It was a good day for hockey in Alberta with both Calgary and Edmonton picking up wins. Edmonton got the ball rolling in Detroit with a 4-3 win over the Red Wings and then Calgary followed that up with a 5-3 comeback win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Both clubs have been playing great hockey so far this season. There are a few parallels between the two clubs. Both are led by very dominant duos, Calgary has Gaudreau and Monahan who have 33 points on the season and Edmonton has McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins with 33 points on the season. Both have questions in goal, Cam Talbot is coming off a bad season in Edmonton and Mike Smith is a bit past his prime. And both clubs are trying to figure out where their young defensemen fit on the depth chart. It's strange watching the two clubs which took such different paths end up in similar positions.
The two club are also sporting very similar records this season, after 15 games Calgary has a record of 9-5-1 and Edmonton is sitting at 8-4-1 having played two games less. With the way things are shaking out in the Pacific division it looks like the two clubs could be battling it out with each other down the stretch for either a playoff spot or possibly home ice advantage in the playoffs. My dream scenario would be the have Calgary and Edmonton finish 2nd and 3rd in the division so that they would play each other in the first round. We have a lot of hockey to play before then so I will try and keep my dreams in check until they get a bit closer to reality.
Calgary and Edmonton will play each other four times this season, with the first match coming in two weeks time. Those games could be the difference on where each club finishes in the standings and should help to reinvigorate the Battle of Alberta. I will be going to two of those four games, the ones in Edmonton, and they are always the highlight of the schedule for me.
Hockey is getting exciting here in Alberta and I hope both clubs can keep up the success.