The Oilers awake from their post-holidays slumber to face the Calgary Flames for the first time this season. It’s strange to have the first Battle of Alberta so late in the season, but these games are even more important with both teams in the thick of the playoff hunt.

It wouldn’t have been surprising to see the Oilers a bit slow tonight. Maybe they’re still feeling the turkey, but this isn’t quite the start they’d want coming out of the break. Putting up a stinker against Calgary of all teams makes it even worse.

Things aren’t going your way when players like @Andrew Mangiapane, a solid NHL player, start to look like stars against you. The Oilers weren’t ready in each period tonight. The Flames came out hot to start the game and that was indicative of how the game was going to go.

@Mikko Koskinen wasn’t the best he could have been. @Mike Smith let in a shorthanded goal, which you can’t really fault him for.

The Oilers have four more games against Calgary this season. Those are crucial in-division games that will matter regardless of if the Oilers stay in the playoff race. At the very least, the Oilers have to show up against Calgary even if they’re well out of the playoffs. A team with @Connor McDavid shouldn’t look this lacklustre.

I know how fantastic McDavid and @Leon Draisaitl are, but I’m leaning more and more towards moving them on their own lines for an extended period of time. They put up great stats. Both players are over 60 points already, but they’ve been sloppy and careless too often. I want to see them commanding their own lines and supporting the puck on the defensive side instead of trying to push offence all the time. McDavid will be fine with just about anyone. Throw Bagged Milk and Cooom on his wings and he still scores 100 points. Find a formidable combination on the second line.

It wasn’t their night.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Mangiapane scored 12 seconds into the game, but Mikko Koskinen had some nice saves early on.
I like @Patrick Russell. I’m not sure why but he seems to be on the right side of the puck more often than not. He almost had a breakaway midway through the first period.
McDavid tips a @Darnell Nurse shot past @David Rittich and the Oilers have some life late in the first period.
The Oilers pushed the pace after the 3-1 goal. Nice to see them rebound after a poor start to the season.
Big kill midway through the second period to not go down 4-1.
@Joakim Nygard had his legs tonight. He created a few nice chances.
@Ethan Bear hits the post late in the third period. Bear’s been great this season. Let’s remember Bear!
Even with a loss tonight, the Oilers are 20-17-4 through half the season.
Alexis Lafreniere looks really good in the early days of the World Juniors!

THE FACE PALMERS

Mangiapane scores 13 seconds into the game. Tough go, but his name translates to “Eat bread” in Italian, which is pretty darn cool.
Once again the top line is scored on. This is probably just a rough stretch but it’s possible they’re trying to push things on offence so much that they’re becoming too sloppy on defence.
Mangiapane seems like a solid NHL player, but there’s no way he should look this good.
Koskinen lets in a stinker a minute into the second period.
Tobi Rieder looks good tonight. Never a good sign for your team.
Nurse looks a step behind tonight.
Mangiapane has three points through two periods. What on earth.
Papa Pagnani says, “You know what’s wrong with the Oilers? Their new uniforms. They’re terrible.” There you have it, folks.
Oilers had a power play to start the third period. Sometimes it can be difficult to build momentum starting a period on the power play, but allowing a short-handed goal a minute into the power play is probably not the best way to start a period.
Cousin Steven says @Auston Matthews is better than Draisaitl. Let him know how you feel about that in the comments.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
00:12	CALGARY	ANDREW MANGIAPANE (8) ASST: ELIAS LINDHOLM (14)	0-1
11:39	CALGARY	MATTHEW TKACHUK (15) ASST: ANDREW MANGIAPANE (6)	0-2
14:26	EDMONTON	CONNOR MCDAVID (22) ASST: DARNELL NURSE (17)	1-2

2ND PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
01:28	CALGARY	SEAN MONAHAN (12) – ASST: JOHNNY GAUDREAU (20), T.J. BRODIE (10)	1-3
16:54	CALGARY	ELIAS LINDHOLM (16) – ANDREW MANGIAPANE (7), T.J. BRODIE (11)	1-4

3RD PERIOD

TIME	TEAM	DETAILS	SCORE
01:09	CALGARY	SHG – MIKAEL BACKLUND (8) ASST: MICHAEL FROLIK (5), MARK GIORDANO (15)	1-5

THE BRIGHT SIDE

THE FACE PALMERS

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

2ND PERIOD

3RD PERIOD

#GOODCONTENT

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