GAME PREVIEW: Game 20/56 Calgary Flames @ Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers (11-8-0, 3rd in North) vs.

Calgary Flames (8-8-1, 5th in North)

20 February 2021

Rogers Place

8 PM MST

TV: CBC

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Matchsticks and Gasoline

TWO MORE POINTS IN THE BANK

At times, it was a sloppy matchup during Friday’s game at the Dome. Goals were at a premium, but the Oilers took two points out of Calgary with a 2-1 regulation win. Jesse Puljujärvi scored another goal (that’s his fifth in the month of February), Gaetan Haas scored the game winner late in the second period and Mike Smith turned aside 20 of 21 shots to pick up his fourth win of the season. The Oilers don’t have much time to enjoy the win as they’re back home tonight to take on the same Calgary Flames they defeated last night. Can the Oilers make it two wins in two days?

Let’s go to the tape.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

He’s a good player...We saw that early. He wasn’t getting rewarded but he’s a threat out there. He gets himself into scoring position and they start going in for him, and he is a real good player and he’s a dangerous player, but he’s a successful dangerous player when they go in for him.

Source

That’s Oilers head coach Dave Tippett on Jesse Puljujärvi. Puljujärvi scored his fifth goal in the month of February on a feed from Tyson Barrie while Puljujärvi was parked right in front of the net. It’s a good place to make some action happen.

THE FLAMES ARE SAYING

I don’t think the guys are getting down by getting scored on first...It was a tight hockey game. We had some chances to tie the hockey game, for sure, and we didn’t. The chances were there.

Source

That’s Flames head coach Geoff Ward on his club playing from behind in last night’s 2-1 loss to the Oilers.

Calgary was in it until the final buzzer last night, but has now lost three of their last four.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

This is exactly how I had it scripted.

• Gaetan Haas got back into the lineup last night and he made himself known by scoring the eventual game winner late in the second period. Noah Hanifin slid through the crease in an attempt to cause trouble, but it looked like he did nothing but confuse Flames goaltender David Rittich in the process. Meanwhile, Haas was there to chip it behind the goalie. Stay on your feet.
• TIME ON ICE: THIRTY MINUTES for Darnell Nurse in last night’s 2-1 victory. It was actually 30:01 last night, Kris Russell played 20 minutes exactly. Tyson Barrie played over 25, while Adam Larsson played over 24. Both Slater Koekkoek and Evan Bouchard played under ten minutes each, which would lead me to believe that Tippet might get a different body in there to help take some minutes off the top. I’d like to think that’s Caleb Jones’ music, but I’ve been wrong every time about that so far.
• The Oilers have played a few more games than every one else in the division, but they can really start to make some noise if they can take this game in regulation tonight. A regulation win could put them three points ahead of third place Winnipeg, who won’t be in action until tomorrow against Vancouver. The Canucks have woken a bit from their early season slumber, so hang on tight.
• NET GAINS: Look for the second half of both tandems to get a game tonight. Mikko Koskinen (6-8-0, .894 SV% / 3.43 GAA) will go tonight for the Oilers, while Jacob Markstrom (8-5-1, .918 SV% / 2.61 GAA) will start for the Flames.
• SCRATCHES: Zack Kassian is still week-to-week with the hand injury. No word on Ethan Bear, or Caleb Jones who has been healthy-scratched for what seems like forever. William Lagesson is still day-to-day. The Flames will again be without Derek Ryan (finger) but it’s worth keeping an eye on forward Sam Bennett who played just six minutes in yesterday’s game. Flames coach Geoff Ward didn’t elaborate in the post game as to why Bennett was held from the ice.