Todd Cordell: Turnovers, goaltending sink the Flames in 7-4 loss to the Oilers

Marc Andre Fleury is still available Make Pittsburgh an offer

GG not on the hot seat by any means but he made some head scratching decisions yesterday

Marc Andre Fleury is still available Make Pittsburgh an offer
- holeinone

Planning on running with mike condon ?

So how good are your defensemen and overall team defense.

Cause that's how good your goaltending will be.

So how good are your defensemen and overall team defense.

Cause that's how good your goaltending will be.
- Gerk

Let me guess, you didn't watch the game.

elliott needs to tighten thing sup, some of those were some softies.
I still dont understand how Mcdavid was awarded a PS....sure a penalty, but I dont see how it was a PS.

Fun game to watch though....now I wait for my team to rip my heart out opening night too

So how good are your defensemen and overall team defense.

Cause that's how good your goaltending will be.
- Gerk

We actually outshot Edmonton and kept them to under 30 shots. I don't get why they are mixing up the D pairings to virtually the same pairings that failed early last year when Hartley tried the same thing! Edmonton has an elite top line beyond that they are average so put Gio and Brodie out against that top line.

Elliot had a couple of brutal goals. He'll get a pass from me for last night, although it did remind me of last season where any momentum would be counteracted by a horrible goal.

Grossman was the momentum killer last night. Kulak in and him out should be the only line-up change for tomorrow. Him and that stupid penalty shot. I don't know how Gaudreau can get molested in one end then the play moves to the other end and a bone head call is made. His stick wasn't even on McDavid.

Thanks for the write up Todd.

Well, I guess I am glad that Grossman was exposed for what he is first game into the season. Slow in the feet and slow in the head. What a waste of cap space...

What an absolute sideshow that PS was. Between the ceremony and that totally unwarranted call, it was enough to make me puke. And that's not even talking about Grossman yet. He was so unbelievably poor its mindblowing.

Well, putting a positive spin on things, Grossmann made his presence felt on every shift. His play impacted the flow of the game and he's exactly as advertised. Not to be overlooked was that he made a beautiful tape-to-tape pass on the game's opening goal.

Both teams were pretty shaky defensively...I guess that's typical for the first game. I'm sure Friday night will be much tighter...Elliott gave up a couple of stinkers, but so did Talbot...Flames second line looked good, Oilers third line looked good. As an Oilers fan I was horrified by their power play of course. Can we just please get both of these teams to face each other in the playoffs? I was at those games back in '91 - best series ever...big hits every shift...I miss that...hear's hoping...

Well, putting a positive spin on things, Grossmann made his presence felt on every shift. His play impacted the flow of the game and he's exactly as advertised. Not to be overlooked was that he made a beautiful tape-to-tape pass on the game's opening goal.

- ElPhantasmo69

Well, putting a positive spin on things, Grossmann made his presence felt on every shift. His play impacted the flow of the game and he's exactly as advertised. Not to be overlooked was that he made a beautiful tape-to-tape pass on the game's opening goal.
- ElPhantasmo69

As long as the Flames keep playing the way they do, any goalie they bring in is going to look bad.

As long as the Flames keep playing the way they do, any goalie they bring in is going to look bad.
- Hunkulese

This seems rather positive ...even for you

As long as the Flames keep playing the way they do, any goalie they bring in is going to look bad.
- Hunkulese

Can I get your unbiased assessment on how the Flames play?

As others have mentioned team play is what is making Calgary look bad right now and last year. Any goalie in that game was not going to be able come out looking good in any way shape or form.

It's only game one but its hard not to notice the amount of cheating going on. Not unusual when trailing most the game but the Flames didn't look any different than when Hartley was behind the bench. Buy in needs to happen quick.

As others have mentioned team play is what is making Calgary look bad right now and last year. Any goalie in that game was not going to be able come out looking good in any way shape or form.

It's only game one but its hard not to notice the amount of cheating going on. Not unusual when trailing most the game but the Flames didn't look any different than when Hartley was behind the bench. Buy in needs to happen quick.
- Aerchon

If they keep playing like they did last night then yes you have all the right in the world to bring this up.

As an Oil fan you more than anyone know it might take more than one game to for a team to "get" the new systems. Lets see how hey are doing after 10 games.

Let me guess, you didn't watch the game.
- tincup

Elliott's biggest problem is he plays mind games with himself

I have a question for you boys, couldn't Gulu have used his coaches challenge on that penalty shot call?!!

Should have traded for Bishop instead. At least management was not dumb enough to sign Elliott to a long term contract like the Leafs did with Toskala part 2 in the summer.

This seems rather positive ...even for you
- Redmile247

I'm confused. That's pretty much all I said last year. I've always thought the goalies (well at least Ramo) didn't deserve nearly as much blame as they got. The Flames put their goalies in positions to look bad more than almost every other team.

Elliott definitely wasn't great last night but he did make some great saves and 4 of the goals were a direct result of brutal turnovers that were easily avoidable or defensive breakdowns.

I thought Grossman had a chance to improve the team because they could use a stay at home defenceman and someone to clear the net on the penalty kill, but why was he trying to dangle in the offensive zone when he had zero chance of catching anyone if it didn't work?

Marc Andre Fleury is still available Make Pittsburgh an offer
- holeinone

Been there done that...

As others have mentioned team play is what is making Calgary look bad right now and last year. Any goalie in that game was not going to be able come out looking good in any way shape or form.

It's only game one but its hard not to notice the amount of cheating going on. Not unusual when trailing most the game but the Flames didn't look any different than when Hartley was behind the bench. Buy in needs to happen quick.
- Aerchon

Last night looked like a team that just opened training camp which is part true

I'm not going to be surprised if this team starts 5-7-1 ...and then goes 10-1-2