Battle of Alberta: Flames, Oilers fighting for playoff position
The Battle of Alberta once again has meaning.
The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers will reconnect Saturday for the 232nd rendition of their historic rivalry. With both clubs holding down a playoff spot through mid-January, it's sure to bring some added fuel to what's already a special game.
"(It's) probably the biggest game in the Battle of Alberta this far into a season in about 10 years," Oilers forward Milan Lucic told Jason Gregor of the Edmonton Journal. "There will be a buzz. We have to be ready."
Edmonton leads the season series 2-0 so far, winning a pair of early season games. Forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had three-point outings in the most recent meeting, a 5-3 Oilers win.
Given the NHL's return to the postseason divisional format, there remains the possibility that Edmonton and Calgary could match up this spring. The teams have met five previous times in the playoffs, most recently in 1991. The Oilers have taken four of those series.
The Flames last qualified for the postseason in 2015, their first berth since 2009, while the Oilers have not made the playoffs since 2006. That 10-year playoff drought is tied for the NHL's all-time longest mark with the Florida Panthers.
The Flames hold the upper hand in the Battle of Alberta with a 117-91-23 all-time record.