Calgary & Edmonton Square Off with the Season Series on the Line

Calgary Flames @ Edmonton Oilers, 8:00 PM MT, Rogers Place, Edmonton AB

TV: CBC (HNIC), SN- Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames (22-24-3, 47 pts) – Edmonton Oilers (29-18-2, 60 pts)

NHL Standings

After being down in the series 2-5-0 at one point and having lost 2 games with 7 goals given up, there certainly wasn’t much hope in these Flames. But just like their dwindling playoff chances, their strong previous 2 weeks earned them 2 wins against the Oilers, and have the opportunity to end 2020-21 with a .500 record against their biggest rival.

Both these teams faced each other for their last game, so there’s not a lot of new storylines that were generated from a fairly tame Round 9. Elias Lindholm scored 2 goals while Jacob Markstrom continued to be red hot on Thursday night, in a 3-1 Flames win.

Calgary received a heavy gut punch last night, as the Jets blew a 3-1 lead and fell 5-3 to Montreal, who further inscreased their lead on the final playoff spot. The Canadiens are back in action tonight against Ottawa, with Cayden Primeau getting the start.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Flames: Markstrom (E): 18-17-2, 2.68 GAA, .905 SV%

Oilers: Smith (C): 17-6-2, 2.35 GAA, .922 SV%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals- Lindholm (17), Points- Lindholm (43), PIM- Tkachuk (43), Save%- Markstrom (.905)

Oilers: Goals- McDavid (28), Points- McDavid (84), PIM: Nurse (46), Save%- Smith (.923)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Edmonton Oilers Coverage: Copper & Blue

Last Time Out

Flames 3 @ Oilers 1, April 29th

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Elias Lindholm: 2 goals in previous matchup to bring his season total up to 6 goals and 10 points in 9 games against the Oilers in 2020-21

Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid: Consecutive Oiler losses to the Flames have also seen McDavid go pointless in both, which is going to be a tough streak to extend.

by Gordie Taylor