Battle of Alberta Heats Up Again as Oilers Visit Flames After Holiday Break
So here we go again — the Battle of Alberta is back, and it’s arriving with plenty of momentum, confidence, and storylines on the Edmonton Oilers’ side. Coming out of the holiday break, the Oilers head south to Calgary to face the Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome, kicking off a short two-game road trip and renewing one of hockey’s most heated rivalries.
This matchup comes just days after Edmonton delivered a convincing 5–1 win over Calgary on home ice, a game that felt one-sided from the start. That victory was driven by two familiar names. Connor McDavid was simply everywhere, piling up five assists, while Leon Draisaitl reminded everyone of his scoring touch with a hat trick — the ninth of his NHL career. Performances like that were seen as a clear signal that the Oilers entered the break firing on all cylinders.
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In fact, Edmonton went into the holidays rolling at an impressive pace. Over their last 11 games, the Oilers posted an 8-2-1 record, outscoring opponents by a wide margin and climbing right into the top of the Pacific Division standings. That recent stretch has been described as the team finding its identity again, with elite stars leading the way and contributions coming throughout the lineup.
Draisaitl’s recent night against Calgary was especially meaningful. All three of his goals came on the power play, pushing him past Glenn Anderson for third place on the Oilers’ all-time goals list. That milestone was reached during a period where he also snapped a lengthy goal drought, making the performance feel like a turning point rather than just another big night.
McDavid, meanwhile, continues to set the standard across the league. His point streak has quietly stretched into double digits, and by the Christmas break he was sitting alone at the top of the NHL scoring race. More importantly, the Oilers’ captain has spoken about how confident the group feels right now — healthier, more settled, and ready to take advantage of a schedule that will soon bring them home for most of January.
Between the pipes, Connor Ingram is expected to get another start after calmly handling his first taste of the Battle of Alberta. While he wasn’t heavily tested in the previous matchup, the saves he was expected to make were delivered, earning trust from both the coaching staff and the players in front of him.
As Edmonton prepares for this rematch, recent history also favors them. The Oilers have controlled the series over the past few seasons, and confidence is clearly being carried into this one. Still, rivalry games have a way of rewriting expectations, especially in Calgary. One thing feels certain — intensity won’t be lacking when these two drop the puck again.
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