Game 53:  Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames - Pengrowth Saddledome - January 30, 2010 - CBC 8pm

Tonight, the Calgary Flames (26-20-8) host the Edmonton Oilers (16-30-6) at the Pengrowth Saddledome.  Oddly enough, the Battle of Alberta was starting to lose its relevancy with the Oilers unable to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.  However, with the Calgary Flames struggling with a record of 1-9-2 over their past 12 games, it looks like misery has company.  The Oilers themselves are 0-10-2 as they head for a possible baker's dozen in terms of losses in Calgary.  The Oilers will be besieged by Flames fans in Calgary as they were the last time these two teams played on New Year's eve (Game 41 Oilers vs. Flames).

The Oilers lost the recent match by a score of 2-1, then went on to celebrate New Year's at the Osteria de Medici restaurant racking up an $18 thousand dollar bill in the process.  Prior to that, the Oilers lost game 39 against the Flames by a score of 4-1.  In short, they managed just one Bettman point in the other three games earlier this season against the Flames.  That's a 0-4-1 record against the Flames who've subjugated them this entire season thus far.

With word of the Fall 4 Hall hitting the mainstream media already, Oilers fans who were once ambivalent about their team winning or losing, have now jumped on board the top 2 draft pick bandwagon.  True?  For many...  But hell, this is the Calgary Flames and the Oilers can still win this one and draft Taylor Hall.  Better yet, the Oilers can take 2 points away from the Flames who're currently one point out of a playoff spot in 9th.  Follow the jump for some Oilers/Flames life away from hockey photos...

St. Louis Blues edge the Oilers with goal from Alex Steen

The Edmonton Oilers were dealt their 12th consecutive loss by the St. Louis Blues at Rexall Place.  As such, the Oilers remain five points behind the Carolina Hurricanes in last place in the NHL.  The Oilers are yet to win a game in the month of January or in the year 2010.  At this point, regular fans have probably turned off the Oilers in favor of other pursuits.

It may not feel like it, but tonight was a record-setting night for the Edmonton Oilers.  With this loss, they now edge closer to the franchise's longest losing streak of 13 losses dating back to 1993-94.  If the Oilers lose  to Calgary on Saturday, they will break the record with a baker's dozen (13)  in terms of consecutive losses.  Watching the Oilers break their record of futility this season is somewhat depressing for many fans.  What's more dismaying is that so far, there's been no response whatsoever.

Waiting for Oilers management to get fired, vets to get traded, the onset of a rebuild, or pretty much anything to happen within this organization is one hell of a waiting game for many Oilers fans with myself included.  Well, at least a top-3 draft pick is looking nearly certain, so they're doing something right.

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Game 52:  St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers - January 28, 2010 - Rexall Place - 7:30 PM MT, SNET

Tonight, the Edmonton Oilers (16-29-6) will host the St. Louis Blues (23-22-8) at Rexall Place.  The Oilers are in the midst of an 11-game losing streak without a single win for the month of January.  They are not three points behind the Carolina Hurricanes who won last night against the New York Rangers.  In fact, the Carolina Hurricanes are 6-4-0 over their past ten games while the Oilers are 0-8-2.

For the Oilers, this will be the third out of four times that they play the St. Louis Blues this season.  In the first match-up this season, the Oilers bounced back from a three-goal deficit in the third period with five unanswered goals to win by a final score of 5-3 (game 32:  Oilers vs Blues).  However, in the second match-up, the St. Louis Blues lit up Devan Dubnyk with seven goals to win by a score of 7-2 (game 36:  Oilers vs Blues).  It's anticipated that both Patrick O'Sullivan and Zack Stortini will be healthy scratches for the Oilers tonight.

Mike Comrie and Gilbert Brule return to Oilers lineup.

Edmonton Oiler, Mike Comrie has returned to the the lineup and is expected to play in tomorrow's game against the St. Louis Blues.  Mike Comrie has been out of the lineup since November 18, 2009 due to a recent bout of mononucleosis while missing 30 games.  He was seen in the team's practice today playing on a line with Gilbert Brule and Ryan Potulny.

Gilbert Brule himself has missed 6 games since January 12, 2009 due to a recent stomach flu.  The line that Comrie and Brule are expected to play on will be centered by Ryan Potulny on the Oilers' 3rd line.

Blackhawks celebrate first goal of the game

The Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 4-2 after defending an intial four goal lead.  Jonathan Toews scored the game's first goal which was assisted by Patrick Kane just 44 seconds into the opening frame.  The struggling Oilers have now lost 11 consecutive games and continue their winless streak for the month of January.  Without question, the Oilers were heavily outmatched during this game against the high-flying Blackhawks.

Oddly enough, the Oilers had just one power play during the entire game which occurred in the third period.  It was nullified just 2 seconds after the faceoff in the Blackhawks zone when Parick O'Sullivan was sent to the penalty box on a high-sticking call.  As the game was aired on TSN, Pierre Macguire did his level best to instill hope for Oilers fans next season.  At times during the game, the frustrated Oilers fans cheered sarcastically for their team.

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