FEATURE: Stoking the Flames

EDMONTON, AB - The long, cold winter persists but the temperature is rising.
Should Saturday's highly-anticipated Battle of Alberta between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames engulf into the wildfire most expect it to, let Thursday's media availability fuel it like kindling.

THURSDAY CONTENT

WRITTEN
BLOG: Thursday Practice Updates
RELEASE: Holland named to Canada's Olympic management group
VIDEO
THE PANEL | February Fresh
RAW | Coach Tippett
RAW | Chiasson
RAW | Barrie
Who could forget about Edmonton and Calgary's final clash from the 2019-20 season when the fire stoked to heights unseen since the '80s? Alex Chiasson, appearing in his 500th game in that 8-3 Oilers victory on Feb. 1, 2020, will never see it erased from his memory.
"Definitely one I will remember," Chiasson said Thursday. "I was on the ice when all that went down. It's the fun of hockey. I'm sure those types of emotions will be there again this year."
Chiasson was immobilized when the heat reached a boiling point near the end of the second period of that epic edition of the Battle. Several skirmishes ensued with the main bout going down at centre ice between goalies Mike Smith and Cam Talbot - two netminders who had swapped allegiances as free agents on July 1, 2019.
"To be honest, I think I was on the ice for like 30 seconds," Chiasson recalled. "The ref was on me and someone else was on me. Finally, I got out and I saw Bearsy (Ethan Bear) fighting (Matthew) Tkachuk, and then Smitty and Cam were going at centre ice.
"It was my 500th career game and a lot happened that night."
Oilers defenceman Tyson Barrie witnessed the event unfold from afar as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Not only is he looking forward to entering the spirited rivalry but he's also hoping to continue his success against the Flames. In 24 career games versus Calgary, the blueliner has two goals and 18 points.

"It's old-time hockey," he said. "You don't want to see your 'tendy squaring up at centre every game but if it has to happen, it's got to happen. It went down last year and we'll see what carries over into this year."
The Orange & Blue are well-aware that the game can't be dictated by the emotions spilling over on the ice. Not with valuable North Division points up for grabs. While scores may get settled between individuals, the results on the scoreboard - over the 10 meetings between the two sides this season - will be the ones that matter most.
"If there's a little extra chippy-ness or whatever, that's fun to watch and be a part of," Barrie said. "The important thing is to beat them and move up in the standings."
The Oilers will travel to Calgary Friday on a three-game winning streak and with a 44-68-2 (nine all-time ties) franchise road record against the Flames accompanying them. The puck will drop at 8:00 PM MT on Hockey Night in Canada. Fans will not be in attendance at Scotiabank Saddledome but expect eyeballs to be glued to television sets across the nation.
"It's been a great rivalry for a long time and obviously it boiled over a little bit last year," Barrie added.
"It shouldn't be a hard one to get up for."