Flames Beat Oilers, Snap Losing Streak

1st Period: Calgary Flames 3, Edmonton Oilers 1

A terrible giveaway by Mike Smith led to the Oilers opening the scoring. Smith would play the puck but Zach Kassian would steal it and find Anton Slepyshev in front of the empty net who would score. Calgary would challenge the goal for offside and fail, sending Edmonton to a powerplay in a double whammy. 1-0 Oilers

The penalty would be killed with Edmonton’s most dangerous chance coming on a Connor McDavid crossbar.

The Flames would then score (I was shocked too) to get the game tied up. Mikael Backlund would find a trailing Dougie Hamilton coming into the slot and he would promptly beat Cam Talbot. Dougie’s 17th of the year gives him the league lead in goals by a defenseman again. Tied 1-1

Then the Flames would score again but this time shorthanded. Even more surprising than it being a shorthanded goal was that it was Garnet Hathaway who was rewarded with a goal that Talbot probably should’ve had. Long overdue for Hathaway but he deserved it. 2-1 Flames

Backlund would then add to the Flames lead by capitalizing on a juicy rebound from Talbot after an initial shot from Mike Stone. Backlund’s 14th of the year would spell the end of Cam Talbot’s night. 3-1 Flames

That’s how the period would end, and after how things have gone lately, it was a nice turn of events.

2nd Period: Calgary Flames 3, Edmonton Oilers 2

Michael Cammalleri had the only goal of the period with a nice deflection that beat Smith. Aside from that it was a really entertaining period with both teams exchanging good scoring chances including Spencer Foo coming close to scoring in his first game.

3rd Period: Calgary Flames 3, Edmonton Oilers 2

I really don’t know how to describe the insanity that was the third period other than saying that these teams desperately need to meet in a playoff series at some point.

The Oilers were pushing hard all period long but Mike Smith made some tremendous saves to keep the Flames ahead.

However Smith’s saves weren’t the only awesome thing he did. After Milan Lucic gave Mark Giordano a dirty slash, Smith stood up for his captain by giving and receiving a few shots from Lucic and igniting a scrum. Tanner Glass then fought Lucic, which was the second fight of the period after Drake Caiggula and Mark Jankowski dropped the mitts earlier.

Edmonton pulled their goalie late and got some great chances but the Flames held the fort and defeated the Oilers.

Final Thoughts

• That was a heck of a hockey game even though it meant nothing
• Spencer Foo looked pretty good in his debut
• Mike Smith made up for an early gaffe with a terrific performance

Flame of the Game

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Smith (G): The early goal sucked but I loved him getting right in Lucic’s face and giving him a blocker to the face. He also had a tremendous night, making 36 saves in the win. Vintage Smitty.