THE SKINNY: FLAMES VS. OILERS - GAME 2
Calgary looks to go 2-0 in second-round series against Edmonton
Video: Brendan Parker and Peter Loubardias tee up Game 2
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LEADING SCORERS:
Flames:
1. Johnny Gaudreau (2-9-11)
2. Matthew Tkachuk (4-5-9)
3. Elias Lindholm (4-3-7)
Stars:
1. Connor McDavid (5-13-18)
2. Leon Draisaitl (6-6-12)
3. Evander Kane (7-2-9)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Powerplay:
Flames - 11.1% (14th)
Oilers - 30.4% (3rd)
Penalty-Kill:
Flames - 92.9% (2nd)
Oilers - 85.2% (6th)
Shot Attempts:
Flames - 59.52% (2nd)
Oilers - 49.89% (8th)
High-Danger Scoring Chances:
Flames - 61.54% (2nd)
Oilers - 53.19% (5th)
Game 1- W 9-6
Game 2-May 20, 8:30 p.m. - vs. Oilers
Game 3- May 22, 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
Game 1 didn't disappoint.
Fans watching at the Scotiabank Saddledome and from home were treated to a helluva show as the Flames and Oilers combined for 15 goals.
Yes, you read that right - 15 goals. It was the Flames who drew first blood with the 9-6 win to take the early series lead in what was a crazy see-saw battle.
In the end a win is a win, but not the blueprint they want to follow the rest of the way.
"We talked about what our game plan is for the series so that we're on task for that and make sure we try to execute that," Flames head coach Darryl Sutter said Thursday. "We don't really talk about defensive responsibilities very much with our group, quite honest, which sounds crazy because you scored nine goals. But our passing and shooting and our skill execution was very sloppy.
"You stay focused on what the mission is and try to get everybody on task. You try to not only manage your team but manage who is on the ice, too. Quite honest, end of the day, it,s up to the player to execute. Make the play he's supposed to."
Video: "Stay focused on what the mission is"
It was a reoccurring sound bite after the game: needing to be better defensively and not getting caught up in the emotions and the run-and-gun style.
It's not the way they claimed the Pacific Division crown and got this far into the post-season. All year it's been about a structured checking mentality that saw them allow the third least amount of goals in the league during the regular season with 206.
After all, you aren't always going to win allowing six.
"Obviously I've got to be better," Jacob Markstrom said. "Everyone knows that, myself included. To have a game like that in the playoffs and still come out with the win, that's a good feeling.
"The guys definitely bailed me out."
Video: "Today was just put that one behind us"
Still, they're up 1-0 and know what they have to do going forward.
"It's easy to move on since we got the win," Markstrom said. "You just need to bear down and see what you need to feel better and play better to get it done.
"With the short travel it's plenty of time to go on the ice to then go work on your game a bit."
This wasn't the first time this year that the Flames and Oilers have had a high-scoring clash.
And Markstrom was quick to recall it.
"This was the second time I've been a part of it," he said. "I've been in the same division as Edmonton for many years and obviously last year we played them a ton, too. So … I mean if we win, I'm happy."
It was back on March 26 that the Flames came out on top with an almost identical score line of 9-5 which just like Game 1, saw the Flames pull away in the third period with three goals in the final 20 minutes.
Funny how things work out.
Matthew Tkachuk had himself a night with a hattrick performance in Game 1 becoming the sixth different player in franchise history to score a playoff hattrick and first since Theo Fleury in Game 4 of the 1995 Conference Quarterfinals.
He also is just the second Flames player to score a hattrick against the Oilers in a playoff game, joining Paul Reinhart who accomplished the feat in 1983.
What made the night that much better was his family being in attendance.
Younger brother Brady has been a fixture on the broadcast cheering on his big bro and giving high fives in the crowd.
It's definitely awesome to see.
"Brady is bringing a lot of the energy to the Saddledome," Noah Hanifin said. "Matthew is a huge part of the team, he's a leader for us and always steps up in big games and that's somebody you want on your team."
"I'm happy to see his whole family enjoy the game."
Tweet from @NHLFlames: Brady is a whole vibe 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zayHMKlMzk
JACK ADAMS FINALIST: Darryl Sutter was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award Thursday morning. Sutter oversaw the biggest season-over-season improvement by any team in the league as the Flames, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2020-21 (26-27-3, .491), stormed to a Pacific Division title with the NHL's sixth-best record (50-21-11, .677). He aims to become the second winner in franchise history, following Bob Hartley's victory in 2014-15, and would match the feat of his brother Brian Sutter, who won the award with the St. Louis Blues in 1990-91.
"From the time Darryl came in, that summer was huge," said Jacob Markstrom. "It was something he pushed on us, that we need to be prepared to play a long season and go into playoffs. The structure and the way he wanted us to play, he really put a stamp on it when you have a full training camp and the summer."
FAST START: It didn't take long for the C of Red to erupt during Game 1 as Elias Lindholm and Andrew Mangiapane each scored in the opening 51 seconds. The two quick markers established an NHL record for the fastest two goals to start of a playoff contest, eclipsed the previous mark of 54 seconds set by the Penguins in Game 5 of the 1993 Division Finals (Mario Lemieux & Rick Tocchet).
Stick tap to Flames PR guru Dalton Ulrich for compiling these nuggets
What the Oilers were saying ahead of Game 2:
Head coach Jay Woodcroft:
"For us, I really believe we have to get back to defending properly. That is something that we've hung our hats on for the last three months or so. I think it's what's led to some of our success. We've always held the belief that we feel that we're going to score enough to win games, but for us, our work back in our own end, our detail in our own end certainly is an area of improvement we want to focus on."
Mike Smith:
"It's playoffs. There are no excuses at this point. You want to play your best hockey at this time of the year, I've said it numerous times. It's a long series, it's a long series. Stuff can happen during the course of a series, it's about staying the course and not letting games like that affect you mentally and physically. I feel as good as I've felt all season long, it's not about that. It's about getting the job done when you've been giving the opportunity. Like I said, no panic in your game. That's one game, learn from it and move on."
Zach Hyman:
"A bunch of things to be honest. Defensive awareness, being physical, being hard to play against. We gave up way too many Grade-A chances early on. Before we could blink, we were down 2-0, so that can't happen in a playoff game in Round Two. Just numerous things, but you just wash that one away and get ready for the next one."
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