The two clubs played a fairly level First Period in this split squad affair in Calgary on Monday night.
But the Flames dominated from there, against an over-matched Oilers D-corps that was largely made up of bubble and AHL-level defenders. Five unanswered goals led to a 5-1 Flames lead after 40. Calgary notched a short-handed marker in the third frame to make it 6-1. And from there, without most (all?) of their big guns, the Oilers faced what turned into an insurmountable uphill battle.
You do not read much into early pre-season results, good or bad. But there was not much good in this one for the visitors.
Here is the tale of the tape…
Edmonton Oilers Player Notes
Olivier Rodrigue. Left to fend for himself before a D-corps of bubble and AHL defenders. Very nearly got across in time to nab the Kadri shot that resulted in the 1-1, after a favorable hometown bounce off the back wall. Fine glove save off Morton. Two more during a PK with Arvidsson in the box. Then, stopped Yegor Sharangovich on a hard one-timer. Tough stop on Bashaw early in the Second. Big save off Backlund after a wild scramble. Robbed Zary late in the second, but Calgary scored on the rebound. Rodrigue was mercifully lifted after 2. Stopped 20 of 25.
Nathaniel Day. Took over in the Third, promptly gave up the 6-1 short-handed marker. His best moment was a poke check on Kadri. Stopped 4 of 5.
Adam Henrique. Some effective moments on a First period PP. Darted in with a Grubbe pass and fired a dangerous shot off Vladar’s pad. Put in some PK work as well. 48% on draws.
Jeff Skinner. Looked to have a break in all alone but Weegar caught up to him before he could get a shot off. Good pass across to Hoffman on the Second period PP.
Viktor Arvidsson. Drew a penalty in the First. Good deflection in tight on the resulting PP, then wired a hard wrister that was also nabbed. Took a deserved hooking minor. Second assist on the 1-0. Broke in all alone in the Second but fired it wide. 3 shots led the Oilers.
Lane Pederson. On the second unit PP and fed Dermott for a good chance. Also won a faceoff deep in his own end after an icing call trapped a tired bunch out there for a D-zone draw. Poor choice at the attacking blueline led to a Flames 3-on-2 jailbreak the other way. -3.
Mike Hoffman. He has shown just fine with the puck over his first two games. He and Gleason teamed up for a nice bit of passing before Hoffman fired one home inside the far post for the 1-0. Another PP chance in the second off a Skinner feed. Another one-timer in the Third rang the crossbar. Let us see him again NHL defenders before making any decisions. -3.
Matt Savoie. Does not look out of place. Made a pair of sharp defensive plays early in the First Period, a good stick and a blocked shot. A slick dangle made a Flames defender look foolish at the Calgary blueline. Dangerous looking shot in the Third. Hustled hard on a late rush up ice.
Jayden Grubbe. Holding call late in the First. Good feed to a breaking Henrique at the end of a PK. But is challenged with the pace.
Drake Caggiula. Beat his man at his own blueline then charged down the ice, getting a shot and drawing a call on the same play. Slid a pass into the idle for a Derek Ryan shot.
Derek Ryan. Solid Third Period back-check led to an Oilers PP. Otherwise, low impact game.
Sam O’Reilly. Smart defensive play deep in his own zone early in the First. A good chance late in the First off a Weatherby feed. Another intelligent play along the wall for a zone clear in the Second. Sent Stefan in with a good pass. Calm Third Period clear. The 19-year-old is showing well.
Jasper Weatherby. Nice pass across to O’Reilly in the First. But had trouble with NHL speed.
James Stefan. Not much impact.
Cam Dineen. Out of position on the 4-1. Generally struggled without the puck. The -3 reflets that.
Josh Brown. Fine shot block and clear on the 5-on-3 PK. Left to defend a 2-on-1 on his own on the 4-1. A giveaway on the 5-1. Flattened Morton with a heavy open ice check. Stayed involved and in a foul move ‘til the final buzzer.
Travis Dermott. Gave up too much gap on the 2-1. Has not caught my attention in a good way so far.
Troy Stetcher. Lost his man on the 2-1. Slung a puck over the glass leading to a Calgary 5-on-3. Drew a Third Period PP. Meh.
Ben Gleason. The Oilers best defender tonight. His =/- was Even in a 6-1 loss. A slick look-off on a give and go with Hoffman resulted in the latter scoring the 1-0 on the Power Play. Stick tap for standing up for Wanner after the kid got hit from behind into the end wall.
Max Wanner. Struggled. Took a hard shot in the numbers into the end boards in the First, drawing a call. Fooled on a toe drag by Zary on the 3-1. Beaten clean by Kadri but a smart poke check by Day ended the threat.
Now on Threads @kleavins. Also, find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at [email protected]. This article is not AI generated.
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