Tonight, the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary is set to host another chapter in the storied Battle of Alberta as the Calgary Flames face off against the Edmonton Oilers. This rivalry game on December 27, 2025, promises an intense matchup as the Flames seek to rebound from a recent 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Oilers on December 23. In that previous encounter, Connor McDavid showcased his playmaking prowess with five assists, while Leon Draisaitl contributed a hat trick for Edmonton.
Here's a look at the projected lineups for tonight's game:
Edmonton Oilers:
- Forwards: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Connor McDavid — Zach Hyman Vasily Podkolzin — Leon Draisaitl — Jack Roslovic Andrew Mangiapane — Adam Henrique — Matthew Savoie Max Jones — Trent Frederic — Mattias Janmark
- Defense: Mattias Ekholm — Evan Bouchard Darnell Nurse — Alec Regula Spencer Stastney — Ty Emberson
- Goaltenders: Connor Ingram, Calvin Pickard
The Oilers will be utilizing the same lineup that secured their dominant 5-1 victory over the Flames earlier in the week. Connor Ingram is slated to start in net for his third consecutive game. David Tomasek, a forward, is expected to be placed on waivers by Edmonton for contract termination purposes on Sunday.
Injuries are affecting the Oilers' roster, with Connor Clattenburg (eye), Tristan Jarry (lower body), Kasperi Kapanen (knee), Noah Philp (undisclosed), and Jake Walman (undisclosed) all sidelined.
Calgary Flames:
- Forwards: Yegor Sharangovich – Nazem Kadri – Joel Farabee Jonathan Huberdeau – Morgan Frost – Matt Coronato Connor Zary – Mikael Backlund – Blake Coleman Ryan Lomberg – Justin Kirkland – Adam Klapka
- Defense: Kevin Bahl – Rasmus Andersson Yan Kuznetsov – MacKenzie Weegar Joel Hanley – Hunter Brzustewicz
- Goaltenders: Dustin Wolf, Devin Cooley
Dustin Wolf is expected to make his 100th career appearance in goal for the Flames. Justin Kirkland is projected to re-enter the lineup on the fourth line, replacing John Beecher. Kirkland has been playing with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers, where he recorded five goals and seven points in 14 games.
The Flames are dealing with their own injury challenges, as Jake Bean (undisclosed), Samuel Honzek (upper body), Zayne Parekh (upper body), and Martin Pospisil (undisclosed) are all out of the lineup.
Storylines to Watch:
The Oilers have demonstrated a strong record against the Flames, winning 7 of their last 10 encounters. Edmonton has also won 4 of their last 5 games and are currently on a 2 game win streak. Calgary has struggled against Edmonton, losing 7 of their last 10 games against them. The Oilers have been potent offensively, averaging 3.42 goals per game, and boast a 34.3% success rate on the power play. Connor McDavid leads the Oilers with 23 goals, while Leon Draisaitl has 35 assists. The Flames, in contrast, average 2.59 goals per game with a power-play efficiency of just 13.6%.
Given the Oilers' recent dominance in the series and their offensive firepower, they are favored to win tonight's game. However, the Battle of Alberta is known for its unpredictability, and the Flames will be looking to capitalize on home ice and reverse their recent struggles against their provincial rivals.
