The Oilers did it again. Despite dominating the majority of last night’s game, Edmonton only managed two goals against the Chicago Blackhawks, resulting in a 5-2 loss.

Am I worried about the Oilers? No. Am I incredibly frustrated? Absolutely.

The Oilers have the chance to get right back into the action tonight in the Battle of Alberta for the first of three meetings between our boys and the Calgary Flames. In a surprising turn of events, it’s the Flames that have started the season 2-0 while the Oilers still seek out their first win.

1. The Flames finished fifth in the Pacific Division last season with a 38-39-5 record. It was their lowest point total (81) in a full 82-game season since 2016 when they finished with 77 points and landed in fifth place in the division.

2. Star goaltender Jakob Markstrom was traded to the New Jersey Devils in the off-season, which felt inevitable after the team almost moved him during the season last year. Calgary received defenceman Kevin Bahl and a 2025 first-round pick in return. Rookie Dustin Wolf and Dan Vlader now hold down the crease for the Flames. Forward Andrew Mangiapane was also moved this summer, heading to the Washington Capitals for a 2025 second-round pick.

3. General manager Craig Conroy did bring in a few bodies to help dampen the blow of losing Markstrom and Mangiapane. Anthony Mantha from the Vegas Golden Knights was their most notable addition in free agency for a one-year $3.5 million contract. Ryan Lomberg (Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers), Tyson Barrie and Jake Bean all joined the Flames this summer, too.

4. The Flames are looking to get back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the Edmonton Oilers defeated them in 2022. The Oilers have beaten the Flames five times in seven games since eliminating them in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2022. Last season, Edmonton had a 3-1-0 record over Calgary but the Flames did get a win at Rogers Place, beating them 6-3.

5. Calgary is the second-highest-scoring team in the Western Conference to start the season with 12 goals, after a 5-4 overtime win versus the Vancouver Canucks to open up their season earlier this week and a 6-3 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Jonathan Huberdeau has led the way with five points over those two games, which is the best start of his career.

6. Mikael Backlund, newly named captain of the Flames, is eight games away from playing his 1,000th game. He would become the first player in franchise history to play all 1,000 games in Calgary.

7. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins became the seventh Oiler to hit the 700-point mark last night. He achieved that milestone in 883 games played for the Copper and Blue, joining Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, Connor McDavid, Glenn Anderson, and Leon Draisaitl.

Oilersnation citizens, the season is HERE, and what better way to kick it off than with Oilersnation’s home for the fans, Greta? It’s all going down on Thursday, October 17th, presented by our friends at Alberta Blue Cross. We’ve got it all—prizes, trivia, live shows, and more to keep the energy buzzing all night. Plus, this year, we’re supporting Free Play for Kids, helping kids in our community access sports. Doors open at 4PM, and you know the drill—tickets are going fast, so hit up nationgear.ca before they’re gone. This event is 18+.