Oilers down Flames 7-4

It was a fun game to watch, but I'm not sure I wouldn't be dissapointed if I was an Albertan hockey fan.

Where was their defence? Where was their goaltending? Weren't we told that had been improved during the off season?

I'd think Albertans would be worried what's going to happen when they meet the Californian teams with their stronger defences this year.

Games with Vancouver should be interesting because they have a weaker offence, but strong goaltending and defence in the first two pairings. Will offence beat defence can be the question of those.

This season's going to be fun to watch out West though. The three Canadian teams should be close enough to build some good rivalries. In general it could get competitive.

One game does not make a whole season. Hopefully the Oilers fans haven't awarded themselves the Cup already like they always do at the start of the year when it's just as likely they won't make the playoffs again no matter how much McDavid and Lucic are yapping that they will. The Flames are just as likely to tank out again too, and probably be out of the running by the end of December as usual, but at least they don't toss out a bunch of false hope all the time the way the Oilers and the Edmonton sports media do.

If everyone in Edmonton is saying their a cup contender maybe you can post a few quotes of them saying that, they should be easy to find. You'll find them talking about hopefully making the play offs just like Calgary goes on and on.

There's no one talking Stanley Cup anywhere in Alberta.

I always found that it was Leafs fans planning the parade route the second they managed to string together 2 wins in a row.

If everyone in Edmonton is saying their a cup contender maybe you can post a few quotes of them saying that, they should be easy to find. You'll find them talking about hopefully making the play offs just like Calgary goes on and on.

There's no one talking Stanley Cup anywhere in Alberta.

No, it'll be the same thing in Edmonton, either from the fans calling into the radio show or one of those clods from the SUN sports section. You'll win something like six or seven in a row in November, the parade route will get prematurely planned out, then something will happen again that knocks Edmonton out of the running. McDavid will get hurt and miss twenty-five games, or the goaltending will collapse, or someone will want to be traded, or the coach will get fired. And then you're in the same soup you're always in. Hope is one thing, but it doesn't do any good when it becomes a delusion. At least most Flames fans don't start crowing until the playoff spot is actually locked up, although the way some of the dickheads in this city are already jumping all over Elliot after one bad game is a discouraging sign. Not about the quality of the netminder as much as it is some of them here think it's already been won just because Gaudreau signed off on a new contract.

Calgary found the missing piece in Versteeg, in Edmonton he was at best going to see spot duty on their third line, in Calgary he's right up there with Gaudreau on the first line. Hope that works out for him.

And talking about media, if you want to find out what the Oilers or Esks are up too all you have to do is listen to a Calgary sports talk show.

Rogers Place was blessed by native drummers last night, look out now.

One more thing, Elliott should have been watching the ceremony, McDavid used the same move on the penalty shot as he did on the empty net after Gretzky and Messier gave him the puck.