Preview: Calgary Flames vs Edmonton Oilers 1/11/20 (47/82): Someone’s Streak Has To End

Calgary Flames vs Edmonton Oilers, 8:00 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

TV: CBC, SN, SN360, SN1, CITY – Radio: SN960

Calgary Flames (23-17-5, 51 Points) – Edmonton Oilers (20-17-6, 46 Points)

The Flames final game of this home stand sees the Edmonton Oilers come to town before Calgary hits the road for three straight starting Monday. The Flames are riding high on a four game winning streak, their second longest (7 being the longest) of the season. The Flames have been able to win high scoring game and tight one goal games over this four game stretch and that’s been a sight for sore eyes. They defeated Minnesota at their own game Thursday night by the score of 2-1. But they also defeated those same Wild in a high scoring 5-4 affair that went to a prolonged shootout.

Part of the reason for Calgary’s renewed success has been the play of backup goalie Cam Talbot. The former Oilers netminder has won his last three starts and only surrendered five goals over that span. He has actually played very well in most, if not all of his starts this year, but he’s been the victim of poor play in front of him. In three of his losses this season Talbot has allowed only two goals.

Speaking of backups, old friend Mike Smith has turned it on for Edmonton as of late. The Calgary cast off has won his last three as well, giving up seven goals in those three games. Prior to this little run Smith was on he dropped five straight starts, including two that went to overtime.

Much like the Flames the Oilers are on a nice little winning streak, having won three in a row and four of their last five. They’ve gotten in to the win column with a flurry of goals, scoring 21 times in those four wins, the high water mark being a seven spot the dropped on the NY Rangers back on New Year’s Eve.

Calgary and Edmonton have met only one time this season, with the Flames dismantling the Oilers in their own building back on December 27th by a score of 5-1. It’s almost as if the schedule makers knew these two teams were going to have to battle it out down the stretch for important points as they will play two more times after tonight.

Starting Goalies

Flames: Talbot (Expected) 6-7-0, 2.51 GAA, .923 SV%

Oilers: Smith (Expected) 10-9-3, 3.01 GAA, .900 SV%

Team Leaders

Flames – Goals: Lindholm (18), Points: Tkachuk (38), PIM: Lucic (36), Save%: Talbot (.923)

Oilers – Goals: Draisaitl (20), Points: McDavid (70), PIM: Kassian (50), Save%: Koskinen (.912)

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 2 – Minnesota Wild 1

Edmonton Oilers 4 – Montreal Canadiens 2

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Johnny Gaudreau (F): 6 points in last 5 games

Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid (C): 7 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson