Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames: Odds and Prediction

The Calgary Flames are hoping to make their mark on the Oiler’s snazzy new stadium tonight in Edmonton at Rogers Arena as the season opens in the Battle of Alberta. The Oilers have failed to make the playoffs for the last 10 seasons running, but they’re hoping that THIS number one draft pick will start making the difference for them. The odds are showing the Oilers as slight -125 favorites on Sports Interaction’s NHL odds.

Calgary Flames

The Flames will be looking to bounce back this year after a disappointing 2015-16 season in which they got only 77 points. They’ll be feeling good about locking in their young star, Johnny Gaudreau, who just signed a six year extension to the tune of $40.5 million. Gaudreau finished tied for sixth for top scoring in the league with 30 goals and 78 points. Bob Hartley was handed his walking papers and the organization hired previous Canucks assistant coach Glen Gulutzan to take his place.

The spotlight will also be on Brian Elliott, the new starting goalie who is fresh from splitting duties with Jake Allen and the Blues for the last several seasons. The Flames have been plagued by problems between the pipes so it’s hoped that Elliot will be the dependable netminder that the team sorely needs.

The Flames start their regular season against the Oilers as +105 underdogs.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers faced a lot of criticism in the off season when they traded Taylor Hall for defenseman Adam Larsson. Larsson will need to be outstanding in order for that trade to make sense to the fans, who will also be counting on Milan Lucic to bring some veteran experience to this long-suffering club. Hall wasn’t the only number one unloaded by Edmonton this year, as 2012 top pick Nail Yakupov was traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a conditional third-round pick and prospect Zach Pochino.

Edmonton will be putting tremendous pressure on young Connor McDavid to live up to the hype, even naming him team captain. As the youngest team captain in league history, McDavid will have to lead his team out of a decade-long darkness after only having played a partial rookie season after fracturing his collarbone last year. Still, he managed to get 16 goals and 32 assists in 45 games, which put him at 3rd for scoring in the league.

The Oilers officially signed Kris Russell yesterday, after he played four games with them in the preseason for a tryout. Some people think that was a mistake.

Flames vs. Oilers Prediction

Oilers 4-2