The Edmonton Oilers are well aware of the success the Calgary Flames have had recently in the Battle of Alberta.

The Flames have won both games this season and haven’t dropped a contest to the Oilers since the opening night of the 2009-10 season.

Oilers coach Tom Renney hopes to remedy that tonight in Calgary.

“It seems every time we play these guys, with all due respect to the Flames, we have a tendency to beat ourselves,” Renney said. “If we eliminate that part of the process, I think we’ve got a shot of beating them tonight.”

The Oilers may do that with a more physical approach.

Darcy Hordichuk could draw back into the lineup for tonight’s Battle of Alberta in the place of finesse forward Magnus Paajarvi.

“I am going to make a game time decision on that,” Oilers coach Tom Renney said. “[Paajarvi] skated but he’ll also take the warm-up here and I’ll make a game-time decision on what I want to do there.”

The Oilers are coming off a 4-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche last night. Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulan earned the win and could be in line for back-to-back starts 24 hours apart.

“Let’s wait on that one,” Renney said on his goaltending situation.

OILERS

Sam Gagner – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle
Ryan Smyth – Shawn Horcoff – Ales Hemsky
Ben Eager – Eric Belanger – Ryan Jones
Darcy Hordichuk – Anton Lander – Lenart Petrell

Ladislav Smid – Tom Gilbert
Ryan Whitney – Jeff Petry
Theo Peckham – Colten Teubert

Nikolai Khabibulan
Devan Dybnyk

For the second time in a week, the Calgary Flames with be without a key forward because of the flu.

Missing from practice Friday, Alex Tanguay was again absent from the ice during Calgary’s morning skate as they prepare to take on the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday in the Battle of Alberta.

In Tanguay’s absence, Calgary has recalled Greg Nemisz from the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League. Nemisz, who has six NHL games to his credit, is expected to skate alongside Brendan Morrison and Rene Bourque against the Oilers.

“They are both great players,” Nemisz said. “For me, I’m just going to have to provide some energy and go to the net for them.”

Morrison himself returned to the lineup earlier this week after Curtis Glencross was stricken by the flu. He had two goals and two assists in place of Glencross.

The expectations are a little different for the 21-year-old Nemisz.

“He’s been playing well in [Abbotsford] and we need him to carry it on it here,” coach Brent Sutter said. “Whether we use him on the wing or at center, we’ll see. A lot depends on where Alex is at tonight and whether he can play or not.”

Here are the projected lineups for both teams:

FLAMES

Curtis Glencross – Olli Jokinen – Jarome Iginla
Greg Nemisz – Brendan Morrison – Rene Bourque
Blake Comeau – Mikael Backlund – Lee Stempniak
Tom Kostopoulos – Matt Stajan – Tim Jackman

Scott Hannan – T.J. Brodie
Jay Bouwmeester – Chris Butler
Derek Smith – Joe Piskula

Miikka Kiprusoff
Leland Irving

OILERS

Sam Gagner – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle
Ryan Smyth – Shawn Horcoff – Ales Hemsky
Ben Eager – Eric Belanger – Ryan Jones
Magnus Paajarvi – Anton Lander – Lenart Petrell

Ladislav Smid – Tom Gilbert
Ryan Whitney – Jeff Petry
Theo Peckham – Colten Teubert

Nikolai Khabibulan
Devan Dybnyk

CALGARY -- Colorado Avalanche coach Joe Sacco isn't sure if he'll have forward Kevin Porter at his disposal tonight against the Calgary Flames.

Porter is scheduled to have a hearing with the NHL later today concerning a kneeing infraction on David Booth in Tuesday night's game against the Vancouver Canucks.

"The hearing is set for today so I'll know more after the hearing," Sacco said.

The Avalanche coach does know he will be without both Ryan Wilson and Paul Stastny tonight. Wilson suffered a head injury against Vancouver while a torso injury will keep Stastny out.

"Both players will be out of the lineup tonight," Sacco said. "They're still day-to-day right now."

