Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Battle of Alberta Preview - Cancun Edition

May 17, 2022, 3:37 PM ET [89 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
As I write this blog from my shaded spot next to one of the many swim up bars nearby, I took some time to think about what this long awaited Battle of Alberta matchup will look like. I was barely born the last time that these two teams faced off in the playoffs back in 1991. Since then, the Oilers and Flames have traded times of being good and bad... just never at the same time which has deprived us of a great matchup in recent history.

Since 91, each team has been able to proudly proclaim on different occasions "we sucked less than you did". This time, one of these teams will end up in the Final 4 and in the Western Conference Finals and the other will not.

Who is the better team?
.
On paper it has to be the Calgary Flames. They finished the regular season 6th in 5 on 5 GF and 1st in 5 on 5 GA. No team allowed fewer goals at 5 on 5 than the Calgary Flames. Edmonton finished 10th in GF and 19th in GA. However since Woodcroft took over Edmonton is a far better matchup for the Flames. Since Feb 11 when JW took over the Flames are 4th in GF with 95 compared to Edmonton in 5th with 93. The Flames are 4th in GA with 66 compared to the Oilers in 11th with 73. Again, Calgary comes out on top but it's far closer than the full regular season numbers would suggest.

I do believe the Oilers have what it takes to win this series but it's going to be an absolute battle. There are some ways I see the Oilers having an advantage.

For starters the LA Kings matchup I think was vital to this team learning how to be successful in the playoffs. LA did not have the horses to keep up with the Oilers offensively and so their strategy became to muck everything up, block shooting lanes and try and bore the Oilers to death. Edmonton lost games 5 and 6 because of how well the Kings implemented this strategy but in Games 6 and 7 the Oil fought tooth and nail and were able to find the dirty ways to score. Now the Calgary Flames are a far superior team to LA but in terms of defensive styles of games there are similarities. Edmonton isn't going to try and run and gun the Flames and will be able to lean back on their round 1 experiences to play a stricter game.

That isn't to say the Oilers don't have their own weapons. We saw Connor McDavid elevate to another new level in Games 6 and 7 and if he can carry that into this Flames series than he might be able to single handedly beat the Flames and will this Edmonton team to victory. The Dallas Stars really only had one strong offensive line to throw at the Flames and were still able to put up 2 or 3 goals a game against Markstrom. If RNH, Hyman, Yamamoto, McLeod, and Puljujarvi can pot some goals it will help prevent Drai McDavid and Kane from shouldering all the load.

I do think the key to the Oilers winning this series is winning game 1 and finding some offensive successes early. Like the Kings, Calgary would be perfectly happy with a 1-0 win every time. If Calgary scores first than they will lock things down tight. An Oilers win first would force Calgary to make some changes and perhaps try to come put in a more run and gun style which would suit Ednonton fine.

Now could thing go really badly here? Absolutely. For starters we know Draisaitl is dealing with an injury, likely some kind of ankle sprain which means we will probably see him with McDavid and unable to take the brunt of centering his own line. RNH and Kane also missed the last practice though Woodcroft assures us both will be ready to play in game 1. Those are some key players for Edmonton and if they have exhausted everything in the tank to get the team here they might just crumble to Calgary.

Not that Calgary remains completely unscathed. Tanev may or may not play Game 1 but that is a key piece on the Flames blue line that might not be at 100%.

The last thing to discuss is how to stop Tkachuk and Gaudreau and Lindholm. Tkachuk was off his game early in the Stars series trying to fight all the time. It almost cost the Flames and once he smartened up than the Flames focused on playing their game. Perhaps Yamamoto and Kassian and some other players can get him engaged in the dumb physical stuff and keep on of Calgarys best players off the ice.

Welp time to grab another drink. I will be watching the game with all of you tomorrow!!!
Join the Discussion: » 89 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Sean Maloughney
» Oilers vs Kings - Round 1, Round 3?
» Oilers vs Jets - A WAY TOO EARLY Discussion about Trading Draisaitl
» Oilers Recent Floundering Show Failure To Address Real Issues
» Oilers vs Canadiens - Sorting Out The Blueline
» Oilers vs Caps - Blink and You'll Miss It