The Thumb Battle of Alberta

Game Preview #77

I miss the original Battle of Alberta of the 80s. This is not going to be one of those games. The two teams usually get up to play each other a little more than usual but nothing is on the line this time.

At this point in the season barring a literal implosion by the Ducks AND the Stars, the Flames are out, even if they win out it won’t matter. So I am hoping to see more Lance Bouma, more starts for Henrik Karlsson, more ice time for Mikael Backlund and hopefully a few steps closer to some milestones for Jarome Iginla.

Jarome is 8 points away from his 1000^th point and that would be a great way to end the Flames season on a positive note.

Go Iggy Go.

More of the usual game preview after the jump.

The Stat Rack

Number Crunch

The Oilers are bottom three in the NHL in all 5 categories. I don’t see much point on dwelling on the numbers above they should spell out the situation the Oilers are in at the moment and the fact that the Flames should be well equipped to take them out.

Alive in the Last Five

Flames

Jarome Iginla – 4G 1A -3 in his last 5GP

Rene Bourque – 3G 3A +1 in his last 5GP

Mark Giordano – 1G 3A (even) in his last 5GP

Oilers

Jordan Eberle 2G 0A -1 in his last 3GP

Anticipated Roster (subject to change by game time)

Anticipated Game Style

By normal expectations the Flames should easily take out the Oilers. The Oilers have one of the weakest D’s in the NHL and the Flames have a top 5 offense in 2011. Last I checked they were #1 in GF since the all-star break.

BUT the Flames may come out as a team dejected and down after the loss in San Jose and the Oilers may give them a surprise. Brent Sutter is still starting Miikka Kiprusoff so he is not giving up on the season.

One on One

Jarome Iginla vs Jordan Eberle

I’ve been trying to make time through out the year to watch as many Oiler games as I can, call it early scouting, call it what you will. I am interested in watching their young players play.

It has been a very tough season for them but Taylor Hall is the real deal and I think Jordan Eberle will turn out to be the same but this game and this year is not the time to worry about them. Next year probably won’t be either.

And for Iggy I am hoping for multi-point games for him in these last two games against the Oilers so he can hit his 1000^th point mark. Only 8 points away.

Go Iggy Go

The Magic 8-Ball

The Magic 8-ball is on the recharger like Taylor Hall at the moment…

by M Smith