Edmonton vs Calgary Prediction
📣 Can the Stanley Cup runner-up kick off the new season with a home victory against their Alberta rivals? Connor McDavid and his squad are eager to hoist the coveted trophy. This ambition is underscored by the star Canadian's new contract, which carries a cap hit of $12.5 million.
Head-to-Head
The Oilers and the Flames clashed three times in last season's regular campaign, with McDavid's crew claiming victory twice. In October of last year, Swedish defenseman Rasmus Andersson tallied three points, leading the Flames to a commanding 4-1 win. After that, the Oilers didn't offer any more leeway to their rivals, managing to scrape together four points in the next two encounters (4-2; 3-2 OT). At the end of March, McDavid's top partner Leon Draisaitl scored late in the third period and then sealed the win in overtime. Recently, the teams faced off in the preseason, exchanging road victories. Both matches featured a significant number of AHL players.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Edmonton Oilers Team Overview
The Oilers once again reached the Stanley Cup Final last season. They navigated past Los Angeles, Vegas, and Dallas before facing off against Florida. However, Chris Knoblauch's squad couldn't handle the Panthers, falling in the series 2-4. During the preseason, the Canadian team played eight games, winning four of them. Over the summer, the Oilers parted ways with veteran Corey Perry and chose not to retain forwards Skinner and Arvidsson, who had relatively average seasons. They brought in winger Andrew Mangiapane from Washington, who experts predict could reach the 20-goal mark this season. With Hyman injured, Czech forward Tomasek is expected to step in on the first power-play unit. The appearance of goaltender Ingram on Wednesday seems unlikely, as the Oilers are set to start with their existing goalie lineup.
Match Results: Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames Team Overview
Last season, the Flames displayed inconsistent form. The team finished ninth in the Western Conference with 96 points. The Alberta side tied in points with eighth-placed St. Louis but lost out on tiebreakers, allowing the Blues to claim the playoff spot. During the preseason, the Flames played eight games, winning three of them. Over the summer, the Canadian team's management decided to part ways with Tyson Barrie and Anthony Mantha, a move that was undoubtedly the right call. Among their incoming transfers, the signing of Russian goaltender Ivan Prosvetov was notable, although he was later placed on waivers. One of the Flames' top forwards, Jonathan Huberdeau, is currently on the injured list and will miss the Battle of Alberta.
Match Results: Calgary Flames
🏒 Projected Lineups
Edmonton: Skinner - Ekholm, Bouchard - Draisaitl, McDavid, Frederick
Calgary: Wolf - Hanley, Weegar - Farabee, Kadri, Klapka
🥅 Goalies
Edmonton fans are likely eager to see Connor Ingram in action, but for now, Stuart Skinner is expected to guard the net. Last season, the Canadian played 51 games with a goals-against average of 2.81.
This season, the Flames will rely on Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley between the pipes. Last season, the 24-year-old Wolf featured in 53 games, allowing 2.64 goals per game, slightly better than his counterpart Skinner.
Editorial Prediction
The Battle of Alberta is often synonymous with high-scoring affairs. We recommend betting on the total over 5.5 goals. This total has been surpassed in nine consecutive games involving Edmonton. At the Oilers' last line of defense is still Stuart Skinner, who has consistently shown an average level of play over the years. The defensive pairing of Nurse-Regula also raises significant concerns. We anticipate Calgary's young guns, led by the experienced Kadri, will find the net, and we have no doubt about the scoring prowess of Edmonton's star German and Canadian players.
Betting Tips: Edmonton Oilers - Calgary Flames
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