Flames (4) – Oilers (3) SO: Undefeated!

Calgary Flames (4) – Edmonton Oilers (3) (SO)

Complete Stats

Recap

For Oilers fans Wednesday, signing Zack Kassian to a bloated contract would be the second most disapointing event of the day.

Despite holding and losing 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 leads, the Calgary Flames skated out of Edmonton with a win in the shootout.

Elias Lindholm scored the only goal of the first, when his centering pass was deflected past by Mike Smith by Adam Larsson. It was the only score of the period, but there were plenty of highlights. Sean Monahan slipped a shot through Mike Smith, but upon review they determined the puck did not fully cross the line.

Sean Monahan later enagaged in his first NHL fight against Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with a few minutes left in the first period, and Matthew Tkachuk and Kassian engaged in their own anticipated bout just 20 seconds later.

It was a game more defined by the non scoring plays, including huge hits from Buddy Robinson on Riley Sheahan and Travis Hamonic on James Neal. David Rittich was none too pleased with Alex Chiasson in his crease, and expressed himself via catcher to the head.

Mixed between the scrums were goals. Andrew Mangiapane scored two goals in the second period off of good cycle plays, as those were alternated with Oiler goals from Chiasson and Kailer Yamamoto.

Matt Benning would dance around Noah Hanifin and slide a shot past David Rittich to tie the game in the third, and eventually send the Flames to their second consecutive shootout.

Sean Monahan capped his eventful night with a cheeky chip shot through Smith’s legs, and David Rittich was graced with two hit posts, before poke-checking Leon Draisaitl and ending the game.

Scoring

Calgary Flames

1st: 1:01- Lindholm (21) (Lucic, Hamonic)

2nd: 13:05- Mangiapane (9) (Bennett), 19:15- Mangiapane (10) (Tkachuk, Andersson)

3rd: None

OT: None

SO: Monahan (GOAL), Tkachuk (NO GOAL)

Edmonton Oilers

1st: None

2nd: 5:48- Yamamoto (4) (Nugent-Hopkins, Draisaitl), 14:41- PPG Chiasson (7) (Draisaitl, McDavid)

3rd: 11:49- Benning (1) (Russell, Neal)

OT: None

SO: Nugent-Hopkins (NO GOAL), McDavid (NO GOAL), Draisaitl (NO GOAL)

Final Thoughts

Regardless of other results, it’s inspiring to see how the Flames have brought the intensity for every matchup so far against the Oilers. The bad blood will have no time to cool off, as these two teams will be right back at it Saturday in Calgary.

David Rittich might be the biggest change for the Flames and why they’re performing so much better in the shootout this season. He stared down a three-headed monster of 93-97-29 in the shootout and yielded no goals for the huge extra point.

Buddy Robinson continues to have strong chemistry with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau.

Flame Of The Game

Andrew Mangiapane (F): 2 G, 2 SOG, 2 Hits, +2

The Eater of Bread broke some droughts tonight, as well as recording his first career multi goal game. He seems to perform with everyone he plays with, and has embraced playing first line minutes.

What’s Next?

2/1: Calgary Flames vs Edmonton Oilers, 8 PM MT

by Gordie Taylor