For the second time in the 2024-25 season, and the second time on a Sunday evening, the Calgary Flames (6-4-1, 13 points) will face the Edmonton Oilers (5-5-1, 11 points)! It’s the one and only visit from the Oilers to the Saddledome this season and likely one of their final five visits to the Saddledome ever. Moreover, the Flames have a chance to clinch the Battle of Alberta season series (for the first time since 2019-20) with a win of any manner.

Tonight’s broadcast begins at 6 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West, Pacific, East, One and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

Here are projected lines, via Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg:

Jonathan Huberdeau – Yegor Sharangovich – Anthony Mantha
Connor Zary – Nazem Kadri – Martin Pospisil
Blake Coleman – Mikael Backlund – Matt Coronato
Ryan Lomberg – Kevin Rooney – Andrei Kuzmenko

Kevin Bahl – Rasmus Andersson
MacKenzie Weegar – Daniil Miromanov
Tyson Barrie – Brayden Pachal

Coming off his shutout on Friday, Dan Vladar starts again in net, backed up by Dustin Wolf. The projected extra skaters are Justin Kirkland, Jake Bean and Joel Hanley. Based on Saturday’s practice at Winsport, it appears that Anthony Mantha starts Sunday as he finished Friday’s game: in the top nine. That leaves Andrei Kuzmenko on the fourth line.

The Flames played quite well against the New Jersey Devils on Friday. The best compliment I can pay them is that they made New Jersey play a Flames style of game, which really did a lot to negate some of the Devils’ better offensive players. When the Flames skate and forecheck and maintain their shape, they can do a great job of making their opponents frustrated and contained. The more the other team is allowed to skate, the more difficult the outing will be for the Flames.

Now, if only they can fix their power play…

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Jeff Skinner – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin – Leon Draisaitl – Viktor Arvidsson
Mattias Janmark – Adam Henrique – Connor Brown
Drake Caggiula – Noah Philp – Corey Perry

Mattias Ekholm – Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse – Travis Dermott
Brett Kulak – Ty Emberson

We’re projecting Stuart Skinner to start in net, backed up by Calvin Pickard. The projected extras are Derek Ryan and Troy Stecher. The Oilers remain without Connor McDavid, as he’s out for a few weeks with an ankle injury.

The Oilers are mired in a bit of a sluggish start. They’re currently at the .500 mark, and they’ve been alternating wins and losses pretty much all season. They’re a team that has the capability of going on a run at any time, but they just haven’t had the type of consistency in their game to do that yet this season. Even without #97, though, they’re a talented, dangerous team, and the Flames will need another game like Friday’s if they want to best their biggest rivals.

The Flames are healthy.

The Oilers are without Evander Kane and Connor McDavid.

This is the second of three Battles of Alberta in 2024-25, with the Flames having won the first instalment. They’ll close out season series on Mar. 29 in Edmonton.