Trevor Neufeld: Battle of Alberta — A Comprehensive Series Preview


Since the article is already +1700 words, here are a few notes on Stockton that didn’t fit the nature of a preview.

It was announced today that the Heat will face off against the Colorado Eagles in round two of the AHL playoffs for a best of five series. The Eagles are the AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.

The Heat have also announced plans to play in Calgary next season. Great news.

The scary thing is that, aside from the flub in the first game, Mike Smith was kind of as good as Oettinger was in the first round. The Flames have a tendency to make goalies look better than they are. It's really going to hurt if the Flames lose the series because Mike Smith steals four games.

On the flip side, if the Oilers needed Smith to be that good to beat a sub-par Kings team in seven games, they have no shot against the Flames.

I really thought the 2 teams have played in the playoffs more recently then 31 years.
That really is remarkable considering they are always in the same division.

Is it okay to refer to this as the Alberta Cup series?
I hope for a great series, currently I do not care who wins. Its funny how as certain series go, I start to cheer for a team over the other…typically the team that starts behind and has to work back..

Thanks Trevor. Teams look as close as they possibly could. One thing that obvious is stay out of the penalty box, Oiiler pp is that good.
Flames in 6!

The scary thing is that, aside from the flub in the first game, Mike Smith was kind of as good as Oettinger was in the first round. The Flames have a tendency to make goalies look better than they are. It's really going to hurt if the Flames lose the series because Mike Smith steals four games.

On the flip side, if the Oilers needed Smith to be that good to beat a sub-par Kings team in seven games, they have no shot against the Flames.
- Squeaky

Smitty looked very lucky in games 5 and 6 vs Kings, he seemed to be fighting it and lost track of the puck. Some lucky bounces bailed him out.

I really thought the 2 teams have played in the playoffs more recently then 31 years.
That really is remarkable considering they are always in the same division.

Is it okay to refer to this as the Alberta Cup series?
I hope for a great series, currently I do not care who wins. Its funny how as certain series go, I start to cheer for a team over the other…typically the team that starts behind and has to work back..
- Mph6689

Battle of Alberta there’s no such thing as the Alberta cup.

The scary thing is that, aside from the flub in the first game, Mike Smith was kind of as good as Oettinger was in the first round. The Flames have a tendency to make goalies look better than they are. It's really going to hurt if the Flames lose the series because Mike Smith steals four games.

On the flip side, if the Oilers needed Smith to be that good to beat a sub-par Kings team in seven games, they have no shot against the Flames.
- Squeaky

Sorry, not even close to Otterbox territory. Made the first save a lot when he saw the puck, which was a lot. 2nd and 4rd saves is where Smitty get scrambly. Saw this when he played the AVS. Looks like he's doing the right thing, but ultimately lets in a goal. There just wasn't even push from the Kings. They were content to play to on or two for.

quite interesting, and this is where I download the music from the movie to make my own ringtone: dzwonki na telefon

Sorry, not even close to Otterbox territory. Made the first save a lot when he saw the puck, which was a lot. 2nd and 4rd saves is where Smitty get scrambly. Saw this when he played the AVS. Looks like he's doing the right thing, but ultimately lets in a goal. There just wasn't even push from the Kings. They were content to play to on or two for.
- Traveldude

He got the job done. He was the number one goalie for goals saved above replacement, had multiple shutouts, and faced 17 more high danger chances than Oettinger did. Smith had also faced more shots until their game sevens. It wasn't like LA wasn't doing anything. The Oilers absolutely won the series because of Smith. It's all up to Smith whether or not they waste another year of McDavid.

https://moneypuck.com/goalies.htm

flames in 6 without so much a flair for the dramatic, probably one, one goal game the rest will be crushing defeats for each team.

The scary thing is that, aside from the flub in the first game, Mike Smith was kind of as good as Oettinger was in the first round. The Flames have a tendency to make goalies look better than they are. It's really going to hurt if the Flames lose the series because Mike Smith steals four games.

On the flip side, if the Oilers needed Smith to be that good to beat a sub-par Kings team in seven games, they have no shot against the Flames.
- Squeaky

dont forget, the Oilers also needed McDavid to play 27 minutes in game 7 to win...

I think the Flames have a better goalie than LA, better and more experienced Defense than LA, and a more potent offense than LA.

