Edmonton Oilers: Why The Team Needs to Beat the Flames
The Edmonton Oilers are taking on the rival Calgary Flames tonight down at Rogers Place. The Flames have yet to play a game this season while the Edmonton Oilers are already 1-0 after a 3-2 shootout win against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.
In the preseason the Oilers faired quite well against the Flames beating them in both of their meetings. This time will be a bit different as both teams will have all their top players dressed and in the lineup.
Getting wins early on in a season is very important to a team’s whole season success. If you are able to put together a good string of wins at the start of the season it really helps you out.
Banking Points
Every team goes through a point in the season where they are struggling. If the Oilers can keep an early win streak going it will allow them to have a bit of a dip later on in the season and not have to worry about it as much. Plus it is always a nice feeling to look at the standings, even if it is in November, and seeing your team at the top.
Positive Attitude
We have all be in a scenario where we are going into a task thinking in the back of your head “here I go again” If the Oilers start to bank up early-season losses, it is going to be on the back of their heads. Whereas if they keep winning, they are going to be thinking “how much can we win by?” or “how many points will I get tonight?”
Confidence is a big part of the mental side to sport. If you are confident you are way more likely to do well. If the Oilers win tonight, that will only add to their early-season confidence.
Flames Factor
Just like the win is important for the Edmonton Oilers to win, it is just as important to the Calgary Flames. If the Oilers beat the Flames tonight they are beating a team they are competing for a playoff spot against. So that will be 2 point that the Calgary Flames will not be getting. It will also have an effect on the points I have listed above.
There are already questions about the Flames and their ability to win games. If they lose the first game of the season, that is only going to escalate these questions. After missing the playoffs last year the Flames want to get started on a good note this year. A loss would start to put doubt in the minds of the players and they will already start to lose their confidence.
Winning this game is not only important to the success of the Edmonton Oilers, it is also important as a part of the demise of the Calgary Flames. I think the Oilers win and I can’t wait to see Flames fans starting to worry about the season ahead.