Prior to the start of this season, the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers had very different expectations. Sabres Jerseys China . 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. Buffalo Sabres Pro Shop . The Wizards gave up two seldom-used players — forward Jan Vesely and point guard Eric Maynor. Vesely goes to the Nuggets, while Maynor gets shipped to the 76ers. Philadelphia receives two second-round draft picks, one from the Wizards in 2015 and one from the Nuggets in 2016. Stitched Sabres Jerseys . A strong fastball. A big, bending curveball that can buckle hitters at the knees. Against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, Elias put the entire package together against one of the leagues strongest lineups. https://www.cheapsabres.com/ .C. -- Clemson celebrated a senior class Saturday that brought the program back as a national contender.Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Bosh is back in the spotlight after taking a back seat to LeBron James the last four years in South Beach. He got off to a great start in the post-LeBron era Wednesday. Bosh had 26 points and 15 rebounds as the Miami Heat defeated the Washington Wizards 107-95 in the season opener for both teams. Bosh, who saw his numbers decline each year with James in town, signed a five- year $118 million deal in the offseason to remain in Miami. He hopes to return to the 24 points and 10.8 rebounds per game averages during his final season with Toronto in 2009-10. The 29-year-old lefty had averaged 17.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game with Miami coming into this season. Dwyane Wade netted 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, while Norris Cole added 23 for the Heat, who made it to the NBA Finals in each of James four years and won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. Luol Deng posted 12 points in his Miami debut. John Wall tallied 16 points and 11 assists, Marcin Gortat supplied 18 points and seven rebounds and Drew Gooden provided 18 points for Washington, which will be without blossoming third-year guard Bradley Beal for the first month due to a wrist injury. The Wizards, who went 44-38 last season, made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals before falling to the Indiana Pacers. Ten-time All-Star Paul Pierce had 17 points, six boards and five assists in his Wizards debut, taking over for Trevor Ariza, who signedd with Houston. Buffalo Sabres Gear. Otto Porter scored the first four points during an 8-0 Wizards run to pull them within 84-83 with 5:22 left in the fourth, but Miami responded with the next six to push the margin back to seven. Mario Chalmers nailed a 3-pointer and Wade sunk two free throws for a 90-83 Heat advantage with 4:14 to play. Gortat split a pair of free throws to claw Washington within 99-93 a few minutes later, but Wade found Deng underneath for a layup and then hit a triple to seal it with 1:01 remaining. Earlier, Washington led 28-22 after a quarter of play before the Heat put in the first six points of the second to tie it, with Bosh netting the final four points of the spurt. The Heat held a 53-52 edge at the break. Miami took a 72-70 margin into the fourth, where the Heat used an 8-0 surge to build a nine-point cushion. Chalmers hit James Ennis in stride with a cross-court pass and he leapt over the top of Andre Miller for an emphatic dunk. Ennis then knocked down the subsequent free throw for a three-point play. Shabazz Napiers steal of Wall and layup provided Miami an 84-75 lead with 8:35 to go. Game Notes The Heat went 224-88 and won 59 postseason games during the James era ... Napiers layup was his lone two points in his NBA debut ... Miami shot 48.1 percent (39-of-81) from the floor and was 87 percent (20-of-23) from the foul line ... Miami outrebounded Washington 44-36. ' ' '