THE SKINNY: FLAMES @ OILERS - GAME 3
Calgary looks to take back series lead when Battle of Alberta resumes tonight in Edmonton
By
Ty Pilson
CalgaryFlames.com
Video: Brendan Parker sets up tonight's Game 3 tilt
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LEADING SCORERS:
Flames:
1. Johnny Gaudreau (2-11-13)
2. Matthew Tkachuk (4-6-10)
3. Elias Lindholm (4-4-8)
Oilers:
1. Connor McDavid (6-14-20)
2. Leon Draisaitl (7-8-15)
3. Evander Kane (7-3-10)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Powerplay:
Flames - 12.5% (13th)
Oilers - 27.6% (4th)
Penalty-Kill:
Flames - 91.2% (3rd)
Oilers - 84.4% (6th)
Shot Attempts:
Flames - 61.28% (1st)
Oilers - 50.16% (8th)
High-Danger Scoring Chances:
Flames - 61.90% (2nd)
Oilers - 52% (7th)
Game 1- W 9-6
Game 2- L 5-3
Game 3- Tonight, 6 p.m. - @ Oilers
Game 4 - May 24, 7:30 p.m. - @ Oilers
Game 5 - May 26, TBD - vs. Oilers
\Game 6 - May 28, TBD - @ Oilers
\Game 7 - May 30, TBD - vs. Oilers
\if necessary
Some folks have been likening this series to '80s hockey.
At least when it comes to the goals galore.
Flames coach Darryl Sutter has said numerous times, when asked to compare and contrast, that this isn't similar to the style of hockey played in those bygone days.
It's missing many of the hallmarks.
However, the rate at which pucks have been dug out of the net and the players have gathered back at centre for a faceoff is somewhat similar.
These two teams hit the ice tonight for Game 3 tonight in the provincial capital after combining for 23 goals in Games 1 & 2 at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the second highest total in NHL postseason history. The only series to have had more: the North Stars and Bruins (24G) way back in 1981.
While the goals-for is reason for a high-five or two for the Flames, the goals-against is in stark contrast to the regular season where Calgary was the third stingiest team, allowing an average of just 2.51 per outing.
The Flames hallmark all campaign en route to the Pacific Division title was playing an aggressive and often stifling 200-foot checking game, pressing the opposition and using active sticks to break up plays and stymy zone-exits and rush attempts.
That smothering coverage led to turnovers and more time with the puck, increasing the Flames shot volume, leading to additional goals and - just as importantly - giving the other guys less time in Calgary's zone to try and tally any of their own.
In both outings so far in this series, the Flames have jumped out to leads but the opposition has gone on runs later to keep the scorekeepers plenty busy.
So what do they need to do different tonight to retake the series lead? To get back to playing Calgary Flames hockey?
"Play a full 60 minutes," said Rasmus Andersson on Saturday, before the team hoped the quick flight up to Edmonton. "I don't think we've done that yet. Try to play tighter and stick to our game plan a little bit more. Check, not defend, and all that stuff that we've been talking about all year. We haven't done it for 60 minutes yet."
Andersson said they are clear on what the winning blueprint for them looks like.
"That's on us. We just haven't been playing our game yet and that's on us and we've just got to find our game and trust it and stick to it like we've been doing the whole year. We haven't done it for the first two games in Round 2 of the playoffs, so we've got to figure it out."
Video: 'Plain and simple, we have to play better'
Staying out of the box is key against the Oilers.
Everyone knows how potent the Edmonton powerplay is and giving Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Co. more cracks with the extra-man is a recipe for disaster.
But, just as importantly for the Flames, is the fact they found success all season by relying on their depth, rolling four lines and three D pairs, getting everyone involved in the game, and utilizing the full bench to find offence and execute the relentless full-ice pressure mentioned above.
So far the Flames PK has done well to limit the damage from the Oilers PP (1-for-10), but that - combined with some 4-on-4 action - has hindered Calgary's ability to play their* game.
"We know how dangerous they are 5-on-4 and 4-on-4 and we've got to stay out of the penalty box," said Andersson. "I think we took six yesterday and that's at least five too many against this team. They have a lot of skill up front, so we've just got to stay out of the box and stick to our system and do what we're good at."
Sutter said they have to get back to playing the five-on-five brand of hockey that favours his side.
"One of things that jumps out is they have had twenty-two-and-a-half-minutes of not five-on-five - either 4-on-5 us, or 4-on-4," he said Saturday. "That's not in our favour You will not win a series if you do that. So that's twenty-two-and-a-half over six periods. That's definitely playing in favour of two or three players on their team."
Video: Sutter reflects on Game 2, looks to Game 3
JOHNNY BE GOOD: Johnny Gaudreau extended his playoff point streak to seven games with a pair of assists in Game 2, tying Lanny McDonald for the fifth longest run in Flames playoffs history. The last Flames player to post a longer run was Al MacInnis over 30 years ago (17-game streak in 1989). Gaudreau has five assists in the first two games of this series which is tied for the second most assists through two games in Flames franchise history (most: Gary Suter - 6 in 1988 Div SF vs. LAK).
Johnny has 128 points (regular season & playoffs combined) this season, tied the fifth most in a single season in NHL history by a left winger (tied w/ Michel Goulet - 1983-84):
151 - Kevin Stevens (91-92)
147 - Luc Robitaille (92-93)
131 - Alex Ovechkin (08-09)
129 - Mats Naslund (85-86)
ROAD WARRIORS:The Flames head on the road for game three, a place they were amongst the NHL's best this season with a franchise record 25 wins away from home during the regular season. Calgary allowed the third fewest goals against on the road this season (108) for an average of 2.63 goals against/game. Johnny Gaudreau led the Flames with 54 points (19G, 35A) on the road this season, tied for the fourth-most in the NHL, while Matthew Tkachuk notched 45 points (17G, 28A) away from the Scotiabank Saddledome. Jacob Markstrom had the third-best GAA (2.31) and was tied for the second-best Sv% (.926) on the road this season in the NHL (amongst goalies with 10-or-more games played). Markstrom finished the season with a road record of 15-7-2.
Stick tap to Flames PR guru Dalton Ulrich for compiling these nuggets
What the Oilers were saying Saturday ahead of Game 3:
Edmonton bench boss Jay Woodcroft:
"For us, today was about recalibrating our mindset and separating what has happened from what can happen. The same way we calibrated after game number one. So our focus us on preparing for game number three tomorrow."
Leon Draisaitl:
"Obviously we need to make sure we start a little better, even though I thought our start was fairly good the other night so, never want to go down two nothing ina game so that's something we can improve on."
Evan Bouchard:
"Like you said, they pressure hard, they're heavy on the forecheck so the quicker you can get back for pucks, the more time you have with it, so that quarter-second is huge"
