That’s a quick way to wash away a two-game skid.
The Edmonton Oilers rolled past the Calgary Flames 4-0 on Wednesday night in the first Battle of Alberta, pushing their record to 9-2-2. Through 13 games, that leaves them with the second-best point percentage in the league at .769.
Edmonton struck first a little more than eight minutes into the opening period. Connor McDavid carried the puck into the zone, pulled multiple Flames defenders toward him, and left Mathieu Joseph alone on the weak side. McDavid found him with a sharp pass, and Joseph beat Devin Cooley on the first shot of the game.
The Oilers doubled the lead five minutes into the second. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins won an offensive-zone faceoff back to Mattias Ekholm, and with traffic stacked in front of Dustin Wolf, Ekholm’s wrister found its way through.
The third period was where Edmonton put the game out of reach. Just 39 seconds in, Calgary’s Kevin Bahl was called for tripping. Sixteen seconds later, Kasperi Kapanen finished off a clean passing sequence to make it 3-0.
The next goal came almost immediately after that. Twenty-one seconds later, Zach Whitecloud bobbled a pass in his own zone, Jason Dickinson jumped on the mistake, and a cross-ice feed to the weak side set up Alex Formenton for the finish that made it 4-0.
McDavid added an assist on the opening goal, extending his assist streak to 13 games. That is now the NHL record for most consecutive games with an assist to start a season. He also set up the third-period power play, and now sits at eight goals and 36 points through 13 games, which puts him on pace for 233 points.
Nugent-Hopkins kept his strong start rolling with two assists. He now has a goal and five points in four games, and his return gives Edmonton another key piece back in the mix.
Tristan Jarry had a clean night in net for Edmonton, stopping all 23 shots for his first shutout of the season and his second shutout as an Oiler. He did not have to be spectacular all night, but he came through on the breakaway chance he faced, and Calgary was still in the game until early in the third.
The Flames had some life early. They were on top of the Oilers at points in the opening minutes, but Ty Emberson dropped the gloves with Brennan Othmann and ended that push. Emberson got the better of the fight, and Othmann did not play another second afterward.
Calgary’s crease situation shifted late in the first. Devin Cooley, who came in as one of the hottest netminders in the league, was taken out of the game after Colton Dach crashed into him. Cooley did not return for the second period, and Dustin Wolf gave up three goals on 21 shots.
Edmonton now gets the next two games off before heading east. The road trip starts Saturday against the New York Islanders at 12:00 PM MT. The next Battle of Alberta is not until March 3rd.
In Other News...
Oilers Fans Cant Ignore This New Elite Forward Twist
The ripple effects of a busy NHL news cycle have a way of reaching Edmonton quickly, especially when elite forwards start changing the conversation around the league. Tampa Bays Nikita Kucherov has reportedly told the Lightning he does not plan to re-sign, and that alone is the kind of development that gets every contenders attention. Add in the broader backdrop of international hockey uncertainty, including Team Russia being barred from tournaments, and the market for star talent suddenly feels even more volatile.
Dylan Larkins situation in Detroit only adds to the sense that this could become a summer defined by movement at the top of the forward market. He is currently sitting out and suspended without pay while awaiting a trade after submitting a request with a preferred list of teams, a reminder that even established names can force their way into the center of the rumor mill. For Oilers fans, the question is no longer whether big names might become available, but which ones could realistically shake loose and how aggressively Edmonton would have to pursue them. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Trade Search Could Come Down To One Crucial Center Decision
The Oilers search for help down the middle is starting to sound less like a broad shopping list and more like a test of priorities. Edmonton is looking for a center who can bring some size and a more physical edge while also adding depth, and the names floating around range from the rugged to the highly talented. Matthew Rempe, Quinton Byfield, Kirby Dach and Shane Wright have all surfaced in the conversation, with the speculation shaped by reporting from Sportsnet and Elliotte Friedman and by how each player might fit what Edmonton is trying to build.
What makes the discussion interesting is that the Oilers are not just chasing a body for the lineup, but weighing different kinds of upside against the cost of getting it done. Some of these targets are more speculative than others, and some have already been tied to trade chatter, which only adds to the intrigue around how aggressive Edmonton wants to be. For a team that knows how valuable center depth can be in the spring, the real question may be which direction it chooses when the market finally asks it to pick one. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Just Got Tied To A Concerning Flames Injury Update
The Flames are dealing with a fresh injury issue in goal after Devin Cooley was ruled week-to-week with a lower-body injury, according to coach Ryan Huska. Cooley went down in the game against Edmonton after a collision with Colton Dach, adding another layer to a matchup that already had plenty of physical edge.
Brennan Othmann is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury, while Connor Zary of the AHL's Calgary Wranglers is week-to-week after knee surgery. For the Oilers, the immediate concern is less about the injury report itself than the ripple effect it can have on a division rival, especially if Calgary has to shuffle its depth and crease plans for the near future. [Read more 🡒]