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Oilers Edge Flames in Overtime Behind Draisaitl’s Stellar Return

Leon Draisaitl showcased his scoring prowess with two goals, including the decisive overtime goal, along with an assist in his comeback from injury. His effort helped the Edmonton Oilers secure a 3-2 victory against the Calgary Flames, ending a two-game losing streak.

“Tight games always feel a bit more special and are definitely more enjoyable,” Draisaitl remarked following the match. “We played well overall, fought hard, and it’s important to secure wins like this.”

When discussing Draisaitl’s performance, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch highlighted the significance of key plays, emphasizing the importance of Draisaitl’s equalizing goal. “He made some impressive plays at crucial moments, with the tying goal being particularly impactful,” Knoblauch noted. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he earns some recognition for his performance this season.”

Draisaitl received an assist from Jeff Skinner in the slot, unleashing a powerful shot just 2:25 into overtime that beat Flames goalie Dustin Wolf, marking his league-leading 51st goal of the season.

Viktor Arvidsson also found the net for the Oilers (42-26-5), who managed to secure the victory despite missing their star forward Connor McDavid, key defenceman Mattias Ekholm, and starting goalie Stuart Skinner. This win allows Edmonton to tie with the Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division.

In response, the Flames (34-26-12) saw Yegor Sharangovich and Brayden Pachal score, but their loss marked the second consecutive defeat, complicating their chances for a wild-card playoff spot as they trail the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild by seven points. Calvin Pickard contributed significantly for the Oilers with 26 saves, while Wolf recorded the same number in a losing effort for Calgary.

Noteworthy Highlights

For the Flames, Nazem Kadri reached a significant milestone with his assist on the initial goal, marking his 700th career NHL point and extending his points streak to six games, despite ending his goal-scoring streak at five. Just earlier in the week, Kadri celebrated another milestone by scoring his 300th career goal against Seattle.

On the Oilers’ side, Draisaitl made a triumphant return after sitting out four games due to a lower-body injury. He now accumulates 63 points in just 48 games against the Flames throughout his career, further establishing his dominance in this rivalry.

Major Takeaways

One key moment that defined the game occurred with just 3:12 left in the third period. With the score tied at 2-2, Evan Bouchard assisted Draisaitl, who made a clever move before netting his 50th goal of the season, a feat that ties him with Jari Kurri for the second most in Oilers history, behind only Wayne Gretzky’s eight seasons of 50+ goals.

Additionally, the match had its share of unfortunate incidents, as Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen was implicated in causing injuries to players from both Alberta teams. Stuart Skinner sustained a concussion from a hit by Rantanen, while Flames forward Connor Zary left the game due to a leg injury after being checked by Rantanen.

As the rivalry intensifies, an interesting stat noted before the game was that in all historical encounters, the Oilers had outscored the Flames by a narrow margin of 1,016 to 1,012, considering both regular season and playoff games.

Looking Ahead

The Flames are set to take on the Colorado Avalanche in their next outing on Monday, while the Oilers will visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.

Source
globalnews.ca