Familiar scenario for Flames
The Calgary Flames can’t seem to wrestle away bragging rights in the Battle of Alberta.
The Flames settled for another loser point in Thursday’s 4-3 shootout win by the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.
They did manage to extend their point spree to 11 straight games, but the southerners have now been bested in seven consecutive meetings with their rivals.
Old friend Michael Cammalleri and superstar Connor McDavid scored for the Oilers in the shootout, while only Matthew Tkachuk tickled twine for the Flames.
The Oilers figured it was over when Ryan Strome buried a rebound at the 1:16 mark of overtime, but it was ruled no-goal after a lengthy review, with the NHL’s war room ruling McDavid interfered with netminder David Rittich.
After he tucked a backhand deke inside the post in the third round of the breakaway competition, McDavid appeared to be telling the officials to “Check upstairs.”
Tkachuk tallied twice in regulation for the Flames in their final outing before the all-star break, while captain Mark Giordano provided the other.
Seldom-used defenceman Brandon Davidson was the unlikely hero for the home side. He potted a pair on Rittich, who finished with 34 saves.
It’s not often a squad is skidding and streaking at the same time, but the Flames have suffered four consecutive bonus-time losses.
They have collected 18 of a possible 22 points during their recent roll, but it certainly doesn’t feel like a warm and fuzzy stretch.
The Flames made Thursday’s first move, scoring just 92 seconds after the national anthem. Troy Brouwer swatted a bouncing puck to Tkachuk, who chopped a one-timer past Oiler starter Cam Talbot for the opening strike.
Getting one hasn’t been the issue.
Getting two? That’s been another story.
The Flames mustered one measly marker in back-to-back-toback contests after their bye, but they finally bucked that troublesome trend in Edmonton.
With a delayed penalty coming against the Oilers and an extra attacker on the ice for the outof-town team, Giordano sliced a wrist-shot through traffic from the point to double the lead.
Rittich stopped 19 shots before being fooled twice in a 64-second span in the middle stanza.
First, Davidson spoiled the shutout bid on a spinning fire. Rittich then stood his ground on Leon Draisaitl’s rip but spit the rebound to Zack Kassian, who scored from tap-in range. Tie game.
The Oilers claimed the lead early in the third, with Davidson teeing up a slapper.
Tkachuk replied less than three minutes later with his second of the night, stuffing a one-timer after a no-look pass from centre Mikael Backlund.
The Flames are back in action Tuesday, when they host the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.