RECAP: Flames 3, Oilers 2

The Oilers were without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in this one due to a lower body injury. We got to see the reuniting of Leon Draisaitl, only Leon was on McDavid’s left side and Ty Rattie was to the right. Michael Cammalleri would draw back into the lineup, except he’d play centre on the fourth line with Zack Kassian and Anton Slepyshev. This of course, means that Jujhar Khaira would get 2C duties. It all makes sense, yeah?

The last couple of weeks have been a lot like a blackjack table for the Oilers. They had a hot couple of hands, they defeated the Senators and the Kings, things started to look and feel good even though the games didn’t hold a lot of meaning to them. Fast forward a couple of games and the house is stoning the Oilers. They’re 0-3-1 in their last four, scoring just ten goals over that time frame while allowing 17. Connor McDavid scoring gobs of points in the last quarter of the season is the main reason you should keep tuning into these games night after night. So is this the day that the cards get hot for the Oilers? D’ya think the Oilers were able to take care of the Flames, a team that’s lost seven straight games?

In short, no. Calgary scored three times in the first period en route to a 3-2 victory over the Oilers. Dougie Hamilton and Mikael Backlund each had a goal while Garnet Hathaway scored a shorthanded goal just to make things interesting for the Oilers.

• Anton Slepyshev gets one from Zack Kassian after Mike Smith gift-wraps this for Kassian. Sixth goal of the year for Slepyshev, his offseason may see him end up elsewhere.
• Michael Cammalleri would score in his return. Zack Kassian would have an assist on this goal as well, which would make Zack Kassian the Leading Point Getter for the Oilers tonight at 2. Come claim your belt.
• This loss ensures that Edmonton won’t be able to reach even a ‘Bettman .500’ on the year. They’ve got three more games to go this season, running the table would make them 37-39-6, or 80 points.
• Milan Lucic punched Mike Smith last night after getting hacked at a couple of times, then he manhandled Tanner Glass shortly thereafter. Unfortunately for Lucic (and the rest of us), it’s the only way he’s hitting the scoresheet lately. Four hits, 9 PIMs, no shots, 1:33 in PP time. Get thee to a nunnery.
• 5:19 on the power play for Ty Rattie. That’s a lot. It’s exactly the same amount of power play time that Connor McDavid had last night, so you know it’s a lot. Every Oilers forward got some time on the power play last night. McDavid and Rattie led the team with 5:19 a piece. Anton Slepyshev had 0:42.
• That second goal allowed by Cam Talbot? Yeah, he’ll want that one back.

• Talbot probably makes this save 98 times out of 100, but ugh. Garnet Hathaway’s third goal of the year is a shorthanded goal and it’s no good.
• No points for McDavid? Was hoping he’d break off a five spot against a Calgary squad that hadn’t won in seven games. Serves me right. McDavid still atop the NHL scoring race with 103 points, Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov is second with 97.
• Oilers will take on the Wild on Monday. Maybe we’ll see Nugent-Hopkins again.