Game Day: Oilers vs Flames

Edmonton (2-1-1) vs Calgary (1-3-0)

Time:     7:30pm
Where:   Scotiabank Saddledome
Watch:   Sportsnet West
Listen:    630 Ched

Projected Line Combinations

Hall - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle

Paajarvi - Belanger -Omark

Smyth - Horcoff - Jones

Petrell - Lander - Eager

  
Edmonton are not likely to make any lineup changes upfront after their 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators Monday night. Even if they did want to make a move, they don't have any healthy bodies to add in. It was speculated that Lennart Petrell may not dress against the Preds because of an illness but the feisty winger was in the lineup and took his regular shift on the fourth line and penalty kill.

Look for the Hall - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle line to try and string together a third straight solid effort. The Flames defense could be in for a long night if the trio cycles the puck the way they did against Nashville. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter had their hands full dealing with the youngsters and the Flames do not have any defencemen that are anywhere near as good as the Predators stud blueliners. 

Defence Pairings

Gilbert - Smid
Barker - Potter
Sutton - Petry

The backend are coming off their two best performances as a six man unit this season. That being said, tonight could see the return of defenceman Ryan Whitney to the fold. With Theo Peckham already on the sideline as a healthy scratch, the next logical choice would seem to be Jeff Petry but we shall see. There is the outside chance they give Whitney a few more days rest and bring him back against theWild on Thursday.

Netminder

 

While Nkolai Khabibulin had little to do Monday night against Nashville, you should expect to see Devan Dubnyk between the pipes for Edmonton. The goalie rotation has been working to perfection so I can not think of any reason why this would change.


Calgary Notes 

• Former Oiler Curtis Glencross and Rene Bourque are leading the Flames with three goals each in four games

• Miikka Kiprusoff has started three of Calgary's first four games and is expected to get the start in goal against their provincial rivals

• Jarome Iginla is once again, off to a slow start with only one goal in four games. Nothing has been said by the Flames but one would think the power forward's wonky back is still align him. He pretty much missed all of training camp and has not looked his usual self to start the season.