The Oilers are coming off of one of the biggest wins for the franchise over the last five years. Yeah, things have been that bad in Edmonton - the third game of a random year can be the biggest win in five years
I had a paragraph here, but SB Nation's editor ate it, so, onto the team reports.
Team Reports
Oilers Report: Ralph Krueger stirred the drink again today, inserting Darcy Hordichuk into the lineup in an effort to find more high end skill and goal-scoring prowess. How the Flames match up against the Hordichuk line will determine the outcome of this game.
Nothing else changes for the Oilers.
Flames Report: The Flames are all over the place. Packed with forwards who have been ineffective to this point, the Flames get Roman Cervenka back from injury, which pushed Sven Baertschi to the bottom line. It seems strange to say, but the Flames really miss Olli Jokinen.
Oh yeah - Cory Sarich is somehow still in the league and in the Flames starting lineup.
Expected Line Combinations
Taylor Hall - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jordan Eberle
Nail Yakupov - Sam Gagner - Ales Hemsky
Ryan Smyth - Shawn Horcoff - Magnus Paajarvi
Darcy Hordichuk - Eric Belanger - Lennart Petrell
Ladislav Smid - Jeff Petry
Justin Schultz - Nick Schultz
Ryan Whitney - Mark Fistric
Devan Dubnyk
Scratches: Ben Eager, Potter, Corey, Teemu Hartikainen
Broadcast Information
By The Numbers
The Flames won four of the six matchups last season, going 2-1 both home and away.
The Flames have averaged a 5-1 record against the Oilers over the last three seasons, winning an astounding 15 of 18 divisional matchups in the Battle of Alberta.
Darcy Hordichuk suits up for the first time this season -- no doubt his 4 minutes of ice time will be marked by skill and daring.
Jordan Eberle has 12 points in 12 games against the Flames, while Taylor Hall has just 2 in 7.
Sam Gagner is +6 against the Flames in 28 games, and has 19 points in those 28 games.