Flames versus Oilers in Battle of Alberta: The Next Generation

Fans of the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers are counting down until puck drop of the first post-season Battle of Alberta in decades.

Flames and Oilers players meanwhile will experience a new generation of the infamous rivalry, as only 14 of the 52 skaters in the series were alive for the last post-season matchup between the two teams.

Johnny “Hockey” Gaudreau is one of those players.

His uncle, James Gaudreau, is headed to Calgary to cheer on his nephew’s team. He says he’s excited to be a part of the C of Red.

“My goodness, the Red Lot and the people in the ‘Dome, the fans in the ‘Dome, was just amazing to see and like, crazy, crazy, right? So I can only imagine what it’s going to be like,” James Gaudreau said. “Learning that it hasn’t happened in the playoffs for almost 30 years, it’s really amazing right?”

“To be a fan of either team and to be a part of that event is going to be something spectacular. Really, really spectacular.”

Oilers forward Zach Hyman is another skater that was not born in time for the last Battle of Alberta.

“Being part of a series that has history is special. It’s moments that fans will relish and look back on. To have the chance to go to the conference final and have the chance to be Canada’s team, that’s an opportunity that both sides are eager to (have),” said Hyman.

Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom was born in 1990, making him only one year old during the previous Battle of Alberta.

“It’s big for the province and all that, but I think our focus is Game 1. It’s a really important game. Get ready and all the noise and media and that stuff, you’ve got to block it out. It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be wild in the crowd, but on the ice, we’ve got to be composed and play our game,” Markstrom said.

Oilers forward Zack Kassian was born in 1991, the year that the two teams last played each other in a post-season series.

“I know everyone is looking forward to it,” said Kassian. “Two really good teams that just got out of two hard-fought series. It’s not only big for the teams. It’s big for the province. This is, personally, probably the biggest series I’ve ever played in.”

The series also feature five players who have donned both the Flaming C and Oilers blue. Flames forward Milan Lucic, and Oilers players Kris Russell, Mike Smith, Derek Ryan, and Brett Kulak have all experienced both sides of the provincial rivalry.

“It’s huge. The Battle of Alberta is another level in the regular season, and now for us — as players, fans and the cities — to have that rivalry exist in the playoffs is something special,” Oilers forward Derek Ryan said. “I think we are all going to try and take it in, do our best and live in the moment.”

Betting on the Battle

Peter Tanner, founder of hockey analytics website moneypuck.com, says the odds are slightly in the Calgary Flames’ favour to take the series.

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“The probability would show that the Flames have a 57 per cent chance of beating the Oilers in round two and there’s a 34 per cent chance they do it in seven games,” Tanner said.

With odds so close, Tanner says the outcome of the series will most likely come down to which fans can help cheer on their team the most.

“This is going to be a close series, and the home team will likely be favoured in each game, but the Flames having the home ice advantage in the series gives them the advantage overall,” Tanner said.

Tanner adds while there’s a guarantee that Alberta will be represented in the Western Conference final, the chances of the Stanley Cup going on a victory parade in the province are only one-in-four (23 per cent).

–With files from The Canadian Press