Preview: Calgary Flames vs Edmonton Oilers 3/13/18 (71/82): JUST BEAT EDMONTON ALREADY!

Calgary Flames vs Edmonton Oilers, 7 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

The Flames will play game 2 of a three game home stand tonight when their hated rivals the Edmonton Oilers come to the Saddledome. Look, you can put out all the stats and all the analysis you want, but only one thing matters right now: Calgary has lost 7 straight to the Oilers, including the first 3 meetings between the 2 teams this year. The Flames have been outscored 14-8, including an opening night 3-0 blanking back on October 4th.

The Flames can’t seem to get out of their own way when it comes to Edmonton lately and this season it’s equally as frustrating. It’s not like Edmonton is some elite team smashing through teams this year. The Oilers are struggling this year, sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference and WAY out of the playoff picture, yet here they are 3-0-0 against the Flames in 2017-18.

IF the Flames want to end this streak of futility against the Oilers they need to find a way to slow down Connor McDavid. In 3 games against the Flames this season he has 3 goals and 2 assists and during the 7 game winning streak he has 12 points total. Good grief.

The Saddledome hasn’t been good to the Flames either when it comes to Edmonton. Calgary is 4-6-0 on home ice in their last 10 times hosting their provincial rivals. That enough negative for you?

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Edmonton Oilers Coverage: Copper & Blue

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 2 NY Islanders 5

The Islanders had lost 8 in a row coming into this game and the Flames were more than happy to end that streak. Calgary gave up 3 first period goals and the Isles never looked back. Here’s our recap and the highlights from NHL.com

Edmonton Oilers 4 Minnesota Wild 1

Break up the Oilers! Edmonton has won 3 straight, the last being a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Connor McDavid was his usual self collecting a 3 point night in the win. Copper & Blue has the recap and NHL.com has the highlights.

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Johnny Gaudreau (F). The Flames star winger has been heating up lately. Gaudreau has 6 points in his last 4 games, including a 2 point effort in Calgary’s 5-2 loss to the Islanders Sunday night. In 3 games against the Oilers this season Johnny Gaudreau has 3 points.

Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid (C). It’s like shooting fish in a barrel with Gaudreau and McDavid, but they are two of the league’s young, marquee stars. McDavid is having another phenomenal season with 84 points and getting 9 of those points in his last 5 games. Even less comforting for Flames fans is the fact that 40 of McDavid’s points have come in Edmonton’s 33 road games.

by Mark Parkinson