It’s game day again and this time I’m sure I’m not the only fan who is nervous. That’s why I’m praying to the Hockey Gods that something happens inside the Flames dressing room. I’m hoping for some kind of magical switch to flick whereby Jarome Iginla miraculously believes that the start of November is actually today.
The Flames host the Oilers for a rematch of the Battle of Alberta tonight. The game starts at 8pm and will be on Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. I don’t think I need to remind you what happened the last time the Flames and Oilers played. Actually the only team that played in that game was the Oilers. I didn’t think it was possible for fire to be a mirage, but the Flames proved that it is possible that night.
Coach Brent Sutter has shaken things up and it looks like the top line will now include Matt Stajan with Iggy and Tanguay on the wings. Olli Jokinen will be centering Niklas Hagman and “Someday” Morrison, who has yet to prove that he still belongs in the NHL.
Last year was the first year in the history of the Battle of Alberta that the Flames won every single game against the Oilers. It was nice, and I’ll never forget it (or let my Oiler-fan friends forget it either), but this is a whole new year and last year’s accomplishments mean nothing. After a couple dreadful years in Edmonton, Oilers fans seem to have something to cheer about again. They got rid of Sheldon Souray and their young stars are playing well. Nikolai Khabibulin has been playing very well, and if it weren’t for the Minnesota Wild, the Oilers might actually find themselves in the top half of the NHL for the first time since Wayne Gretzky shed his last tear.
Do you think the Flames will play any different tonight? Leave a comment and let me know what you expect to see.
Greg is the founder of Red Mile Blog has been following the Flames through good times and bad since they arrived in Calgary in the early 80s. He has written hundreds of articles on the Flames since 2005 and considers himself an expert on hockey inconsistency and frustration. He shoots right and usually plays defence, but has been known to jump up in the rush. He is a 2-time CAHL men's league champion and knows the sweet taste of beer from a Cup.
