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GAME PREVIEW: Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames

It’s the Battle of Alberta at the end of July. Hockey is back.

By Jeff Chapman
NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Edmonton Oilers vs.

Calgary Flames

Rogers Place, Edmonton AB

8:30 MDT

TV: Sportsnet

Radio: 630 CHED

Exhibition tune-up against provincial rivals before the play-in begins this weekend.

IT’S BEEN A MINUTE

It’s been 139 days since the Oilers played a meaningful game in the NHL. While it’ll be a few more days before the Oilers play another game that counts, things will look as close to normal as they possibly can as the Flames will battle the Oilers in a tune-up game. While it’s important to see Edmonton get their sea legs back tonight, it’s more important that everyone gets out of this one without injury.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

“Hopefully we’re in there for two months and come out as champs”

Source

That’s Oilers forward Zack Kassian on his hopes for the Oilers’ playoffs.

As wacky as this time has been for everyone in the world, sports are no exception. 24 teams have converged on two Canadian cities in an attempt to safely award sport’s greatest trophy. So far, everything is looking good. What would also look good is if the Oilers can destroy Calgary tonight by six goals.

THE FLAMES ARE SAYING

“There’s an awful lot of stake for lots of guys right now, so we plan on using the exhibition game for those guys to show us what they can do”

Source

That’s Flames head coach Geoff Ward on tonight’s exhibition game.

All teams have 31 players on their playoff rosters. Tonight is an opportunity for both Edmonton and Calgary to get some ice time in for some of the youth movement. For Edmonton, that could be Philip Broberg, Evan Bouchard or Ryan McLeod.

LINES

This will be updated as tonight’s lines become available.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

  • MANY NETMINDERS, ALL AT ONCE: Flames head coach Geoff Ward says you’ll see both David Rittich and Cam Talbot at some point tonight. I’d expect to see both Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen split duties tonight for the Oilers. Holding out hope that Tippett starts Koskinen for game one against Chicago on Saturday, but he loves some Mike Smith.
  • SUPERNOVA 97: I know tonight’s an exhibition game and a fair bit of that will be devoted to seeing how things look overall. But if Connor McDavid is in the lineup and on the ice for any length of time, I gotta see one move where he just blows by Mark Giordano one time.
  • KING LEON: Just give Leon Draisaitl all of the awards now, and we’ll save the bellyaching for later. Leon Draisaitl is Edmonton’s nominee for the King Clancy award, an award given to a player who best displays leadership both on and off the ice. Draisaitl’s contributions to the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation make him an easy nominee.
  • EYES ON WINGS: A couple players really caught my eye during the Colby Cave scrimmage over the weekend. Kailer Yamamoto skated like the wind and Tyler Ennis seemed to be in all the right places at the right times. I like Ennis’ odds of coming back to Edmonton in 2020-21, and his chance to excel in this year’s playoffs is as good as any.

It’s always a good day to beat the Flames. Why not tonight?