In much expected fashion, the Calgary Flames defeated the Edmonton Oilers to the tune of a 4-0 score tonight. Given that the Oilers sent almost an entirely B squad roster — it’s just a relief to see the Flames still winning games that they should win. It hasn’t always been that way. Far too many times have the AHL-bound groups from teams such as the Panthers or the Canucks stolen a preseason win from a primarily opening night roster in front of a home crowd.
A few observations.
The Good
The forth line of Sutter-Bishop-McLain looked excellent once again. A goal and an assist for Brett Sutter puts him at two goals and an assist in two preseason games. Pardon me while I delete the article weighing the pros and cons of his signing.
The other winger on that line, Mitch McLain, looked dangerous any time he had the puck in the offensive zone. The 28 year old may be too old to be considered a prospect, but if his play this preseason is the final product of his development: he looks pretty good. He pushed around defenders, he has a knack for getting a stick on loose pucks out front, he’s seemingly very hard to knock off the puck — if he wasn’t written off already by his AHL contract, he may be in conversation as a dark horse. There is a lot to like about his game.
Nikita Zadorov looked excellent. Bullying players behind the play and using his reach to break open space. Nikita appears to have had a solid offseason.
And, hey, he’s a year younger than Mitch McLain.
The first line, the Backlund-Kadri-Coleman line, and the Lucic-Rooney-Lewis unit all looked solid.
With a couple exceptions.
The Bad
Milan Lucic did an interview with Ryan Francis recently. A shoulder injury sustained in the second round at the hands of 5’10” 176lb Josh Archibald was a point of conversation and Milan didn’t exactly make it clear that he had fully recovered from the injury.
He made a few very tight hits, but seemed off. Just a theory that he may need a month or two before Lucic is back in form.
The Ugly
Speaking of veterans, Tyler Toffoli was proverbially sucking air. Perhaps he has a lingering injury that prevented him from intensive offseason conditioning. Perhaps it’s any number of things that happen in life. He has overshot to the left side a number of times in two games. He missed an empty net goal overcompensating to the right side late in the third. On a second chance to put an empty netter: he took the safe play and sent the puck up the boards to Jonathan Huberdeau who made the game 4-0. Then he looked over to the bench in resignation. Perhaps he was looking at Darryl Sutter.
Preseason is a time to overanalyze hopefuls and write-off veteran performances, but if Adam Ruzicka put in the same night that Tyler Toffoli did tonight — Sutter would have words about it.
Bonus Observation
Dustin Wolf took over in the third period and made nine of nine saves. He looked exceptionally quick and well positioned. An odd equipment observation: it looks like he wears skates that put him up an inch or two compared to the average goaltender skates.
No complaints on that front. His results speak for themselves. Goaltender of the year in his rookie AHL season. An inch of height doesn’t equate to the absolute talent that Dustin possesses. It they help him push off more aggressively, then we may be witnessing the evolving meta of goaltender equipment. Interesting stuff.
It’s either that or I am completely out to lunch. A common occurrence in my experience.
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld 
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»