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)

Okay, i’ve already got my consolation prize.

Tonight’s victory against the dastardly Oilers reignited my hatred for those blue shirted devils. Okay. Maybe it was their beer swilling tube jockeys that punctuated a predominantly Flames crowd tonight at the Zoo. Playoff hockey began for the Calgary Flames last week and by my count we are still down 2 games to 1. This was a character win for the Flames who had their hands full with an energetic Oiler crew. Make no mistake about it, the Oilers would be in the playoffs if they did not lose 3 to 4 of their veteran players for the season. They will be a better team next year. For now, i’ll savor in our victory and cross that other bridge when we get to it.

Mikka Kiprusoff responded as usual with a sparkling performance after a lackluster performance in the last game against Vancouver. Matthew Lombardi is contributing more to our offense as the playoffs looms (always a good time to get hot). The ‘cagey’ vets have elevated their game as well; Owen Nolan came up big when the team needed him the most. We played a disciplined game tonight, limiting our time spent in the box and capitalizing on the PP as well. These are all metrics for success for the Calgary Flames.

Go Flames

Here are my quick hits as I watch tonight’s game:

• Jarome Iginla is sure passing the puck a lot for a guy trying to net his 50th of the season
• According to my stomach, this one felt like a playoff game
• Oilers suck as much as ever
• Commentators are saying “can’t clear it” way too often
• I know Iggy’s our leading scorer, emotional leader and all that, but can we give Nolan the team MVP for bouncing the Oilers?
• Why is SportsNet telling me that I’m watching ‘Oilers Hockey’ … I’m watching FLAMES hockey!
• I know I wasn’t supposed to be cheering for Nashville tonight, but it’s worth it for the consequences to Edmonton
• SportsNet is calling this a ‘heartbreaking ending’ … I call it a flattering ending. Any team winning as many games in OT/shootout as in regulation time doesn’t deserve to be in the playoffs.
• Flames work isn’t done. Let’s get some wins in Minnesota and Vancouver to lock up that playoff position.
• I think I’ll be able to bring myself to cheer for the Oilers against the Canucks this week. If they’re going to be spoilers, they might as well do it in Vancouver.
• Oilers suck

Thank you, good night.

As I stand up to see outside my cubicle listening to “Times Like These by the Foo Fighters”, I see a glimpse of Spring. Spring usually means one thing in Canada, PLAYOFFS. And as I sit back down I look at the Flames upcoming schedule and I get butterflies in my stomach. When I see that we play the Oilers, Wild, and Canucks, I think to myself “We have 3 Game 7’s in a Row”.

Like game 7 (againts the Canucks) in the first round of 2004 playoffs, we were in overtime in the enemies building. Score you live, get scored on you die. Somehow we found the courage, strength, and heart to score and live another day (we should have signed Gelinas). Can we do it again - 3 times in a row? Yes, I think we can. But if we do, every single player on that bench must take a good look in the mirror and say “Yes, I have prepared myself my whole life for this situation” and come out and leave everything on the ice.

No matter if you feel like you legs are going to give, knowing that blocking a shot will mean a nasty bruise tomorrow or getting a your ass kicked in a fight (I want to see someone like Lombardi dropping the mits and showing heart).

There will be minimal room for error tonight as we face a very desperate hockey team. We know that the Oilers will come out hard in their own barn to start the game; we need to be ready, steal the momentum early, and here is the kicker….finish strong! something that the flames have struggled with all season closing games. I hope tonight the boys show up for 60 minutes, if they do that I think we can start planning for a playoff drive. So no more excuses, no more clichés just go out there and get the job done!

GO FLAMES GO!

I can’t do it. I just can’t do it.

Cheer for the Oilers?

No. Not in this lifetime or the next. I was screaming for joy when Carolina took them out in the finals a couple of years ago. Even though the Oilers can ‘help’ the Flames by beating the Wild tonight, I still will not root for them. To say that Oiler fans are cheering for the Flames is a bit of an exaggeration. The Oilers and Flames are arch rivals. End of story. You don’t cheer for a new George Lucas movie and you don’t cheer for the Edmonton Oilers - or if you were a *shudder* an Oiler fan, you don’t cheer for the Flames. In fact, you wish the worst upon your enemy, you kick them when they are down. You think of as many ways as possible to incur the wrath of your opponents by slandering them with as many accurate or inaccurate analogies to a variety of unpleasant images as possible.

To be frank, the Oilers are playing way over their heads. Everyone is talking about the feel good team of the year…and how they have overcome the odds to make hockey magic..yada, yada, yada. The Oilers suck. The are scoring many goals but they are letting in a horrible amount as well. Based on the legit games they have won, they do not deserve to be in the hunt for the playoffs. As soon as they come to realize that, the better the hockey world will be.

P.S. Go Wild (but only against the Oilers).