previous season and losing long-time starting goaltender

Prior to the start of this season, the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers had very different expectations. The Oilers fan base was expecting the teams first playoff berth since the 2005-2006 season while the Flames were entering a franchise rebuild after trading cornerstone Jarome Iginla at the trade deadline the previous season and losing long-time starting goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff to retirement. On Saturday night, the Flames skated to an 8-1 romp over the Oilers in Edmonton, leaving many to wonder which team was further ahead in the race for the playoffs next season. Not surprisingly, the Flames currently sit well outside of a playoff spot with most fans showing the patience and support for the rebuild that president of hockey operations and interim general manager Brian Burke has asked for. The Oilers, on the other hand, now sit last in the Western Conference, six points behind the Flames and mathematically eliminated from the playoffs with a fan base fed up with a fifth straight losing season. President of hockey operations Kevin Lowe pronounced the team to be "poised for greatness" last season, yet that greatness remains to be seen. With both team already looking toward next season, the question in the Battle of Alberta is which team will make the playoffs first: the Flames or the Oilers? On paper, it would appear the advantage is with the Oilers. The team has three former first-overall draft picks on their roster and two other first-round picks in Sam Gagner and Jordan Eberle. Their goaltending tandem is set for next season with Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth and the team has their 2013 first-round pick, Darnell Nurse, developing in the OHL. However, the Oilers recent struggles has surrounded the team with question marks, including entertaining thoughts of trading one of the young stars to meet another need. The Flames appear to be on a much steadier course, trusting in Burke to put together a team that will enter the playoffs in the near future. Burkes history with rebuilding the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs inspires confidence that, with time, the team will reach the playoffs. Burke also put the finishing touches on the Anaheim Ducks that propelled them to a Stanley Cup. "I think I add a value. Ive been able to fix just about every team Ive worked for, sometimes quicker than others." Burke said when he was introduced as a member of Flames organization. Burke also inspired confidence with his 2013 first-round draft pick Sean Monahan. Monahan is second on the Flames in goals this season with 19 and fifth on the team in total points with 31. Both the Oilers and Flames will likely be in the draft lottery this season with a chance to select first overall, a disappointment for Edmonton and an expectation for Calgary. "Im an impatient guy. We have to do some bold things to move this team forward in a rapid fashion. We have to a better job arming our coaches and our core players with a group to get us to a highly-competitive level," Craig MacTavish said when he was introduced was the Oilers general manager last season. Moving forward, the Battle of Alberta may be turning into a race to see which team will make the playoffs first. Will the Flames steady rebuild pay off with a post-season entrance before the Oilers find a solution to their recent woes? Or will the Oilers embarrassment of young talent come together and deliver the playoff appearance fans are growing restless for? So, which team will make the playoffs first: the Oilers or Flames? As always, its Your! Call. Shoes Wholesale China Market . As if he had been rehearsing it, Vasquez looked around with a grimacing stare as he clinched two fists and flexed his muscles. What do you think of DeMar DeRozans face after he hits a big shot, he was asked moments earlier. Replica Shoes Wholesale . "Yeah, [I heard them]," he said. "They made me miss the free throw." A year ago, Lowrys post-game antics may not have been so well received but what was snide and snarky is now endearing quick wit. http://www.wholesaleshoes.us.org/ . TSNs Farhan Lalji reports the Edmonton Eskimos non-import DT has a workout scheduled with an NFL team next week and isnt expected to sign a deal with any team until then. Wholesale Shoes 2020 . He left in the 4th inning of Saturdays game against the Tigers after experiencing tightness. Reyes and the team still hope that he will be ready for Opening Day in Tampa Bay in one week. Replica Shoes Wholesale China . Everton Preview West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has been around the game long enough to not get too high when things are going well and not get too low when they arent.LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Florida had the same plan when it was trailing and when it pulled ahead. The third-ranked Gators just wanted to maintain their composure. That steady approach turned into a big win at one of college basketballs most hostile venues. Scottie Wilbekin scored 23 points, including five critical free throws down the stretch, and Florida rallied for a tense 69-59 victory over No. 14 Kentucky on Saturday night in a matchup of the Southeastern Conferences top teams. "It was just one of those games where you have to kind of stay the course," Gators coach Billy Donovan said. Casey Prather had 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting as Florida tied a school record with its 17th straight win. Trailing 45-38 with 11:12 remaining, the veteran Gators (23-2, 12-0) turned to their best players down the stretch of their first victory at Rupp Arena since 2007. Wilbekin went 11 of 12 at the line, including two free throws after Kentucky coach John Calipari was whistled for a technical with 8:14 left. "I feel like Im always confident," said Wilbekin, who was 5 of 10 from the field. "When the balls in my hands, I feel like I have to make a play. I try to get to the basket or get the best shot for our team." Patric Young added 10 points, including two three-point plays during a 13-3 spurt that put the Gators ahead for good. Florida shot 60 per cent in the second half and 44 per cent (22 of 50) overall while controlling every major statistic except rebounding. Calipari said he didnt know what he said to draw a technical foul, but suggested Wilbekins free throws "could have" swung the game. "I dont know what he heard me say with my back to him, so you have to ask him," Calipari said. Andrew Harrison scored 20 points for Kentucky (19-6, 9-3), which had won 22 consecutive home games. Prathers three-point play with 38 seeconds remaining helped complete Floridas rare road sweep of Kentucky and Tennessee in the same week.dddddddddddd Kentucky outrebounded Florida 31-28 but couldnt grab an errant shot at the biggest moments, especially on the offensive end. The Gators took advantage for a 12-8 edge in second-chance points and basically controlled the paint, outscoring the Wildcats 34-22. James Young added 19 points for the Wildcats, who shot 48 per cent but didnt score in the final 1:55. Julius Randle had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Florida will host Kentucky in the rematch on March 8, but the victory puts the Gators in firm control of the conference race. It also strengthened their resume for a possible No. 1 seed in next months NCAA tournament. Floridas experience and poise -- especially before a loud, partisan crowd and a prime-time audience -- proved to be the difference against Kentuckys youth, especially in pressure moments throughout the second half. The Gators improved to 3-2 against ranked teams. "We were just trying to stay in the moment," Patric Young said. "We knew that they were going to throw punches and we were going to do the same thing. There was a lot of time left in the game. Our main focus was to stay with our principles and stay together." The first half certainly lived up to the hype with seven ties, six lead changes. Kentucky held the largest edge at just seven points, which Florida whittled to 31-28 at the break. Randle had 10 points at halftime. The game remained close until Patric Young began the pivotal run with the first of two big three-point plays at the 10:41 mark. Wilbekin helped with floor leadership in which he forced the action and drew fouls or found open teammates. Once ahead, the Gators limited the Wildcats opportunities, particularly in the final minutes when Kentucky was forced to take long shots. ' ' '