He got the job done. He was the number one goalie for goals saved above replacement, had multiple shutouts, and faced 17 more high danger chances than Oettinger did. Smith had also faced more shots until their game sevens. It wasn't like LA wasn't doing anything. The Oilers absolutely won the series because of Smith. It's all up to Smith whether or not they waste another year of McDavid.

https://moneypuck.com/goalies.htm
- Squeaky

Eye test says otherwise. Did you watch the series? I watched both series and Smith is no where near the goalie Oettinger is. He played well most games but game 5 and 6 the puck seemed to hit him a lot and he had a hard time tracking the puck on the rebounds. He scrambled around the crease, and was fortunate LA didn’t get more past him. Smitty’s a competitor, but seems to rattle easily and can be sucked into extra curricular activities after the whistle.
I like our chances, Flames in 6.

dont forget, the Oilers also needed McDavid to play 27 minutes in game 7 to win...

I think the Flames have a better goalie than LA, better and more experienced Defense than LA, and a more potent offense than LA.
- stefano76

Hopefully the big boys will get some chances to lay the body on him a few times and slow him down. I like the job Anderson did on him and Draisetl.

Lindholm, Barkov, Bergeron Selke finalists

Lindholm, Barkov, Bergeron Selke finalists
- TurdFergeson

Bergeron

Eye test says otherwise. Did you watch the series? I watched both series and Smith is no where near the goalie Oettinger is. He played well most games but game 5 and 6 the puck seemed to hit him a lot and he had a hard time tracking the puck on the rebounds. He scrambled around the crease, and was fortunate LA didn’t get more past him. Smitty’s a competitor, but seems to rattle easily and can be sucked into extra curricular activities after the whistle.
I like our chances, Flames in 6.
- K-man25

That's what I saw as well. Smith is all about confidence. He got to play easy teams down the stretch and then used that to build for some difficult games. Get 80 shot attempts on him in a game and he will let in about 2-3. And that's key. Winning games 3-1, 3-2, 4-2. Getting the lead and shutting them down. Quick was good, but couldn't keep them below 2 goals in all but one game. They didn't have the firepower to score once they got down a goal or two.

dont forget, the Oilers also needed McDavid to play 27 minutes in game 7 to win...

I think the Flames have a better goalie than LA, better and more experienced Defense than LA, and a more potent offense than LA.
- stefano76

oh the (frank)ing excuses

Edmonton's Achilles Heal is giving up the first goal and starting games flat with little or no motivation. If they play that way against the Flames it will be a short series.

Both teams struggled against "subpar opponents" in the first round.

oh the (frank)ing excuses
- Reveen

Took Johnny 'regular season' Hockey 4 games to get 'woke' and the Turtlechuk 7 games...

Kane 1.5 mil but 4 players for Toffili rocks!!

KY says Treliving has got this!!

Edmonton's Achilles Heal is giving up the first goal and starting games flat with little or no motivation. If they play that way against the Flames it will be a short series.

Both teams struggled against "subpar opponents" in the first round.
- Reveen

Yep bang on.

Took Johnny 'Playoff Hockey 1 games to get his first point' and Mighty Mathew 7 minutes

Kane the bigger turd getting 1.5 mil but 4 players for Toffili rocks!!

K man says Flames will be better!

Flames in 6

- LordHumungous

I agree Flames in 6!

oh the (frank)ing excuses
- Reveen

Took Johnny 'regular season' Hockey 4 games to get 'woke' and the Turtlechuk 7 games...

Kane 1.5 mil but 4 players for Toffili rocks!!

KY says Treliving has got this!!


- LordHumungous

I wonder if that will effect how much money Philly throws at Johnny Hockey (lame nickname btw).

Edmonton's Achilles Heal is giving up the first goal and starting games flat with little or no motivation. If they play that way against the Flames it will be a short series.

Both teams struggled against "subpar opponents" in the first round.
- Reveen

The Flames didn't struggle. If they weren't on the opposite end of one of the best playoff goalie performances ever, they would've won in 5.

That's what I saw as well. Smith is all about confidence. He got to play easy teams down the stretch and then used that to build for some difficult games. Get 80 shot attempts on him in a game and he will let in about 2-3. And that's key. Winning games 3-1, 3-2, 4-2. Getting the lead and shutting them down. Quick was good, but couldn't keep them below 2 goals in all but one game. They didn't have the firepower to score once they got down a goal or two.
- Traveldude

Every goalie's going to let in 2 or 3 goals if you put 80 shot attempts on them. Only letting in 2 is actually incredible.