Alberta sweeps Sunday

Both Alberta based teams found Sunday to be to their liking, winning their respective games in convincing fashion.

The Oilers held the Senators to only thirteen shots on the way to a 3-1 win over the Sens, who wrapped up their swing west Sunday night. For the Oilers it was a shorter than usual night, since February 29th the Oilers have gone into Overtime in every game, in order to preserve the point or gain a win. Tonight it was straight time as Ethan Moreau, Radek Dvorak and Raffi Torres all scored for the Oil to secure the win. Martin Havlat picking up the lone goal for the Sens. Ty Conklin got the win for the Oilers, Patrick Lalime replaced starter Martin Prusek, as Jacques Martin tried to shake up his lethargic squad. The Sens remain in fourth place overall in the conference with 90 points. The Oilers presently are in 10th, but now only four points behind the St. Louis Blues who are holding down the final playoff spot in the West.

The Oilers received a big favour from their provincial cousins, as the Flames took care of the Blues today by a score of 3-0. Roman Turek led the Flames to victory turning back all 25 shots that he faced against his old team, his first game since being placed and going unclaimed on waivers. Marcus Nillson, Craig Conroy and Chris Simon accounted for the Flames offence, but the team defence is what kept the Blues at bay. Strong checking and positional play by the Flames, kept the Blues off the shot clock for the first ten minutes of the game. The Blues made more progress in the second and third periods, but Turek closed the door. The win helps to solidify the Flames hopes for a playoff spot, currently holding down sixth place in the West with 82 points. While they Oilers won't be sending the Flames any thank you cards, the Flames work tonight has given Edmonton a boost, as the stumbling Blues suddenly seem within reach of the Oil.

Perhaps we're not too far away from the good old days of the Battle of Alberta, with a surge from the Oilers and continued success for the Flames, Alberta can dream a little of what could be.