That's bad news for the Avalanche, who have lost eight consecutive games to the Flames dating back to Oct. 28, 2010.

The team will turn to Jean-Sebastien Giguere in hopes of stopping that skid. Giguere has a 4-3-0 record this season with a 1.81 goals-against-average and .925 save percentage.

"We have back-to-back games coming up here tonight and tomorrow in Edmonton," Sacco said. "My plan all along was to make sure Jiggy got in one of those games and decided he's played well against these guys. We'll give him another crack at them."

AVALANCHE
TJ Galiardi - Matt Duchene - Brandon Yip
Gabriel Landeskog - Ryan O'Reilly - Milan Hejduk
Daniel Winnik - Jay McClement - Chuck Kobasew
Cody McLeod - Kevin Porter - David Jones

Kyle Quincey - Shane O'Brien
Erik Johnson - Stefan Elliott
Jan Hejda - Ryan O'Byrne

Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Semyon Varlamov

CALGARY -- When Brendan Morrison was inserted onto the Flames' top line in place of flu-stricken forward Curtis Glencross Tuesday, all coach Brent Sutter wanted was for the veteran to come in and play a role.

That role turned out to be scoring two goals and adding a pair of assists in a wild 7-6 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Though it's earned him another start in the lineup -- his first back-to-back games since Nov. 23-25 -- Morrison knows he doesn't need another four-point outing to stay in the lineup.

"I've been around long enough that the odds are that's not going to happen," Morrison said. "If we can find other ways to contribute, whether it is to win faceoffs or create chances for my linemates, it doesn't matter as long as we win games."

Though he found chemistry on the wing with Olli Jokinen and Jarome Iginla against Carolina, Morrison will move back to center between Alex Tanguay and Rene Bourque tonight against the Colorado Avalanche.

With Glencross back in the lineup, rookie Roman Horak will sit.

Sutter hopes it will be a learning experience for the 20-year-old, who has 2 goals and 9 points in 25 games this season.

"Roman's a young player, and like all young players there's certain things in his game he needs to continue to work on and maybe slipped a little and we want to get it back where he needs to," Sutter said. "There are a couple things I want him to watch tonight and see the game. It's good for young players to do -- to watch the game and get a different perspective, a different view on it."

FLAMES
Curtis Glencross - Olli Jokinen - Jarome Iginla
Alex Tanguay - Brendan Morrison - Rene Bourque
Blake Comeau - Mikael Backlund - Lee Stempniak
Tom Kostopoulos - Matt Stajan - Tim Jackman

Chris Butler - Jay Bouwmeester
T.J. Brodie - Scott Hannan
Derek Smith - Joe Piskula

Miikka Kiprusoff
Leland Irving

CALGARY -- Though it's an important two points for two franchises that have struggled this season, there's more than just a win on the line tonight when the Calgary Flames host the Carolina Hurricanes.

Family bragging rights are up for grabs.

Son Brandon, a forward for the Hurricanes, will try to get the better of father Brent, who serves as Calgary's coach, as the two Sutters square off at the Scotiabank Saddledome for the only meeting between the two this season.

"They always are," Brandon said. "Hopefully I can find a way to get them this year."

Retain might be a better word. Brandon had an assist in last season's 6-5 shootout win for the Hurricanes. The previous season, though, Brent's Flames beat Brandon's Hurricanes 4-1.

"I think last year we beat him so I'm trying to keep that train rolling," said Brandon, who has 5 goals and 10 points in 28 games this season. "It's a little nicer for the bragging rights, that's for sure."

It's more complicated than just having the right to boast for Brent, who also served as Brandon's coach with the Red Deer Rebels throughout his three-year junior career.

"It's never an easy thing, believe me," Brent said of coaching a son. "It's a lot harder on me then it is him. That's the way it is. Like I told him yesterday, I hope he has a great game, but as long as we finish one goal ahead of him it's a great day for me and a crappy one for him. It's just the way it is when you’re a coach and your son plays in the National Hockey League."

As per Sutter family rules, ice will be thicker than blood -- at least temporarily.

