Both the struggling Flames and their hosts desperately need a win to change their fortunes
Get the heaters ready, grab the toques and hand warmers and drop the puck.
The Heritage Classic outdoor game in Commonwealth Stadium is here.
And while the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers rightly had an enjoyable Saturday evening practice and family skate, both clubs are looking for two points and something else when they square off on Sunday — a springboard to their flagging playoff hopes.
“It’s a pretty unique opportunity to hit the reset button,” defenseman MacKenzie Weegar told the media. “You have two desperate teams going at it, teams that are dying for a win. It’s going to be a Battle of Alberta (Sunday) for sure. It’s set up great. We are looking for two points and we need that bad. Yeah, it will springboard, carrying through November and hopefully the rest of the season. We can look back on this game as one of those pivotal moments and it’s going to be a big two points for our team."
The Flames (2-5-1) and Oilers (1-5-1) are ahead of only the San Jose Sharks in the overall standings, which has taken some of the edge off the event during the build-up period.
But as game time nears, the Flames have been able to round-file the disappointment of their four-game losing skid and begin feeling the buzz.
"It takes away a little bit of the regular-season feeling and breaks it down to one game this weekend,” Mikael Backlund said. “It’s a big game. Always a big game against Edmonton, but a little extra special this time. It's the same for them. They're in the same boat, pretty much. One team is going to feel a lot better about themselves waking up on Monday."
Here’s a look at Calgary’s probable lineup:
Forwards:
Dryden Hunt-Elias Lindholm-Dillon Dube
Andrew Mangiapane-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Jonathan Huberdeau-Nazem Kadri-Matt Coronato
AJ Greer-Yegor Sharangovich-Walker Duehr
Extra: Adam Ruzicka is apparently a game-time decision and if he is able to play through the shoulder issue he is battling, expect him to be inserted.
Defense:
Noah Hanifin-MacKenzie Weegar
Ilya Solvyov-Chris Tanev
Nikita Zadorov-Dennis Gilbert
Extra: Jordan Oesterle
Goal:
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Here is the expected roster for the Oilers with the expectation their captain is back after missing the past two games due to an upper-body injury:
Forwards:
Leon Draisaitl-Connor McDavid-Warren Foegele
Evander Kane-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Zach Hyman
Dylan Holloway-Ryan McLeod-Connor Brown
Adam Erne-Mattias Janmark-Derek Ryan
Defense:
Darnell Nurse-Cody Ceci
Mattias Ekholm-Philip Broberg
Brett Kulak-Evan Bouchard
Goal:
Stuart Skinner
Jack Campbell