Hockey’s back in Edmonton, and there’s no better way to kick off the season than a Battle of Alberta at Rogers Place. At least, that’s what I thought when I walked into the building anyway. Instead, our beloved Edmonton Oilers fell to the Calgary Flames in the most annoying way possible. Even so, it wasn’t all bad. Even with the loss, your ol’ pal Baggedmilk can still find a few positives in what was otherwise a miserable wrap to the night.

The Oilers looked like they were in complete control through the first 38 minutes of Wednesday’s game until the wheels fell off. Goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Andrew Mangiapane, and Leon Draisaitl built the home side a comfortable three-goal cushion with less than 12 minutes to go in the second period, and it felt like the boys were cruising toward an opening-night win. But as we’ve seen far too many times before, a couple of bad breaks and missed details flipped the script in a hurry, and the Oilers went from being up three to tied in a snap. A bounce off Noah Philp’s skate, a questionable high stick that somehow counted, and an absolute stinker that slipped past Stuart Skinner gave the Flames all the life they needed. Instead of celebrating a win, we’re left to sit with the frustration of what could have been.

This was an avoidable loss and an ugly one to sit through. The Oilers were by far the better team for most of the night, but they let it all slip away because of unlucky bounces and an unfortunate brain fart when it mattered most. It’s early, and these issues are fixable, but blowing a three-goal lead to your biggest rival is not how you want to start the year. And even though it was the first game of the season, it’s hard not to feel frustrated by the way the game imploded for the home side. Instead of skating away with two points and a statement win, they’re left with just one after a shootout collapse that never should have happened. Rather than opening the 2025–26 season with a statement effort, we’re starting the year with a classic dose of Oilers frustration and a reminder to stay grounded after what seemed like a rock-solid start to the night.

Leon Draisaitl wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s one of the most dominant players in the league, picking up a goal and an assist in game one of the 2025–26 campaign. In his first game of the season, No. 29 logged 24:40 of ice time, scored a goal, added an assist, fired six shots on goal, and even chipped in with a hit. At even strength, he posted a 69.57 CF% and a ridiculous 92.01 expected goals percentage — a clear sign that whenever he was on the ice, the Oilers were dictating play. It was the kind of performance we’ve come to expect from Draisaitl, especially when he’s playing alongside the other half of the Dynamic Duo. Unfortunately, the Oilers didn’t get enough from the rest of the lineup as they fell to the Flames, but if there was a silver lining, it’s that our German warlord came ready to play.

More importantly, the power-play goal he scored at 8:32 of the second period marked a major milestone as Draisaitl hit the 400-goal mark in just his 791st NHL game. Not too bad for a guy who wasn’t expected to be a goal scorer when the Oilers took him third overall from the Kelowna Rockets. It speaks to how much he’s evolved in the first decade-plus of his career. And while two points from Leon weren’t enough to lock down a win, I loved how he looked in his first game under his new contract. Draisaitl picked up right where he left off last season when he captured the Rocket Richard Trophy, proving once again that when he’s on his game, very few players in the world can touch him. The result wasn’t what we wanted, but watching Draisaitl do his thing and keep finding ways to score never gets old. Here’s to 400 more, Leon.

There’s just something about walking back into Rogers Place on opening night that hits differently. The smell of popcorn, the buzz in the concourse, jerseys everywhere you look, an overpriced beer in my hand — it feels like coming home in a way. Getting to the rink a bit early and sliding into my seat in section 205, surrounded by thousands of Oilers fans geared up for a new season, reminded me why I love this city and this team. It’s not just hockey. Going to an Oilers game is a ritual, a reunion, a reset. Watching the boys walk out to Enter Sandman, hearing the first anthem from Robert Clark, the crowd pop during the player intros, and even the chirps from a few Flames fans all felt electric. At the end of the day, it was a reminder that we are so back.

And to have the season start with a Battle of Alberta? That’s perfection. Nothing beats the tension in the building when it’s Edmonton against Calgary, especially at a point in the season when Flames fans still have hope they won’t be painfully mediocre. The chirps, the cheers, and the collective vibes that couldn’t have been higher were all there as I made my way into the rink, and it was so damned fun to be there before even a second of hockey was played. With McDavid, Walman, Ekholm, and Podkolzin all locked in before the puck dropped, this feels like the start of something special. The core is set, the window is wide open, the vibes are immaculate, and it was so damned good to be back at Connor’s house for the start of a new season.