The Edmonton Oilers dropped a game they couldn't afford to lose, and it followed a script that’s become all too familiar. They generated more than enough offense to win, but once again, shaky defense and inconsistent goaltending proved to be their undoing. The Calgary Flames capitalized, skating away with a 4-3 win in a game where the Oilers carried the play for long stretches - just not when it mattered most.
Let’s be clear: Edmonton didn’t get outplayed. They out-chanced Calgary significantly, racking up 24 Grade A scoring chances to the Flames’ 16.
That includes a 13-5 edge in the even more dangerous subset of what analysts call “5-alarm” chances - the kind of looks that usually end up in the back of the net. But as has been the case too often this season, the Oilers couldn’t translate that pressure into a win, largely because they couldn’t keep the puck out of their own net.
McDavid and Draisaitl Deliver - Again
Connor McDavid was dialed in from the drop. He came out flying, testing the Flames' netminder early with a power play blast.
His skating was electric all night, slicing through Calgary’s defense and creating chances seemingly at will. Late in the second, he threaded a sharp pass to Leon Draisaitl for a dangerous look, and a few shifts later, he went coast-to-coast and nearly finished the job himself.
McDavid also drew a penalty from Matt Coronato that led to a power play goal, and he followed that up with a slick feed to Evan Bouchard, who set up Draisaitl for Edmonton’s third goal. Early in the third, McDavid turned on the jets again and found Mattias Ekholm in the slot for a prime scoring chance.
His Grade A shot contributions were massive: +9/-3 at even strength, and +4/-2 on special teams. The captain did everything he could.
Leon Draisaitl matched McDavid’s energy with a monster performance of his own. He tied the game with a vintage top-shelf finish, then nearly added another on a smooth backhander.
Later, he shrugged off a check with a reverse hit and buried his signature “Executioner’s Shot” to give Edmonton a 3-2 lead late in the second. He had one more golden opportunity with three minutes left in regulation, but couldn’t beat the goalie.
His Grade A numbers? Flawless: +4/-0 at even strength, +4/-0 on the power play.
When the Oilers’ stars are playing like this, they should be winning.
Supporting Cast Shows Flashes, But Mistakes Prove Costly
Zach Hyman had his moments, nearly jamming home a rebound off a McDavid rush early in the second and getting close again off an Ekholm feed in the third. But he was also caught on a long shift during Calgary’s third goal, failing to close down the point shot. His Grade A differential came in at +4/-3 even strength, +2/-0 on special teams - solid, but not spotless.
Vasily Podkolzin had an up-and-down night. He made a sharp pass to spring Jack Roslovic for a 5-alarm chance in the first, but early in the second, he overcommitted on the puck and left his team exposed to a 2-on-1.
His Grade A numbers: +3/-1 at even strength, +1 on special teams. There’s promise there, but the learning curve is still showing.
The Real Issue: Defense and Goaltending
This game wasn’t lost because of a lack of offense. It was lost because the Oilers couldn’t lock it down defensively or get the stops they needed when the game was on the line. The Flames didn’t generate as many chances, but they made theirs count - and Edmonton didn’t do enough to stop them.
Whether it’s missed assignments, soft coverage, or untimely rebounds, the same issues keep surfacing. And until the Oilers find a way to tighten things up in their own zone - or get more consistent goaltending - they’ll keep finding themselves on the wrong end of games like this.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when your top players are putting on a show. But in the NHL, style points don’t count.
Wins do. And right now, the Oilers are leaving too many of those on the table.