"It's game day," said Brent, who has guided the Flames to an 11-13-2 start this season. "Our makeup is, and our DNA is, that's the way we are. He's focused on trying to help the Carolina Hurricanes as a player and my job is to help the Calgary Flames as a coach. When the game is over, it's over."

If ever there was a household divide, mother/wife Connie provides the ultimate trump card.

"She has an easier time worrying about me than him," Brandon said.

Brent concurred.

"Guaranteed she's not cheering for her husband," he said.

Which means Brent will have to hear it twice should the Flames fall to Carolina.

CALGARY -- Carolina Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller will continue with a lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen as he searches for his first win since taking over as coach.

Muller, who is 0-3-0 since replacing Paul Maurice, will have one new face in the lineup tonight. Goaltender Mike Murphy was called up on an emergency basis from AHL Charlotte to replace Brian Boucher, who suffered a lower-body injury in practice yesterday.

It's one face Muller will be familiar with.

"He's a Kingston (Ont.) kid, so I’ve known Murph since he was a kid," Muller said, himself a Kingston native. "One of the kids I know the most is coming up. I got a break there."

Muller hasn't gotten a break since joining Carolina. The team has lost five consecutive games as Muller looks to instill a new identity in the club, one of teamwork.

"I don't care if you're minus-15, I don't care if you have 1 goal, let's look at today and see how we can be better," Muller said. "Let's just do it together. No one has to be Superman. It's strength in numbers. Let's get out of this together. Let's just come tonight and have fun and play hard and let's see where we're at. We've been doing that for three games, so we just have to keep getting them to believe in it."

We had the likely Flames lineup earlier. Here's what the Hurricanes lineup likely will look like:

Jeff Skinner - Eric Staal - Tuomo Ruutu
Alexei Ponikarovsky - Jussi Jokinen - Chad LaRose
Jiri Tlusty - Brandon Sutter - Patrick Dwyer
Andreas Nodl - Anthony Stewart

Bryan Allen - Derek Joslin
Tim Gleason - Justin Faulk
Joni Pitkanen - Tomas Kaberle
Jamie McBain

Cam Ward will start in goal, with Mike Murphy to serve as the backup.

For more on tonight's game, check out the preview here.

CALGARY -- If a bout with the flu has KO'ed Calgary Flames forward Curtis Glencross, Brendan Morrison is ready to step in.

Coach Brent Sutter wasn't willing to rule Glencross out for tonight's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, but couldn't confirm whether he would be available.

"He's not feeling very good, so we kept him away from the rink this morning," Sutter said. "We'll know more as the day goes on whether he's going to be able to participate or not."

The absence of Glencross could open the door for the return of Morrison, who has been a healthy scratch for the previous five games. Morrison would take Glencross' spot on Calgary's top line with Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen.

"It all depends on the situation with Glennie," Morrison said. "I'll be ready to play if that's the case."

Morrison has been in and out of the lineup sporadically this season. He started the year recovering from knee surgery before returning to the lineup for eight games. Having not fully recovered from the injury, Morrison was then placed on injured reserve, missing another six games.

"Nobody wants to sit and watch too many games, but at the same time you want to get back to a level where you can help the team when you're on the ice," Morrison said. "I feel I'm real close, if not there now. If I get the call, I'm ready."

Tonight's projected lineup for the Flames:

Brendan Morrison - Olli Jokinen - Jarome Iginla
Blake Comeau - Mikael Backlund - Lee Stempniak
Alex Tanguay - Roman Horak - Rene Bourque
Tom Kostopoulos - Matt Stajan - Tim Jackman

Chris Butler - Jay Bouwmeester
T.J. Brodie - Scott Hannan
Derek Smith - Joe Piskula

Miikka Kiprusoff
Leland Irving

CALGARY -- The message from Columbus Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel is simple – keep playing well, keep playing.

