Calgary Flames (25-16-7) (3rd, Pacific) @

Edmonton Oilers (21-24-3) (6th, Pacific)

7 PM MDT

Rogers Place

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Matchsticks and Gasoline

BREAKDOWN

The Oilers clunked out one of their worst efforts in recent memory with Tuesday’s 5-0 shellacking at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres. The Oilers scored zero goals against the NHL’s second-worst defence, and the league’s worst offence was able to hang a five spot on an NHL club that was supposedly trying to claw their way back into a playoff spot. Cam Talbot got pulled once it was 4-0, it didn’t matter. It was a pretty embarrassing effort all around.

The Oilers will try to put all of that behind them tonight as the face their provincial rivals from Calgary. The Flames are twelve points ahead of the Oilers with around 30 games to go in the regular season. Can the Oilers score some goals in this one?

Let’s go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

“I’m not sure what words to use to describe it..it doesn’t feel really good obviously deep in the gut, and for anyone that watched it, it was quite disappointing..”

Source

That’s Oilers head coach Todd McLellan on Tuesday’s 5-0 loss to the Sabres.

Straight up garbage. There’s no other nice way to sugar coat that game. I’m struggling to think of a more terrible game in the last five years.

Let Allan help you with it all.

The Flames are saying

“That’s the hardest thing is to understand that it’s not easy to win in this league and it’s not easy to get points...Obviously we’re disappointed with not getting two and not winning games, but we’re right in the thick of things and you’ve got to continue to gain points and gain momentum.”

Source

That’s Flames goaltender Mike Smith after his club’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Kings last night. The Flames gain a point with the OTL, they’re now tied with the Kings for third place in the Pacific Division with one game in hand.

Have some of this

• (wild hand motions) Go on and make sense of it. I can’t anymore.
• We’ve gone over exactly how poor the Oilers’ penalty kill has been this year, but it’s worth mentioning twice when you allow three power play goals to the Sabres. How bad are the Sabres? They’re almost as bad as when they were intentionally trying to tank back in 2014-15. They scored three power play goals against the Oilers on Tuesday. It’s an absolute mess out there right now. Fix it.
• Cam Talbot had a forgettable night, allowing four goals and getting the hook in Tuesday’s debacle. Look for him to regain the crease (17-17-2, .901 SV% / 3.15 GAA / 1 SO). Look for David Rittich (4-1-1, .932 SV% / 2.03 GAA) to get the second start of a back-to-back for Calgary.
• SICK BAY: Edmonton is without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (ribs). The Flames will be lacking Michael Frolik (lower body) and Jaromir Jagr (lower body)