Well that wasn’t pretty.
In the Calgary Flames’ worst game so far this season, the Edmonton Oilers completely steamrolled the Flames, handing the road team a 4–1 defeat. Now looking at a 2-1 series deficit, facing the best player on the planet burning at supernova levels, the Flames are in must-win mode already.
A win puts the series back to even with a best-of-three remaining on home ice. A loss and things start looking seriously dire.
Round 2, Game 4
Calgary Flames @ Edmonton Oilers
Rogers Place
7:30PM MDT
Lineups
Calgary Flames
Based on Monday’s optional skate, Chris Tanev skated yet again, but remains a question mark for the team. Lines will be updated.
Edmonton Oilers
Lineup has yet to be determined. The expectation is that the Oilers will keep the same lineup as Game 2 and 3.
Series so far
Team | CF% | xGF% | SCF% | HDCF% | SV% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calgary Flames | 58.5% | 58.3% | 57.9% | 59.6% | 86.2% |
Edmonton Oilers | 41.5% | 41.7% | 42.1% | 40.4% | 89.3% |
The Calgary Flames still hold the edge statistically, but the Oilers took a big chunk of that back after Sunday’s game.
The Oilers raised between 3–4 percent in all categories, including a 5% jump in HDCF% at 5v5. The Oilers played like the better team the whole game, but a large portion of that is due to Connor McDavid.
At 5v5, McDavid has been on the ice for 10 GF and 4 GA. Compare that to Elias Lindholm who has been on the ice for 3 GF and 6 GA at 5v5 and it’s clear McDavid has been the Flames’ biggest problem.
If there is a way to slow him down, Calgary needs to find it immediately.
Players to watch
Edmonton: Mike Smith
Mike Smith was terrible to start Game 1, and bad to start Game 2, but since then has been nearly unbeatable. Case in point:
As if Jake Oettinger wasn’t enough, the Flames are getting goalied yet again.
Calgary: Johnny Gaudreau
The Oilers best player has been their best player, time for the Flames’ to be theirs too. Gaudreau has been strong this postseason, but the team needs someone to drag them out of their rut. Gaudreau is the perfect candidate.
He had his seven-game playoff points streak snapped on Sunday, I don’t expect that lasting longer than a game.