Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction, NHL Odds
The NHL preseason is almost here, and there is a lot of excitement on the way. Helping kick off the preseason is none other than the Battle of Alberta between the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers.
The Oilers are coming off their second straight Stanley Cup Final loss, while the Flames are deep within a rebuild. No matter where these teams are headed, this first game of the preseason is where the importance lies.
Flames vs. Oilers NHL Betting Odds
Edmonton has -220 moneyline odds and are +115 on the -1.5 puckline. On the other side, Calgary is a +180 underdog with -135 odds on the +1.5 puckline. The total sits at 6.0.
Calgary vs. Edmonton games always bring fireworks, whether the likes of Connor McDavid and Nazem Kadri are playing or rosters are filled with rookies and professional tryouts. I expect this game to be a good one.
With a mixed bag of players on each roster, it is hard to expect one team to be an extreme favourite over the other.
Last preseason, the Oilers went 3-5-0, and the Flames went 5-2-1. With a boatload of opportunities, maybe we see a hungry Flames cast perform well again.
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames missed out on the playoffs last season, making it the fourth time in five seasons that has happened. It is clear this team is not primed to win right now, but they have been making solid moves.
They have been signing key players (see captain Mikael Backlund and star young goaltender Dustin Wolf) and drafting well (18 picks in the last two drafts, including 4 in the first round), ensuring their team is rebuilt the way they see fit.
They may not be stacked, but make no mistake, they will not back down to the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers.
Edmonton Oilers
Where do you begin with the Edmonton Oilers? Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have led this organization to two straight Stanley Cup Finals, but have lost each time and have won just five games.
There is no question that the team will head into this season hungry to finally get over the hump, but a dark cloud looms over this team.
McDavid is heading into the final year of his contract and has yet to decide if he will re-sign with the team. Edmonton can do nothing but win this season to ensure that he stays, starting with Game 1 of the preseason.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Flames vs. Oilers?
When the upcoming regular season is over, there is an extremely high expectation that the Edmonton Oilers will finish far higher than the Calgary Flames. However, when looking at this game, I expect the Flames to take it.
With a rebuilding team like Calgary, there is a massive opportunity for roster slots. They did not make any major additions over the offseason, and have lost some roster players to free agency.
With an influx of young players through the draft and others through signings, the time is now to make a strong impression against a Stanley Cup contender.
There is no reason any player can’t get up for this game, especially because of the rivalry. Plus, home ice advantage is always a positive.