Another Day, Another Single Point for Flames in Shootout Loss to Edmonton

The Flames looked to get back to winning again after suffering three straight extra time losses but it was not to be as they fell in the shootout. Ryan Lomberg made his NHL debut and David Rittich got the start.

1st Period: Calgary Flames 2, Edmonton Oilers 0

The Flames would get the early lead as they’d jump on a Milan Lucic turnover in the defensive zone. Mark Giordano would play the puck in and Mikael Backlund would quickly pass it down low to Troy Brouwer. Brouwer would find Matthew Tkachuk in front who would beat Cam Talbot with a one-timer. The goal was Tkachuk’s 15th of the year.

Calgary would get another opportunity a few minutes later as they were sent to the powerplay. It would be a test of Edmonton’s (worst in league history) home powerplay operating at 54.2% against a bumbling a Dave Cameron PP. The Oilers won.

Matt Stajan would take an offensive zone penalty but the PK unit would do a good job killing the penalty.

The Flames would make it 2-0 when Mark Giordano beat Talbot during a delayed penalty sequence where the Flames had the extra attacker. His shot from the point would deflect off an Oiler on the way through. Dougie Hamilton with an assist on the goal.

A late pair of coincidental penalties to Darnell Nurse and Garnet Hathaway would give us some four on four hockey where both teams would get a chance. The best of which belonged to Leon Draisaitl with a cross-ice one timer but Rittich made a fantastic save off his mask.

First period ends with the Flames up 2-0.

2nd Period: Calgary Flames 2, Edmonton Oilers 2

Edmonton would get an early powerplay with Mikael Backlund sent off for holding but the Flames would kill it off.

The Flames would get their own powerplay and would be unsuccessful yet again.

The Oilers would pull within one with Brandon Davidson shooting a weak dribbler that fooled Rittich and just like that, it’s 2-1. Definitely a goal Rittich would like to have back.

Shortly after the Oilers would tie the game with Zach Kassian burying the rebound on a rush. Tie game very quickly. Matthew Tkachuk would also leave the game with what looked to be an elbow injury.

We’d get some four on four hockey late in the period before Calgary would get back to the powerplay and as usual, do nothing. Tie game after two periods.

3rd Period: Calgary Flames 3, Edmonton Oilers 3

Ryan Lomberg in his NHL debut would look to make an impact and he would be fighting Zach Kassian in a brief scrap. Kassian would get the additional penalty to give Calgary another powerplay, ugh.

Nothing again.

Edmonton would take the 3-2 lead with Brandon Davidson being left alone thanks to some poor defending and scoring his second of the night with a slapper. Ugh.

Two and a half minutes later the Flames would tie the game with a great play from Backlund to strip the puck from the Oiler defender in a board battle and set up Tkachuk for a one-timer. 3-3 game midway through the third.

Both teams would get some golden chances the rest of the way but the respective goaltenders would stand tall and we’d head to overtime. Again.

Overtime: Edmonton Oilers 3, Calgary Flames 3

Calgary would get a couple of early shots in the overtime but they would be denied by Talbot.

Connor McDavid would race the other way and bust right in and get stopped by Rittich but Ryan Strome would bury the rebound and the Flames lose. In overtime. Again. UGH.

Except it wouldn’t count. Goaltender inference (somehow, not really) and the game continues.

Craziness would ensure as both teams would get absolutely amazing opportunities including the Flames getting three breakaways and the Oilers coming very close.

Shootout: Edmonton Oilers 4, Calgary Flames 3

Round 1: EDM - Cammalleri (Goal), CGY - Ferland (No Goal)

Round 2: EDM - Draisaitl (No Goal), CGY - Tkachuk (Goal)

Round 3: EDM - McDavid (Goal), CGY - Monahan (No Goal)

Edmonton wins 2-1

Final Thoughts

• Tonight was a very fun game to watch as the Battle of Alberta is really back
• I’ll admit that the goalie interference call on the Oilers was complete garbage
• The Flames had a chance to win this game tonight with four powerplays against the worst home PK in NHL history and failed on all four chances. Something needs to be changed because that is pathetic.
• The good news is that the Flames finally scored more than one goal, including Matthew Tkachuk picking up a pair
• The Flames extended their losing streak against Edmonton to seven games
• 0-0-4 in their last four games just looks weird
• For a team that used to do so well in 3-on-3, they’ve looked snakebitten recently
• David Rittich had a decent night, probably would’ve liked the first goal back but was hung out to dry on the other two.
• Hopefully the Flames can figure out how to win in regulation over the all-star break

Flame of the Game

Matthew Tkachuk (F): We all held our collective breath when Tkachuk left late in the second period with what looked like a bad injury. Thank goodness he returned. He had a great night, picking up a pair of goals as well as a shootout goal. Tkachuk was on for all three Flame goals tonight.

Next Up: The Flames get the All-Star Break to figure some things out before Vegas is in town on Tuesday January 30th