For the first time in a long time NHL teams got three full days off from practice or games at Christmas. What will it produce on the ice Friday as teams return?
In Alberta, as the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers clash for the third time this season, it will be a challenge, matching the drama provided in the first two contests between the rivals.
In past seasons, NHL clubs got two days off over Christmas. However, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement says the players get an extra day, Dec. 26, away from their teams.
Morning skates on Friday are the only on-ice prep for a return to action.
Friday evening in Calgary, the Flames and Oilers both having a win in previous games in the Battle of Alberta with both providing excitement to the end before the home team succumbed.
The last meeting, Dec.7 in Edmonton, went to overtime. The Flames nurtured a 1-0 lead for 43 minutes and 50 seconds in that one before the Oilers’ Taylor Hall tied the contest with 10 seconds remaining. The Flames regrouped and won 2-1 in OT when Jiri Hudler scored at 3:14 of extra time.
On Nov.16 in Calgary, the Flames led for 31 minutes and 17 seconds having built a 2-0 lead then the Oilers struck for three goals in 6:42 grabbing the lead and then adding an empty-net goal for a 4-2 victory.
In both games, the winning side played night prior. This time both teams will be well rested although the rival coaches likely would have preferred a practice day after the players enjoyed the holiday respite.
Both teams won to end losing streaks on Dec. 23 before the pause in action. The Oilers won for the first time in seven games downing Winnipeg convincingly, 6-2. The Flames rallied from a two-goal third period deficit to win 4-3 in a Shootout over St. Louis ending a four-game losing run.
The results left the provincial rivals at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with the reputed over-achieving Flames having seven more points while having played two less games than the reputed under-achieving Oilers.