Huge Two Points On Highway 2

With only six games remaining in its schedule, the Calgary Flames know tonight’s two points couldn’t be more important.
As the team, and its 85 points (still two behind eighth-place Anaheim), prepare for a crucial game against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place (10 p.m. ET), it will also be busy watching the scoreboard.
Los Angeles (five points ahead of Calgary) has just dropped the puck against the upset-minded Colorado Avalanche. Dallas (one point ahead of the Flames, with three games-in-hand) and Nashville (tied with L.A. for fifth, at 90 points) will face off at 8 p.m. ET.
But the biggest out-of-town game on today’s NHL schedule, from Calgary’s perspective, is the Anaheim-Chicago game (8:30 p.m. ET) at the United Center. The Blackhawks currently sit seventh in the Western Conference
So many different scenarios could play out tonight.
It’s confusing, and I don’t particularly enjoy math, so I’ll just watch the games and re-visit the subject tomorrow.
First thing it first, however, and Calgary will need an inspired effort to beat its provincial rivals later this evening. Edmonton has long been in the draft pick playoffs, but they will certainly take every chance to oust the Flames’ slim playoff hopes.
The Oilers have lost eight straight games and sit last overall in the NHL. They have nothing better to do on a Saturday night than to beat Calgary and formulate some sort of bragging rights out of it.
Centreman Brendan Morrison is still out for Calgary, so the top line of Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen will have to lead the squad. Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff shouldn’t be as busy at the other end, but Edmonton’s speed could create fast-break opportunities he’ll have to be ready for.
Calgary’s last five games, at home to Anaheim Wednesday, at St. Louis on April 1, at Colorado on April 3, home to the Oilers on April 5 and home to league-leading Vancouver on April 9, will likely mean nothing unless they earn the two points tonight.