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Flames aim to even season series vs. Oilers

Feb 9, 2008 - 11:40 AM Edmonton (25-26-5) at Calgary (27-20-8) 7:00 pm EST

CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- If the Calgary Flames are going to stay in the thick of the playoff race, they will have to improve upon their recent play.

The Flames look to avoid a second-straight loss on Saturday when they host the Edmonton Oilers in the latest installment of the "Battle of Alberta."

Calgary currently is in eighth place in the Western Conference with 62 points, just one ahead of the Vancouver Canucks for the final playoff spot. The Phoenix Coyotes occupy 10th place with 60 points.

The Flames have dropped three of their last four games, including a dismal 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. Defenseman Adrian Aucoin notched the only goal for Calgary, which has been outscored, 13-6, in the four contests.

"I don't really want to take anything away from them, but I think that we have the skill in this room to score those goals," Aucoin said. "Obviously, there are going to be bounces one way or the other, but I don't think it's luck. When we're not winning, we're not playing our best."

The Oilers enter Saturday's contest looking for their third straight win. On Wednesday, Mathieu Garon made a season-high 40 saves as Edmonton skated to a 4-1 victory over Chicago.

The 30-year-old Garon is 17-12-1 this season with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.

Wednesday's triumph came two days after the Oilers blanked the Flames, 5-0. With that win, Edmonton improved to 3-2-0 against Calgary this season.