|
Coronato, Huberdeau, Honzek Excel: Flames Sweep Split Squad Vs. Oilers |
|
|
|
|
|
You have to laugh at the absurdity that is the preseason.
With a league-leading 3-0-0 record and an 18-5 goal differential, the Flames have had one of the better preseasons in recent memory. Last night may indeed serve as the high point of the season for the fanbase. After all, the Flames are supposed to a be one of the lower-end groups they’ve rolled out in the last few decades.
As to that, we will see. It’s a game and the players in Calgary appear to be having fun; ultimately that was the goal when Ryan Huska and Craig Conroy took over.
A few notes on a rare split squad sweep over the hated Oilers.
Abomination
Much like the game against Seattle, the Flames won in decisive fashion in another team’s barn against most of an NHL roster. Just think about how many Oilers fans dished out over $50 a seat to watch Jonathan Huberdeau, Anthony Mantha, and Devin Cooley outshine their vaunted “best players in the world.”
Huberdeau finished the night with three assists and his new partner in crime, Mantha, a goal and an assist.
Matt Coronato had two goals and Samuel Honzek three assists. UFA signee netminder Cooley saved 44 of 47 for a .936 save percentage.
The Oilers out-chanced the Flames 72-51 and outshot them 47-26. The Hockey Gods had a preseason laugh.
Meanwhile
The game in Calgary was more even on paper — provided you didn’t pay attention to such matters as the scoresheet. The Oilers outworked the Flames in the first period (57.14CF%, 7-3 in high danger chances) before their opposition put the pedal down and scored six unanswered goals.
Poor Waltteri Ignatjew took over the net for the third and only faced two shots.
Youth Movement
It’s encouraging to see the Flames first round talent playing up to expectations.
Matthew Coronato has three goals and two assists in two preseason games to go with a handful of timely takeaways. Honzek has five helpers and looks much stronger on the puck this time around. Connor Zary scored two goals and added an assist last night in his first outing this year.
Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin and Jakob Pelletier remain snakebitten with zero points in two games, but there is still time to impress.
Trying Things Out
While Head Coach Ryan Huska maintains that most of the system stuff will stay the same this season, the powerplay in Calgary was certainly interesting. The newly hired Brad Larson ran a very wide box that put two forwards behind the goal line. The concept was to set up some big shots from the points following some rapid puck movement. The play didn’t work this time out.
The Flames play games against the Canucks tomorrow (Wednesday) and on Saturday. The first game will be in Vancouver and start at 8:00 p.m. MST and game two will be in Calgary; 7:00 p.m. start.
Stats via naturalstattrick.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»