Flames get provincial rivals in season opener

Five clashes with Oilers on the way

Sid and the Stanley Cup gang, Connor and friends, and Deryk’s Golden Knights are all highlights on the Calgary Flames’ 2017-18 National Hockey League schedule.

The 82-game slate sees the Flames playing each of their Pacific Division rivals four times with the exception of the Edmonton Oilers whom they’ll play five times.

The NHL schedule makers got it right by spacing out the Battle of Albertas, twice at Rogers Place (Oct. 4 and Jan. 25) and three times in Calgary (Dec. 2, March 13, and March 31).

The Flames will play each Central Division opponent three times and all Eastern Conference teams twice (once home and away).

The Flames have two sixgame road trips — one from Nov. 15 through Nov. 25 (Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington, Columbus, Dallas, and Colorado) and the other starting Feb. 6 through Feb. 15 (Chicago, New Jersey, New York, New York Islanders, Boston, and Nashville).

Other notable games: the annual New Year’s Eve game on Dec. 31 versus the Chicago Blackhawks, a six-game home stand from Oct. 27 to Nov. 9 (versus Dallas, Washington, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Vancouver and Detroit), and 12 back-to-back games.

Calgary’s home opener is on Oct. 7 against the Winnipeg Jets while the season opener is Oct. 4 versus the Oilers at Edmonton.

The NHL All-Star Weekend hosted by Tampa Bay runs Jan. 27 to Jan. 28 while they’ll take two five-day breaks from Dec. 23-27 and Jan. 15-19.

FIVE GAMES TO WATCH: 1. Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks, Oct. 9

A new chapter in the “When was the last time the Flames won in Anaheim?” story. Hey, at least they’re getting it out of the way quickly. This game, of course, also has significance because it will be the first time the Flames face the Ducks at the Honda Center since April 15, Game 2 of their first round playoff series.

2. Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights, Feb. 21

Better book now if you plan on attending the Calgary Flames’ first-ever game at T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip. This one will be a hot ticket and not just because the Flames will square off against former teammate Deryk Engelland for the first time.

3. Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers, Dec. 2

The Battle of Alberta should be an interesting one to watch, as always. After a dominating season which saw the Oilers make it to the second round of the post-season and pushed the Anaheim Ducks to the brink in a seven-game series.

4. Calgary Flames vs. Chicago Blackhawks, Dec. 31

An annual tradition for the Flames, who’ll welcome the New Year along with Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and friends. The game also marks Calgary’s first home game after the Christmas break.

5. Calgary Flames vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, Nov. 2

The reigning Stanley Cup champions for the past two seasons drop into the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday, Nov. 2. Enjoy it, kids. Sidney Crosby draws a crowd wherever he goes but now, after hoisting Lord Stanley’s Mug for the second straight season and third time in his career, he’s really the best player on the planet.