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Oilers @ Flames: A Battle Once More

The Battle of Alberta shifts to Calgary

By Jeff Chapman
Lucic's power play goal helped send last night's game into OT
Lucic's power play goal helped send last night's game into OT
Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports


@
Calgary
25-15-8, 58 points, 1.208 p/g Ranks 24-21-3, 51 points, 1 p/g
Pacific Division - 3rd Pacific Division - 4th
11th Points per Game 19th
14th Special Teams 15th
4th Shots on Goal 24th
12th Goals Against per Game 14th
8:00 PM MDT
TV - CBC
Radio - 630 CHED
Scotiabank Saddledome

The opposing view

PROJECTED
FORWARDS

Patrick Maroon - Connor McDavid - Leon Draisaitl
Benoit Pouliot - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jordan Eberle
Milan Lucic - Drake Caggiula -  Anton Slepyshev
Matt Hendricks - Mark Letestu - Zack Kassian

DEFENCE

Andrej Sekera - Kris Russell
Oscar Klefbom - Matthew Benning
Brandon Davidson - Adam Larsson

GOAL

Cam Talbot
Laurent Brossoit


Late Heroics From Lucic Not Enough

A big hit and a power play goal from Milan Lucic helped propel the Oilers to overtime, but it would be Nashville taking two points on the second half of their back-to-back.

Viktor Arvidsson opened the scoring late in the second period with his eleventh goal of the year.  It would be followed up by a Matt Hendricks tally just 45 seconds later.  Teams would exit the second period tied at one.  Ryan Ellis would make it 2-1 nine minutes into the third period.  Milan Lucic had a big hit, he drew a penalty, and he ended up with the game tying goal with four and a half minute remaining in regulation.  Third period was probably Milan Lucic's best period as an Edmonton Oiler.

The game would go to overtime, but the Oilers would eventually succumb to the Predators in a shootout.   The Oilers get one point, they finish their homestand at 4-1-1 and will face off against Calgary tonight.

Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

That's Milan Lucic on last night's game, and his recent struggles to hit the scoresheet.

Since he's become an Oiler, I've kind of languished over the contract that Milan Lucic has signed.  If I could get fifty or sixty more periods of hockey this year like that third period we saw last night, I think it'll all work out.  At least, the first year of his deal.  If Lucic is on the power play, he's got to be scoring goals.  Last night, that's exactly what happened.

The opponents are saying

That's Flames forward Kris Versteeg on their 4-3 loss to Nashville on Thursday, and their preparation tonight for the OIlers.

When you're down by four goals to Nashville, you'll probably want to start making your comeback with a little more than five minutes remaining in regulation.

Have some of this

  • Sam Bennett was a healthy scratch for the Flames on Thursday night.  The fourth overall pick has eighteen points (9-9-18) in 47 games played so far this year.
  • Matt Hendricks made it into the lineup last night, and the Oilers were rewarded with his second goal of the season.  I'm not sure how many more games Hendricks has in the lineup, but it was nice to see him contribute to the scoresheet last night.  I wouldn't be surprised to see him back on the fourth line again tonight.
  • Stated it earlier, but Milan Lucic on the power play is the greatest thing in the world if he can score goals.  He did that last night, so if he can keep up that sort of chicanery, that'd be great.
  • Cam Talbot faced 40+ shots last night, and you'd think that'd be a good enough reason to give him the day off on the second half of a back-to-back.  Chad Johnson (16-11-1, .920 SV%, 2.31 GAA / 3 SO) will get the nod for Calgary.

  • Two more points in the Battle of Alberta would go far here.  A regulation win would put nine points (!) between Calgary and the Oilers.
  • Iiro Pakarinen (knee), Tyler Pitlick (knee), Jujhar Khaira (upper body) and Darnell Nurse (lower body) will be out for the Oilers. The Flames are without Garnet Hathaway (concussion)
  • #GOILERS