Goaltender Curtis Sanford has earned his eighth consecutive start tonight, against the Calgary Flames, after stopping 30 of 33 shots against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

"Right now, he's earned the opportunity to continue to be back in the net," Arniel said. "He's been very good for us. He's given us a chance to win. We're just taking this a game at a time, and if he continues to play the way he is, he's going to get another look."

Sanford has been impressive in eight games this season for Columbus, posting a 3-2-2 record with a 1.61 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.

Sanford said he isn't sure where this run of success has come from.

"I really don't know," Sanford said. "I'm just really enjoying being here. That's the big thing. I'm really enjoying coming to the rink every day. I'm not putting as much pressure on myself to be great, I'm just taking it day by day and breaking the season down that way. It's just really fun to come to the rink."

The 32-year-old has played in just 116 NHL games over the course of his 13-year professional career, but has found inspiration in the likes of Tim Thomas, who emerged as an All-Star-caliber goaltender in his 30's.

"Absolutely, he's a perfect example," Sanford said. "Him and Dwayne Roloson are perfect examples for a guy like me just to never give up and keep improving, wait for an opportunity, and when you get it, just be ready for it. So far things have gone well. It's still early in the season, it's only eight games, but I hope to keep building on it."

With Mark Giordano out with an injury, the Flames will have to tinker with their blue line to make up for his absence. The Blue Jackets, who are playing .500 hockey in their last 10 games, will continue to ride Curtis Sanford between the pipes.

Here is what each team's lineups will likely be tonight.

FLAMES
Curtis Glencross – Olli Jokinen – Jarome Iginla
Alex Tanguay – Roman Horak – Rene Bourque
Blake Comeau – Mikael Backlund – Lee Stempniak
Tom Kostopolous – Matt Stajan – Tim Jackman

Scott Hannan – T.J. Brodie
Jay Bouwmeester – Chris Butler
Derek Smith – Cory Sarich

Miikka Kiprusoff
Henrik Karlsson

BLUE JACKETS
Vinny Prospal – Jeff Carter – Rick Nash
R.J. Umberger – Mark Letestu – Ryan Johansen
Antoine Vermette – Samuel Pahlsson – Derek Dorsett
Derick Brassard – Derek MacKenzie – Jared Boll

Marc Methot – James Wisniewski
Fedor Tyutin – Nikita Nikitin
John Moore – Grant Clitsome

Curtis Sanford
Steve Mason

The Calgary Flames hope a returning veteran and a pair of rookies will ease the absence of workhorse Mark Giordano.
 
Cory Sarich will draw into the lineup in place of the injured Giordano, who suffered a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory against the Nashville Predators.

“You don’t replace a guy like that but what you do is, the workload has to be spread around,” coach Brent Sutter said. “A guy like Cory has to come into the lineup and give us some quality minutes.”

Sarich, who has been a healthy scratch for the last four games and nine of the last 11, is hoping to burn some pent-up energy on the Blue Jackets.

“Take out some frustration on the opponent, that’s usually a good idea, a good way to get into the game,” Sarich said. “I’m just looking forward to helping, contributing. It’s hard to do that from the sidelines. Tonight’s my chance. It’s no fun sitting and watching, so when you have a chance to get out there and give’r, you try to make the most of it.”

The club will also lean on rookies T.J. Brodie and Derek Smith to help carry the load in the absence of Giordano, who has averaged 22:10 of ice time this season.

“Those guys have done a tremendous job when Gio was here and even the other night they filled in extremely well and logged a lot of minutes for us,” defenseman Chris Butler said, sporting eight stitches to his cheek after taking a puck to the face against the Predators. “They’re playing great hockey for us.”

Smith, who played a season-high 22:33 against Nashville, is ready to soak up the minutes after Tuesday’s experience.

“The minutes went up a lot,” Smith said. “Me and T.J. weren’t used to playing those minutes. It worked out well for us and hopefully the increased role will help us tonight too.”

Injuries have ravaged the Flames blue line this season.

Giordano joins Anton Babchuk (hand) on the injured reserve, while Brett Carson is close to returning from an offseason back injury. Carson has been assigned to the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL on a conditioning stint.