Recap & Rate the Flames (4) vs Oilers (2): Flames Take Round 1 of BoA

We decided to bundle RTF and Recap tonight, RTF link is at the bottom.

The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers met for the first time in 2018-19, and what a Battle of Alberta it was. Both teams traded literal and play-based punches all night long, but the Flames pulled out a victory thanks to two third period goals from Elias Lindholm.

The game got off to a big start with Sam Bennett laying out Darnell Nurse, before the two would later duke it out in a spirited tilt. Leon Draisaitl would then dump Matthew Tkachuk with a slewfoot away from the puck and give Calgary a powerplay while Tkachuk left the game (but did return).

Alex Chiasson would open the scoring with a shorthanded breakaway goal on that powerplay. The first period would continue to be very testy with fights, and then Zach Kassian jumping Matthew Tkachuk and taking a triple-minor (!?!?) to give the Flames the PP going into the second.

In the second, there would still be some physical play but the skill would take over. On a two-on-one Draisaitl would set up McDavid who would beat David Rittich.

The Flames would respond late in the period on the powerplay which had been listless all night prior. Derek Ryan (yes he still exists) would bury a rebound in front to make it 2-1.

Calgary would come out for the third period and absolutely dominate as the Oilers just couldn’t slow them down. Sean Monahan would bury a rebound off a Travis Hamonic shot after a gritty hard-working shift by the top line to make it 2-2.

The Flames would continue pushing and Elias Lindholm would give the Flames their first lead of the night with a jam play in front for his tenth of the year. Calgary would shut things down the rest of the way, and Lindholm would get an empty-netter late.

Major props on the night to the entire team as I couldn’t really see a single weak link, but David Rittich led the way, making three huge breakaway saves and being outstanding all night long. He was especially critical when the Flames were at danger of falling behind three goals in the second period.

The Flames with the victory move to first in the Pacific Division and are 11-8-1 on the year. David Rittich is 6-1 and made 24 saves on 26 shots.

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by Michael MacGillivray