The Week Ahead for the Edmonton Oilers: A Home and Home with the Flames

Eight preseason games is about four too many for my tastes, so I am thilled that the preseason is finally over and the new NHL season is ready to start. Wednesday can’t get here soon enough. It might be just a matter of hours away now, but the Oilers still have work to do both on and off the ice though. They still have to make their final cuts and the team’s new arena needs to be ready for the official home opener on Wednesday night when the Oilers play host to the Calgary Flames. That game will be the first of a home and home series with the Flames in what will be a short opening week for the Oilers.

Game 1 - Edmonton Oilers versus Calgary Flames

Oilers Record: 0-0-0
Last 10: N/A
Flames Record: 0-0-0
Last 10: N/A

Oilers All-Time Record vs Calgary/Atlanta: 112-120-19-8
Goals For/Against: 870/895
Oilers Record Last Season vs Calgary: 2-3-0
Goals For/Against: 13/18

Puck Drop: 8:00PM MST
Television: Sportsnet
The Opposing View: Matchsticks and Gasoline | Twitter: @MatchsticksCGY

The Oilers final game at Rexall Place should have been against the Flames. Considering the history between these two teams, that it was the Canucks and not the Flames that were in town for Rexall Place's last hurrah just felt off. Of course, given the Flames recent run off success in Edmonton that might have been a blessing. In their last nine games played at Rexall Place the Flames won eight times, including lopsided wins by scores of 8-1, 4-0, and 5-0. Maybe the schedule makes knew what they were doing after all.

Game 2 - Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames

Oilers Record: 0-0-0
Last 10: N/A
Flames Record: 0-0-0
Last 10: N/A

Oilers All-Time Record vs Calgary/Atlanta: 112-120-19-8
Goals For/Against: 870/895
Oilers Record Last Season vs Calgary: 2-3-0
Goals For/Against: 13/18

Puck Drop: 7:00PM MST
Television: Sportsnet 360
The Opposing View: Matchsticks and Gasoline | Twitter: @MatchsticksCGY

After hosting the Flames for their season opener, the Oilers will travel three hours south to return the favour on Friday night; after the game Calgary will fly to Vancouver to participate in a third home opener on Saturday night. I had a great many things to say about the deal at the heart of Edmonton's arena project (and I still do have a lot to say as well) but there is no doubt that what has been built here in Edmonton is fantastic. And for anyone who attends both games that will be crystal clear after they spend an evening in the dump arena that the Flames call home.

Next Week

October 16 versus Buffalo
October 18 versus Carolina
October 20 versus St. Louis