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Off to Another Slow Start, Oilers Look to Enter Win Column vs. Flames
The Edmonton Oilers are searching for their first win of the season as they host their provincial rivals, the Calgary Flames, on Sunday night. After a rough start to the 2023-24 campaign, the Oilers are trying to avoid falling to 0-3 following losses to the Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets.
Oilers’ Struggles So Far
Edmonton has faced a challenging start, losing 5-2 to the Blackhawks on Saturday, and suffering a 6-0 defeat in their home opener against the Winnipeg Jets. The Oilers have allowed 11 goals in two games while struggling offensively, scoring only two goals.
“Obviously, you give up five and six [goals], you’re not going to outscore that most nights, but at the same time, we have been around the net,” said Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “I guess it’s a matter of battling and finding a way to put it in.”
Nugent-Hopkins emphasized that the Oilers are keen to avoid a repeat of last season’s slow start. Edmonton began last year with a 3-9-1 record, which led to the dismissal of head coach Jay Woodcroft. Despite that, they rebounded to come within one win of the Stanley Cup Final. This season, the team is determined to turn things around early.
“There’s no complacency. We want to go right now,” Nugent-Hopkins added. “We did not like the position we were in after the start [last season]. We don’t want to find ourselves in that again… We’ve got to find a way to bounce back [on Sunday].”
Stuart Skinner Set to Start
Goaltender Stuart Skinner, who allowed five goals on 13 shots in the loss to Winnipeg, is expected to start against Calgary. Skinner, who was replaced by Calvin Pickard during the Jets game, has had success against the Flames in his career, with a 4-1-0 record, a .946 save percentage, and a 1.90 goals-against average in six career games against Calgary.
The Oilers will be looking for a spark from Skinner, who played a key role in Edmonton’s strong finish last season. Edmonton took three of four meetings against the Flames last year, and a win over their rivals could be exactly what they need to get back on track.
Flames Off to a Strong Start
The Calgary Flames have enjoyed a strong start to their season, winning their first two games. The Flames erased a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 6-5 in overtime on Wednesday and followed that with a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Their offense has been clicking, especially on the power play, where Calgary went 2-for-5 against the Flyers and 1-for-3 against the Canucks.
“Slow start; I thought we were a little bit too much east-west in the first and into the second period,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska said of Saturday’s win. “I thought we played much better in the third period. When you’re not playing your best, we’ve talked about it… the power play you’d like it to contribute, and I thought when we weren’t at our best, it did that.”
Jonathan Huberdeau Leading the Way
Forward Jonathan Huberdeau has been a standout for the Flames, leading the team with three goals and two assists through the first two games. Huberdeau, who struggled to find his form last season, has started this year with renewed focus and has been a driving force for Calgary’s offense.
“I think we’ve all bought [into] the systems and the way we play,” Huberdeau said. “I think it’s important early to get a good start. I feel like last year we dug ourselves a big hole, so coming in and getting some good wins and feeling good about ourselves, that’s what we needed.”
Dan Vladar to Start for Calgary
Goaltender Dan Vladar, who earned the win in Calgary’s season-opening victory over Vancouver, is expected to start against the Oilers. Vladar has a 2-1-0 record with a .916 save percentage and a 2.69 GAA in three career games against Edmonton. His solid performance in the opener (19 saves) gives the Flames confidence heading into this rivalry game.
Key Matchups and What to Watch
1. Oilers’ Defense vs. Flames’ Power Play
The Flames have been lethal on the power play, going 3-for-8 through their first two games. Edmonton’s defense, which has been porous so far, will need to tighten up and avoid giving Calgary easy opportunities with the man advantage. If the Oilers continue to take penalties, Calgary could capitalize and put Edmonton on the back foot early.
2. Jonathan Huberdeau vs. Oilers’ Defense
Huberdeau is off to a hot start, and his combination of playmaking and scoring ability will be a challenge for Edmonton. The Oilers will need to find a way to contain him if they want to avoid another high-scoring game from Calgary. Huberdeau’s ability to create scoring chances for his teammates will be a key storyline.
3. Stuart Skinner’s Response
Skinner has had success against the Flames, but he’ll need to bounce back from a rough outing against Winnipeg. His ability to regain his form and shut down Calgary’s offense could be the difference-maker for Edmonton as they search for their first win. Skinner will be critical in helping the Oilers avoid falling into an 0-3 hole.
Game Outlook
Both teams enter this game with a lot at stake, but for different reasons. The Oilers are desperate to avoid a third consecutive loss to start the season, while the Flames are riding the momentum of their undefeated start. With Calgary’s offense firing on all cylinders and Edmonton struggling on both ends of the ice, the Oilers will need a strong performance from Stuart Skinner and a more effective offensive showing if they hope to grab their first win.
The Flames, led by Huberdeau and a dangerous power play, have the firepower to overwhelm the Oilers if Edmonton’s defense falters again. However, with the game being played on Edmonton’s home ice and the rivalry factor in play, this matchup has all the makings of a close, hard-fought battle. The Oilers will need to capitalize on their chances and improve their defensive structure if they want to stop their skid and enter the win column.
