Since they moved to town in 1980, there’s been one team that the Calgary Flames have used as a measuring stick – their neigbours to the north, the Edmonton Oilers. The two clubs combined for seven Cup Final appearances and five Cup wins in the 1980s, mostly Edmonton’s, but the rivalry has pushed both teams to improve and excel over the decades.
The 1980s were superb for both teams, but the 1990s were lean. Aside from a brief flash of relevance for both clubs in the mid 2000s – Calgary in 2004, Edmonton in 2006 – it wasn’t until Connor McDavid’s arrival in 2015 that the Battle of Alberta really started heading up.