Fourth Battle of Alberta of the season! Oh my.
Now that the @Zack Kassian and @Matthew Tkachuk stuff is settled it’s time for “did @Mark Giordano try to destroy @Connor McDavid’s knee again” drama. Calgary’s general manager, Brad Treliving, came out in defence of his captain, calling it “complete garbage” that Giordano would try and hurt McDavid. I don’t think Giordano intended to hurt McDavid in the final game of the season last year. I do think he was trying to get a piece of McDavid after he had him beat last Wednesday and that could have had terrible results.
Well, maybe the Oilers were fired up? The Oilers came out flying. Jumping out to a 2-0 lead in less than a minute and a half into the game. Flames get one back, but McDavid answers on the power play.
The Flames kept coming within striking distance of tying the game and the Oilers kept answering. When it’s 6-3 and @Sam Gagner pokes for a loose puck in the crease, it’s not surprising to see a brawl break out. Wow. Goalie fight too? Battle. of Alberta.
The referees decided to call it then and have them play the remaining 20 seconds of the second period before the third period. Didn’t even know that was a thing.
The Battle of Alberta had the fireworks people were expecting.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

  • @Kailer Yamamoto pots a goal early in the first period. @Ryan Nugent-Hopkins fires a pass to Yamamoto, who snuck in front, and the RNH-Draisaitl-Yamamoto line stays hot.
  • @Zack Kassian finishes a nice dish from @Josh Archibald to put the Oilers up 2-0 just 1:05 into the first period.
  • Bronx cheer for @David Rittich.
  • @Riley Sheahan gets a nice chance shorthanded.
  • Yamamoto takes a penalty, but I’m okay with him being aggressive on the forecheck. Those penalties will happen occasionally, but knowing the NHL they won’t be often enough to warrant not playing that way.
  • Allowing a goal is never a good thing, but @Buddy Robinson is another elite name and I won’t hear anything about it.
  • “Best power play in the NHL” has a lovely ring to it.
  • Connor. McDavid. He’s on pace for 44 goals. His goalscoring is underrated.
  • Oilers might have had the better chances on the penalty kill than the Flames on the power play early in the second.
  • McDavid and @Leon Draisaitl get an odd-man break after the penalty and McDavid finishes his second goal of the game. Oilers chase Rittich.
  • The Gaetan Haas line is buzzing again.
  • Correction: McDavid is on pace for 45*** goals.
  • RNH-Draisaitl-Yamamoto forever.
  • @Caleb Jones with a sneaky shot from the blueline!
  • Shots are 36-18 Edmonton at the end of two periods. That’s an absurd tally after playing the night before too.
  • Rittich throws some shots at @Sam Gagner after he pokes at the puck in the crease and Gagner and Mark Giordano go at it. Tkachuk and @Ethan Bear start throwing. Smith and @Cam Talbot meet at center ice and go as well. Wow.
  • Was that a goal, though?
  • Talbot getting ejected means Rittich is back in net.
  • Rittich BACK.
  • I don’t care. Extend Sam Gagner.
  • HAAS PENALTY SHOT!
  • And he scores! Oilers get the extra point after getting the touchdown.

THE DARK SIDE

  • @Mike Smith goes to play the puck, because of course he does, and he almost causes a goal. Smith dives back into position and prevents a goal.
  • @Darnell Nurse takes a penalty on @Elias Lindholm.
  • Matt Tkachuk scores.
  • McDavid almost gets the hat trick after Lindholm’s 4-3 goal.
  • Tkachuk might be hurt on a weird. I don’t wish injuries on any player, so that’s unfortunate. He’s a great player and should be on the ice.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

TIMETEAMDETAILSSCORE
00:29
Edmonton
Kailer Yamamoto (5) ASST: Oscar Klefbom (24), Leon Draisaitl (51)
1-0
01:05
Edmonton
Zack Kassian (14) ASST: Josh Archibald (6), Ethan Bear (13)
2-0
12:42
Calgary
Buddy Robinson (1) ASST: Johnny Gaudreau (28), Mark Giordano (20)
2-1
15:33
Edmonton
PPG – Connor McDavid (28) ASST: Darnell Nurse (18), Leon Draisaitl (52)
3-1

2ND PERIOD

TIMETEAMDETAILSSCORE
03:18
Edmonton
Connor McDavid (29) ASST: Riley Sheahan (6)
4-1
04:35
Calgary
Matthew Tkachuk (17) ASST: Andrew Mangiapane (8), Mark Giordano (21)
4-2
10:14
Calgary
Elias Lindholm (22)
4-3
11:37
Edmonton
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (14) ASST: Kailer Yamamoto (5), Leon Draisaitl (53)
5-3
15:58
Edmonton
Caleb Jones (2) ASST: Gaetan Haas (5), Alex Chiasson (11)
6-3

3RD PERIOD

TIMETEAMDETAILSSCORE
13:16
Edmonton
Sam Gagner (3) ASST: Oscar Klefbom (25), Leon Draisaitl (54)
7-3
18:03
Edmonton
PS – Gaetan Haas (5)
8-3

#GOODCONTENT