'IT'S GREAT FOR ALBERTA'

The wait is almost over.
Battle of Alberta: Playoff Edition.

It's been 31 years since the Flames and Oilers last duked it out in postseason action.
There's been a lot of memorable moments from past series' and tomorrow night, a new chapter will be written.
"The history, the rivalry all that type of stuff, feels like everything is more magnified," Milan Lucic said. "The fans are more into it, the emotions are more into it, the media and storylines are that much more into it. It all feels like it's magnified more.
"As an as athlete it's something to look forward to and something to have fun with."

There's a massive buzz in both cities for the series to get started, and a lot hanging in the balance.
Bragging rights, pride, and one big step closer to playing for Lord Stanley's chalice with the winner advancing to the Western Conference Finals.
It's going to be a battle.
"They didn't air it in Sweden so couldn't watch it but I've heard a lot of good things," Jacob Markstrom said with a laugh when asked about the history of it. "It's big for province but I think our focus is that Game 1 is an important game and be ready for it. All the noise and the media, you have to block it out and just get prepared for the game. It's a hockey game, we've played a lot of them this year.
"It's going to be fun and wild in the crowd. But on the ice we need to be composed and play our game."
And the timing of the match-up arguably couldn't come at a better time.
"It's what brings people together," Flames head coach Darryl Sutter said. "When you say Battle of Alberta … how many people are in Alberta? Four and half million, maybe? We became a province, just so everyone knows who is not from Alberta, in 1905 I believe so that's 116 years ago. What brings our province together? Three things: first is sport, second is church and third music. Think about it. So what's this thing about Alberta right now, it's about bringing people together. They might cheer for Oilers or the Flames, big deal. It's a sport, it's what it's all about. It's awesome.
"In the NHL what more can you ask for right now? You go from 32 teams, to 16 and now we're down to eight. What more can you ask for. Two teams in Florida, the two teams in Alberta, the last two Stanley Cup winners in Tampa and St. Louis, you got the President Trophy champions for the regular season (Florida) and you got the conference champs for our side (Colorado) still in it. You look at it, it's perfect.
"Is it important? Damn right it's important. It's great for the league. It's great for Alberta especially with what's going on. COVID, oil and gas, livestock, agriculture, we all got smoked here the last two years so it's good to see the energy and all the positivity. It's awesome."