Calgary Flames: Mike Smith shines in loss to the Edmonton Oilers

The season opener didn’t go as the Calgary Flames had hoped. Goaltender Mike Smith shines as the Edmonton Oilers blanked the Flames 3-0.

Listen, I’m tired of being disappointed in the season opener for the eighth year in a row. Yes, the Calgary Flames lost in their season opener for the eighth year in a row. An active NHL record right now. No, I’m not crying, you’re crying.

The Flames started off the first period decently. I mean, decent compared to their other periods. The Edmonton McDavids made the score 1-0 11 minutes in. The Oilers had 16 shots compared to the Flames 12 shots, and goaltender Mike Smith looked solid and confident. He was easily the best player for the Flames tonight.

Then the second period came and they somewhat fell apart. The Oilers completely dominated them basically all period except for the last couple of minutes. While no goal was scored, the Oilers had 13 shots compared to the Flames’ nine. In this period, the Flames had shot-against attempts of 24-17.

Calgary Flames

Then the third period came and again, the Flames somewhat fell apart again. The Oilers managed 16 shot against compared to just five. Connor McDavid got his second goal of the night. Then his third with the empty-net. Out come the hats.

I mean, does it really count as a hat-trick if one goal is an empty net? Let’s just pretend it doesn’t for the sake of my sanity. This was the first time in Oilers franchise history that a player scores a hat-trick in the season-opener. So yeah, not really a big deal or anything. Let’s move on.

We already know Mike Smith was incredible tonight. He may have been the player that Calgary Flames fans were most worried about, but he was easily the least-worrisome player tonight. He made 42 saves while facing 44 shots, earning the second star of the game. I was hoping they would just dress him up as a forward when he left the net for the extra attacker.

But now let’s talk about what didn’t work.

Tanner Glass and Troy Brouwer

Tanner Glass was easily the worst player on the ice tonight. And the stats say it too. He had an embarrassing CF% or 23.81% and Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, Sam Bennett, and Troy Brouwer all had 0% CF% when playing with Glass. Keep in mind that it was less than two minutes each player, but something to keep note of.

Sam Bennett looked like one of the better forwards tonight, even if the stats don’t show it, but that could definitely be attributed to playing on a line with Troy Brouwer, something that’s been plaguing him since last season. Speaking of Troy Brouwer, he was also… not great, to put it lightly.

No, that’s not a typo. The Oilers managed 20 shot attempts in just four minutes when it was Mcdavid facing against Troy Brouwer. I wish this was a joke.

The top line (Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, Micheal Ferland) and the top defensive pairing (Gio and Dougie) were the only Flames players to have CF% of over 50%. Like I said, Bennett definitely looked like one of the better forwards tonight, but unfortunately, it doesn’t show on paper.

Next: New Flames fan? We've got you covered!

Let’s just hope that the Flames lord and saviour, Jaromir Jagr, suits up for the home-opener on Saturday. I mean, that’s if he even wants to.