Flames prep for McDavid challenge
CALGARY Stopping Edmonton’s No. 97 has got to be a group effort. Flames captain Mark Giordano, his defence partner TJ Brodie and shutdown centre Mikael Backlund will be among those focused on Mission: Minimize McDavid during Saturday ’s latest instalment of the Battle of Alberta.
Good luck, gents. Connor McDavid, the Oilers wunderkind, is right in the thick of the NHL’s scoring race with 10 goals and 26 points in just 18 outings this fall. He’s done plenty of damage in a dozen career clashes against Calgary, racking up nine goals — his highest total against any opponent — and six assists in the provincial power struggle.
Here are 5 Things to Watch for on Saturday in Calgary:
1. Rivalry renewed
Saturday marks the first of four instalments in this season’s edition of the NHL’s Battle of Alberta. The Flames have notched back-to-back victories over their provincial foes, a sigh of relief after the Oilers had rolled to seven straight triumphs in the rivalry. The neighbouring clubs are also cosy in the Pacific Division standings — currently separated by just two points — so that should only crank up the intensity in Saturday’s showdown.
2. Battle of backups
Geography isn’t the only thing these squads have in common. Both teams are trying to snap their go-to goalies out of current slumps. After starter Mike Smith surrendered a tiebreaking, backbreaking softy — Artturi Lehkonen’s wrister through the wickets — in Tuesday’s 3-2 home loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the Flames will lean on David Rittich against the Oilers. At the other end will be Mikko Koskinen, who earns a third straight start in favour of Cam Talbot.
3. Together again
Anxious to end a four-game losing skid, the Oilers reunited the dangerous duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and the payoff was immediate, with the pair combining for six points in Tuesday’s 6-2 trouncing of the Habs at Rogers Place. Drake Caggiula, tied for third on the team scoring charts with six goals to date, is currently working the left wing alongside Edmonton’s top guns. That’s a plum assignment.
4. Switching sides
Glen Gulutzan had to return his keys to the Saddledome last spring, but the former Flames bench boss returns to his old stomping grounds on Saturday. Gulutzan was fired by the Flames in April — to be replaced less than a week later by Bill Peters — and eventually moved a few hours up the road to Edmonton, where he’s now an assistant on head coach Todd McLellan’s staff. Gulutzan, 47, posted a 82-68-14 record in two campaigns as Calgary’s skipper.
5. This ’n’ that
The Oilers and New York Rangers swapped struggling forwards on Friday, with Ryan Spooner on the move to Edmonton and Ryan Strome packing his belongings for the Big Apple. The 26-year-old Spooner has counted one goal, one assist and a minus-5 rating in 16 appearances with the Rangers this fall … Calgary right-winger Elias Lindholm missed Friday ’s practice due to a sore foot, but should be good to go for the Battle of Alberta.