CALGARY, Alberta — In a thrilling matchup on Sunday, the Edmonton Oilers secured a 4-2 victory against the Calgary Flames, with Leon Draisaitl leading the charge by notching a goal and contributing two assists.
The Oilers, improving their record to 6-5-1, found the back of the net through players Zach Hyman, Jeff Skinner, and Mattias Janmark, who capped off the game with an empty-net goal. Edmonton’s goaltender, Stuart Skinner, played a pivotal role, turning away 29 shots to clinch the win.
Draisaitl kicked off the scoring just 20 seconds into the game, executing a smooth backhand shot that slipped past Flames’ goalie Dan Vladar. Following that, Skinner doubled the lead for the Oilers at 8:12 of the first period, capitalizing on a second chance opportunity.
The Flames responded in the second period when Anthony Mantha redirected a Tyson Barrie shot into the net at 4:33, narrowing the gap. As the game progressed into the third, Calgary’s Yegor Sharangovich leveled the score at 2-2 with a well-placed shot amid traffic, just 4:28 into the period.
However, the Oilers regained control with Hyman scoring during their second power-play opportunity at 9:50. He cleverly maneuvered a backhand shot beyond Vladar, propelling Edmonton back into the lead. Janmark then sealed the deal for the Oilers with a late empty-net goal.
Notably, the Oilers competed without their star player Connor McDavid, who is anticipated to return to the lineup later this month.
Key insights from the game reveal that the Oilers’ power play, which has struggled this season, was crucial as it led to Hyman’s game-winning goal. Meanwhile, the Flames faced challenges with the Oilers’ speed, falling behind early and failing to establish meaningful offensive pressure.
A critical turning point occurred when Calgary received a too-many-men penalty with just 2:18 left on the clock, which hindered their chance to push the game into overtime.
On a statistical note, Draisaitl has been on a scoring streak, recording five goals and three assists over his last four road games, in addition to two goals and four assists since McDavid’s injury. He has maintained an impressive average of a point per game in 56 contests without McDavid since the latter joined the Oilers in 2015.
Looking ahead, the Oilers prepare to host the Devils on Monday, while the Flames are set to embark on a three-game road trip beginning with a matchup against Montreal on Tuesday.