10 Things to Watch: Battle of Alberta
With today being the second pre-season edition of the Battle of Alberta, let’s take a look at the NHL’s second greatest rivalry (save only the Habs/Leafs).
Last year’s Battle of Alberta was dead-even with both the Flames and Oilers winning four games, each taking two at home and two on the road, and both sides scoring 18 goals in the season series.
In 2007/08 the Oilers took exception to Robyn Regehr’s rough handling of Ales Hemsky and have now enlisted the help of veteran tough guy Steve MacIntyre to provide some protection. One would think this will be an improvement on the type of “enforcement” the Oilers carried last season [Exhibit A, Nolan vs Stortini]. The Flames, despite losing Owen Nolan and Eric Godard, still have some toughness of their own. Stars Regehr, Jarome Iginla, and Dion Phaneuf aren’t the type to shy away from the rough stuff, and the addition of Andre Roy and Todd Bertuzzi makes the squad a little more intimidating.
It’s been said that the Oilers are a team built to compete in the Eastern Conference, while the Sutter era Flames are the quintessential Western team. The contrast in styles, combined with the enduring rivalry should keep this series intriguing this year, as the Flames’ tough style meets the Oilers’ speed. The Battle of Alberta can often set the tone for these teams, which makes these head-to-head match-ups something to watch in 2008/09. And what’s better is that all six games will be televised for viewers in Western Canada, so even if you can’t get a ticket, you can still watch the live action:
- October 17 in Calgary (Sportsnet West)
- October 18 in Edmonton (CBC)
- December 31 in Calgary (TSN)
- February 21 in Edmonton (CBC)
- April 10 in Edmonton (Sportsnet West)
- April 11 in Calgary (CBC)
