Calgary Flames @ Edmonton Oilers, 8 PM MT, Rogers Place, Edmonton AB

Calgary Flames (0-0-0) - Edmonton Oilers (1-0-0)

TV: CBC, SNE, SNO, SNP - Radio: Sportsnet 960

Odds: Calgary -105 - Edmonton -115 - O/U: 6.5

The Calgary Flames will attempt to end a streak of futility on opening night that is as old as some of our writer’s here at M&G. The Flames are 2-16-2 in their last 20 season openers and haven’t won a season opener since 2009. If you are counting at home, that’s 11 straight “L’s” to start a season and it won’t be an easy task this time around either.

The Flames get to open their season against their hated rivals, the Edmonton Oilers Saturday night in Edmonton. The same Oilers team that stuck it to the Flames last season by winning 6 out the 10 games they played against each other and 4 out of 5 in Edmonton. So, who’s feeling the optimism?

Both Calgary and Edmonton really didn’t add a ton of star power to their rosters in the offseason, so it’s kind of like looking at the same squads as last year...talent wise. Edmonton added former Flames centre Derek Ryan and aging Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith. The Flames big additions were Blake Coleman (suspended), Erik Gudbranson and Nikita Zadorov. Again, who’s excited?!

Calgary’s big test will be trying to slow down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with their newly revamped, Mark Giordano-less defence. McDavid (18) and Draisaitl (14) torched the Flames last season to the tune of 32 combined points in the 10 games the two teams played. If the Flames have any hope of taking home an opening night victory they have to hold those two in check. But what’s waiting beyond those two isn’t exactly a cake walk either. Jesse Puljujarvi is poised to break out this season and he’s been a thorn in the Flames side. In his last 15 games he has 10 points against the Flames and scored in Edmonton’s opener versus Vancouver.

For the Flames, the key is going to be quality possession, quality shots and staying out of the box. The Flames top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm will need to set the pace for the Flames and get them out to an early lead. Calgary’s defence will have to limit their turnovers and keep an eye on Edmonton’s top guns or the Flames could be leaving Edmonton with their 12th straight opening night loss.

Puck drop is at 8 PM MT from Rogers Place in Edmonton.

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