Preview: Calgary Flames @ Edmonton Oilers 1/25/18 (49/82): It’s Round 3 Of The Battle Of Alberta….

Calgary Flames @ Edmonton Oilers, 7 PM MT, Rogers Place, Edmonton AB

The Flames and their 3 game losing streak will head up the road to Edmonton Thursday night for Round 3 of the Battle Of Alberta.

Calgary has dropped three straight in maddening fashion, having blown leads and lost in either OT or a SO. The glass half full says at least the Flames collected 3 points, the 10th time in a row they have done so. The glass half empty says the Flames keep blowing leads and have scored exactly 3 goals in their last 3 games. Miraculously the Flames are still holding on to a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Calgary’s special teams, much like the ACTUAL team, have fluctuated and been streaky all season. The PP unit has scored in 3 of their last 5 games, but is 4-17 over that stretch with the man advantage, including an 0-5 against the Kings. The PK meanwhile continues to climb, having killed off 31 of the last 34 penalties they have taken.

The Oilers find themselves on the outside looking in in regards to the playoffs. Edmonton has dropped 8 out of their last 12 including three 5-0 losses to LA, Buffalo and Winnipeg. Cam Talbot has started 15 of the Oilers last 16 games. Over that stretch he is 7-7-1 and was involved in all three games where the Oilers were shut out.

The Oilers are 10-13-1 at home, which bodes well for a Calgary team that is 13-5-4 away from the Saddledome. Where the Oilers hold an advantage here is they have owned the Flames as of late. In their last 10 meeting the Oilers are 7-3-0 against the Flames, including winning the last 6 games the two teams have played.

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Edmonton Oilers Coverage: Copper & Blue

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 1 LA Kings 2 (OT)

Score early. Allow a late goal. Get to OT. Lose. Lather, rinse repeat. Mike Smith deserved better as the Flames could muster only 1 goal, a first period marker by Sean Monahan. Here’s our recap and the highlights from NHL.com

Edmonton Oilers 0 Buffalo Sabres 5

Flames fans shouldn’t feel too bad losing to Buffalo 2-1 because the Oilers gave up a 5 spot to the worst team in the NHL Tuesday night. Jack Eichel had a goal and 3 assists for Buffalo and Cam Talbot gave up 4 goals on 22 shots before being lifted in favor of Al Montoya. Copper & Blue has the recap and NHL.com provides the highlights.

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Sean Monahan (C). The Flames centre had Calgary’s only goal Wednesday night, his team leading 22nd and he had a whopping 8 SOG in the 2-1 OT loss. Monahan was all over the ice, providing Calgary with their best scoring opportunities throughout the game. Monahan has 4 points in his last 5 games, 2 of which are goals. In 20 career games against the Oilers Sean Monahan has 10 points.

Edmonton Oilers

Patrick Maroon (F). Maroon is on a little goal scoring streak lately. The NHL vet has 4 goals in his last 5 games upping his total on the season to 13. Of Maroon’s 26 points, 15 of them have come at Rogers Place and in 2 meetings this season he has a goal and an assist against the Flames.

by Mark Parkinson