Edmonton Oilers Hope to Burn Out Calgary Flames

Dec 27, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Sadly, but not surprisingly, the Edmonton Oilers playoff chances are slipping away. It’s not a huge shocker: the team has a myriad of problems and injuries have been one of the biggest factors.

Not once this season have the Edmonton Oilers been able to dress an entire healthy line up. They lead the league in man games lost to injury and it’s not like it’s been filled with Rob Klinkhammer‘s either.

When a team losses their number one centre, number one defenceman, number one right winger all at different (and in McDavid and Klefbom’s cases overlapping) times, you can definitely say that injuries are a factor.

Tonight the Edmonton Oilers are hosting the Calgary Flames. Their last meeting was a 5-3 loss to Calgary where the Edmonton Oilers blew two separate two goal leads. A re-ocurring theme this year.

The Oilers are losers of four straight, but every one of those games have been by one goal and those games were well played games. There was a lack of execution and a tendency to allow teams back into games.

Keys to the Game

HOLD THE LEAD. The Oilers were burned (no punned intended) by the Flames by blowing those two separate two goal leads. Those woes continued most recently against the Arizona Coyotes where they were leading 3-1 and ended up losing in overtime. This is a team that is used to losing, expected to lose. They’ve been competitive but they let go of the gas pedal too often.

TINY PUCK, BIG NET. The Oilers are having trouble scoring goals lately. There’s a lack of consistency when it comes to scoring. From my eyes, it always feels like the Oilers get one line scoring, but the other scoring line vanishes. Right now, Draisaitl and Eberle are producing while Nugent-Hopkins and Hall have gone ice cold. I think it helps having Nail Yakupov and Zack Kassian in the line up, as it gives them more options and slowly but surely, the Edmonton Oilers have some scoring depth.

Who to Watch

Sam BennettBennett scored four goals, including his first career NHL hat trick in the first period, against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. He was the standout for the Flames last time against the Oilers: he was physical and did not give a single crap on who he was hitting. He ran over Matt Hendricks who skated to the bench with his tail between his legs. I wanted Bennett at the 2014 draft for the longest time, but I switched to Draisaitl when I watched him during the WHL playoffs. I admire Bennett and I think he’s going to be a heck of a player.

More from Oilers News

Zack Kassian: Oh, you know that eyes are going to be on the Zack Attack (lamest nickname ever, I’m sorry). He had a quiet, but effective night against San Jose, but the one thing I noticed the most about Kassian was his ability to finish his checks. I know I’m excited to see what he will do against the Flames because he’s not afraid to throw his weight. I know some have issues with Kassian and that’s fair. For me, He’s an Edmonton Oiler first and foremost and I cheer for the Oilers. I’m cheering for his redemption and I think he makes an impact tonight. That said, he did look a bit tired in that Gene Principe interview during the intermission.

Projected Line Ups

Edmonton Oilers

Hall- Nugent-Hopkins-Pakarinen

Pouliot-Draisaitl-Eberle

Purcell-Letestu-Kassian

Korpikoski-Lander-Yakupov

Sekera-Fayne

Nurse-Schultz

Davidson-Gryba

Talbot

Calgary Flames

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland

Bennett-Backlund-Frolik

Raymond-Granlund-Jones

Jooris-Stajan-Colborne

Giordano-Brodie

Russell-Hamilton

Engelland-Wideman

Hiller

Prediciton

After having games go oh so close, the Oilers beat their rivals from the south, 4-2. Hall breaks out of his mini slump, Draisaitl continues to produce with Eberle. Kassian hits a Flames player quite hard and causes cheers on Twitter.