Battle of Alberta: Oilers vs. Flames and the Fight for Western Glory

When Do the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers Play Next?

Upcoming game information can be found below. Calgary Flames tickets and Edmonton Oilers tickets can be found on their respective team pages.

Are the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers Rivals?

Yes, the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers are regional as well as divisional rivals in the NHL. The Flames vs. Oilers rivalry is nicknamed “The Battle of Alberta” due to the two teams’ residence in the Canadian province Alberta, and because both are members of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference.

Who Are the Calgary Flames’ Biggest Rivals?

The Calgary Flames’ biggest rivals are the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks in the Pacific Division.

Who are the Edmonton Oilers’ Biggest Rivals?

The Edmonton Oilers’ biggest rivals are the Calgary Flames, the Vancouver Canucks, the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights as members of the Pacific Division.

Game Results Between the Oilers and Flames

Of the NHL’s 82 regular season games, fans can expect three to four matchups between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames each year. The teams have met 269 times, with the Flames holding a 124-117-19-9 series edge.

Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers Series History

The Battle of Alberta began in 1980 after the Atlanta Flames relocated to Calgary, establishing a second NHL franchise in the western Canadian province along with the Edmonton Oilers, who had joined the league in 1979. More importantly, the Calgary-Edmonton hockey rivalry became another arena for the bitter feud between Alberta’s most populous city and its capital, respectively. Within the league, the stakes were raised as Calgary moved to Edmonton’s Smythe Division in 1981, and the pair were realigned together to the Pacific Division in 1993, the Northwest Division in 1998 and back to the current Pacific Division in 2013.

In the meantime, the Flames and Oilers rivalry delivered on its regional roots with thrilling gameplay in the ’80s. Under the leadership of future Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, the Oilers won six consecutive Smythe Division championships between 1982 and 1987, while Calgary ranked second in four of the seasons before winning three back-to-back division titles from 1988 to 1990. At the same time, the Oilers vs. Flames postseason series became a staple in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with five matchups in nine years and three seven-game series, in 1984, 1986 and 1991. Notably, Edmonton’s victories over Calgary in 1984 and 1988 led to two of the Oilers’ five total Stanley Cup championships, while the Flames won their first title in 1989 without a postseason contest from Edmonton.

During the 2021-22 season, the Flames-Oilers rivalry gained heat again as the two teams rose to the top of the Pacific Division. Heading into the playoffs, Calgary earned the division title while Edmonton ranked second, but the Oilers pulled off the upset win in the Western Conference semifinals, 4-1. The series marked the first Calgary-Edmonton postseason faceoff in nearly 30 years. In 2023, the Battle of Alberta shifted to the seventh NHL Heritage Classic, where the Oilers won 5-1 in front of 55,411 fans at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

Where Do the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames Play?

The Edmonton Oilers play at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Replacing the Oilers’ former home ice at Northlands Coliseum, the indoor multipurpose arena opened as part of downtown Edmonton’s Ice District in 2016. In its hockey layout, Rogers Place can hold 18,347 fans. In 2020, the venue held all Western Conference matches, as well as the 2020 Western Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oilers brought the Stanley Cup Final back in 2024, though the team ultimately fell to the Florida Panthers. Aside from the Oilers, Rogers Place hosts the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings.

The Calgary Flames skate on home ice at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. Opened in 1983, the Saddledome, or “The Dome,” is located in downtown Calgary’s Stampede Park. Built to host hockey and figure skating events at the 1988 Winter Olympics, the Scotiabank Saddledome currently holds a seating capacity of 19,289 for hockey games. Along with the Flames, the Saddledome serves as the home arena for the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, the CEBL’s Calgary Surge, the NLL’s Calgary Roughnecks and the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. Within the league, Scotiabank Saddledome has hosted the NHL All-Star Game, in 1985, and three Stanley Cup Final series, in 1986, 1989 and 2004.