest is probably more valuable from an Oilers point of view. Edmonton has a really good shot at the postseason, and Talbot will need to be front and center.
Edmonton ran their top pairing heavily last night, and Klefbom—Larsson got caved in possession. Davidson—Benning can handle more of the load based on results, we should look for a more even deployment on the second game of a btb.
Milan Lucic scored a huge goal and delivered a monstrous hit last night. Even more heartening, he appears to be putting the puck in a good spot for his linemates and turning it over in the neutral zone less often. Small sample size, but encouraging signs.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Ryan Pike, FlamesNation: Saturday’s game is important not only due to the Western Conference’s tight playoff race, but also because of a bit of Battle of Alberta history: the Flames have gotten at least one win over the Oilers in every single season series except two – 1983-84 and 2000-01. (For what it’s worth, the Oilers went winless in the season series in 2009-10 and 2014-15.) If the Flames lose on Saturday, it’ll be just the third clean sweep of the Battle of Alberta by the Oilers.
Source

TONIGHT

(photoshop: @TomKostiuk)

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers start well, and get a power-play goal to take the early lead. Calgary has some wobble, and a late softie gives the road team a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The second period features great action but no goals. With five seconds left in the second period, Edmonton takes a puck over glass penalty, setting up an eventful third period.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Flames put the boots to the Oilers, who barely touch the puck during the third period. Three goals by the home team gives them the lead with just seconds left to play. Connor McDavid scores with time running out to tie the game, and we head to yet another overtime. In OT, Matt Tkachuk runs over Edmonton’s goalie, the ref calls it a goal, and the phone line to Toronto is cut by gophers eating through cable near Strathmore. 4-3 Calgary final.