The first round of this year’s Battle of Alberta felt like it was the most anticipated event of the three-day holiday break. “It’s Game 40 in the standings,” Ward had cautioned following the team’s brisk morning twirl on Friday. In the second period, however, the visitors would pull away and would not look back. From there, the Flames buttoned down their defensive game and didn’t let the Oilers have much. “There are two teams and I’m sure there won’t be a lot of rust, maybe in the first period.

Source: National Post December 28, 2019 05:02 UTC