There is a good amount to cover about where the 18-11-6 Calgary Flames and the 18-16-2 Edmonton Oilers are at in their respective seasons, but first it might be a good idea to recognize the underlying potential of this game.
Neither team is where they want to be in terms of on-ice quality. The Flames are a lowly 3-6-1 in their last ten including a four game losing streak. Their 5-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday managed to ease tension among fans and the organization, but with the topic of consistency, or lack there of, being an acknowledged reason why this core hasn’t been able to elevate their status to “contender…— You better believe they’ll be playing for keeps tonight. The further they can get themselves from the black-mark of 3-6-1 the better.
The Panthers game was a great step, but they have to not only find a way to bring that same level of hockey every night; they also need to improve on it. Staying focused and getting enough little things going right is how they can potentially elevate.
The issue with tonight— is that it may be hard to focus on the little things.
They are headed into Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta to play the most frustrated team in the NHL. Their arch rival. The Oilers.
Dropping seven games in a row and 13 of their last 15 games— the Edmonton Oilers are in a mid-season deluge comparable only to their lowest of seasons during the 2010’s.
Nail Yakupov, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, Darnell Nurse, even Connor McDavid— all products of low periods such as the one Oilers fans are experiencing right now.
Oilers fans are understandably enraged about going through another one of these. You only need to go back to November 11th last year to find yourself in a time of plenty for Oilers fans. Winning 10 of their first twelve games of the season while bringing out the 1st ranked power play in the league every night had to inspire a great deal of hope in Oilers faithful.
Building that much hope to meet another brutal January is more than enough for some fans. Three jerseys were thrown on the ice in their 6-0 loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday. Darnell Nurse was around the same level; losing his temper and throwing a massive slash to the calf of a Panthers defenseman in the dying minutes of the third period. Sticks were broken, words were said— the Panthers seemed relieved to be getting off the ice without any further incidents.
That’s where the Oilers are at right now.
If they go out there and concede a goal or two early— this game could turn sour. It could become more than just a hockey game. This game could easily turn into a blood bath.
Three factors that may push this game over the top:
• The Flames are great at scoring early game goals this season.
• The Flames have a score to settle from game 1 on October 16th in a 5-2 loss.
• Matthew Tkachuk has surely seen some tape of how “pissy… the Oilers are right now.
You should probably take a look at the tale of the tape between these two teams before going forward.
You may be surprised to see the Oilers’ power play still in 2nd place. You may also be surprised to find out that this is the first time since week one that they have been out of 1st place. For most of their young season they have been converting above 30% with the extra man on the ice. Losing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Hopkins has been devastating in that regard.
While fans may be bitterly disputing whether the likes of Evander Kane would not only be a good decision— but the right decision; there is no debating that they are missing a piece on the power play.
Projected lineup courtesy of Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman Lucic-Monahan-Dube Lewis-Richardson-Ritchie
Hanifin-Andersson Kylington-Tanev Zadorov-Gudbranson
Markstrom
McSleepy The generational talent center from Richmond Hill, Ontario has struggled greatly of late. He doesn’t have a goal yet in the year of 2022 and today is January 22.
Has there been any point in his career where he has gone this cold?
Luckily for Oilers fans, in 32 games against the Flames, Connor McDavid has 27 goals and 17 assists to the tune of 43 points. He feasts on them. The team lives and dies on whether Connor can take over a game. With the team well beyond a breaking point— McDavid simply has to find a way to get back to playing his game tonight. The fallout will be massive if he doesn’t.
McDavid has four seasons remaining after this one on his eight year contract.
Costing them Goaltending has been a deciding factor in many of the Oilers losses of late. Projected starter Mikko Koskinen has had a rough season. 21 games played, .895 save percentage, twelve wins.
Anyone bearing witness to the Panthers/Oilers game on Thursday would agree that the team isn’t confident in his abilities. He posted .786 that night. Over his last five games he is .846.
Fault is on GM Ken Holland for this goalie mess. Putting faith in 39 year old Mike Smith to be the starter, who is constantly fighting groin issues, was a horrible decision. Smith has gotten into only six games. The Oilers had room to make a move and Ken simply did not.
While it’s an interesting read whenever the Flames’ northern rivals are struggling, there is still a solid chance that the Oilers show up for this game. The Oilers roster has a habit of stepping up against the Flames. This will be such an interesting game to sit back and enjoy. A turning point away from the “all is lost moment… or throwing gasoline on an already blazing inferno. Simply put: redemption or misery. Those are the stakes tonight at 8pm.
And who doesn’t like a high-stakes game in January?
It’s important to remember that times will be good and times will be bad for both teams. You don’t need to dig too hard into fans of the opposition as things are rough already. Hockeybuzz’s own Sean Maloney put it well last year after the Oilers beat the Flames 7-1:
Laughter and mockery will not be a good look for you during this time Oilers fans as your team is only now starting to come out of the dark days. And this is an opportunity for us to handle things with respect and grace. My hope is that the remaining Battle of Alberta's this season are a competitive affair and that both teams find a way to play entertaining hockey. Even though Calgary is a hated rival, the hockey world is better when both teams are at their best. Sorry Flames fans but the rest of this season might be a rough ride.
Well said, Sean.
Trevor Neufeld