Getting to know teammates, getting to know systems, and making sure everyone is on the same page when the puck drops for real and the season opens.

Yikes.

The Calgary Flames were handed a large serving of humility in Edmonton on Thursday night, dropping a 7-4 decision to their provincial rivals.

The most concerning fact of the game was the special teams group as the Flames surrendered six powerplay goals on ten chances, and tossed in an Oiler short handed goal for good measure.

For their part the Flames struck three times with the man advantage on 11 tries and could actually boast a 1-0 decision with five on five play in this wild affair.

A general lack of attention to detail, a disregard for discipline, and yet another shaky performance by Jamie McLennan will have coach and general manager Darryl Sutter in less than a stellar mood when he leans over his telephone for tomorrow's waiver draft.

CAMP IMPLICATIONS

This wasn't the greatest game in which to judge individual talent, but the events that unfolded may play a huge role in the team's final roster.

First off Steve Reinprecht left the game after the first period with what appeared to be a shoulder injury. If he is out for any great deal of time, the Flames will likely be forced to keep Matthew Lombardi to start the season.

Reinprecht, who came over from Colorado via Buffalo this summer, was recovering from summer shoulder surgery, a fact that the average Calgarian only learned a day or so before camp, making one wonder if the Flames themselves knew of his status.

The club gets served a serious blow if they have to rethink their second line.

With that we move on to other players that made or failed to make their case.

DEFENCE 

It was a very difficult game to judge defensive defenceman as every goal against was scored on special teams.

Two of the bubble three dressed in the game with Jesse Wallin and Steve Montador enjoying similar minutes in the 20 minute range. Montador picked up two assists to bring his camp total to four. Wallin was held pointless. 

Montador was on the ice for four Oiler goals and two Flame makers on the night, while Wallin actually managed to avoid the carnage and only see one goal each way from up close.

Andrew Ferrence had a spirited night, fighting Raffe Torres after the latter hit Martin Gelinas from behind.

FORWARDS 

Oleg Saprykin played his most spirited game of the preseason, making it back to back games for the young Russian. He led all Flame shooters with four shots and picked up an assist.

Chuck Kobasew and Blair Betts continued to make their cases, with both notching a goal during the proceedings, their 5th and 1st of the preseason respectively.

The darkhorse, Robert Dome, also did his magic chipping in two more assists to bring his point total to eight in four games.

Matthew Lombardi didn't hit the scoresheet but saw a lot of action and fired two shots at Ty Conklin.

GOALTENDERS 

Radio and Television announcers tend to cut goaltenders slack, but I won't.

It may be a perfectly justified statement to say that the Flames played poorly in the first half of the game and that Jamie McLennan was under siege. 

It may also be true to state that he didn't have a chance on most of the shots he let in.

Yet neither of those facts do an effective job of masking the fact that McLennan yielded seven goals on only 25 shots tonight. The Flames were out shot 14-6 through one period and trailed by a score of 3-0. From that point on the Flames had a 24-11 edge in play but only managed to scare up 4-4 in goals.

A goaltender has to be the difference, not the excuse. With the waiver draft scheduled for 10AM tomorrow morning, it's hard to say what Sutter has in mind, but this performance couldn't leave a great favourable impression for the current backup.