GAME STORY: Flames 5, Oilers 0

FIRST BLOOD

Sean Monahan snapped a 12-game goalless drought overall and an eight-game streak against the Oilers by converting on a pass from Andrew Mangiapane at the 3:12 mark of the middle frame after the teams skated to a scoreless first period. Caleb Jones made a nice defensive play to thwart a semi-breakaway attempt from Dillon Dube, but the Flames kept possession of the puck, leading to Mangiapane setting up Monahan for his eighth of the season.

PLAY OF THE GAME

The Flames extended their lead to 2-0 at 10:43 of the second period with a brilliant pass by Noah Hanifin followed by a sharp-angle snipe from Johnny Gaudreau. The winger found the blueliner entering the attacking zone with momentum, and Hanifin carried the puck down the left side before sneaking a pass through three bodies in front of the net back to Gaudreau, who unleashed a wrist shot over Mike Smith’s glove for his 14th goal of the year. 

SAVE OF THE GAME

Down 3-0 in the second period, the Oilers had an opportunity to eat away at the deficit when the Flames took a delay-of-game, puck-over-glass penalty. Leon Draisaitl was able to get a dangerous shot off from his “office” on the right side of the man-advantage setup, but Jacob Markstrom was able to stick his right pad out and make one of his 17 saves on the night.

Video: POST-RAW | Connor McDavid 04.10.21

TURNING POINT

Gaudreau’s goal was followed by a power-play marker from Elias Lindholm just 2:38 later as the Flames fired two quick ones into the back of the net to take a 3-0 lead in the middle frame. They’d add another one from captain Mark Giordano with 35 seconds left on the clock to close out a dominant period.

TOP PERFORMER

The captain made it happen for Calgary on Saturday as Giordano scored once, added an assist, played 22:58 and had four shots on goal for a vintage performance from the veteran rearguard.

Video: POST-RAW | Darnell Nurse 04.10.21

FACT CHECK

McDavid had 37 points in 27 career games against the Flames (22 goals, 15 assists) heading into Saturday’s matchup, as well as 13 points on a five-game Battle of Alberta point streak (six goals, seven assists). The streak came to an end up but the Oilers captain still leads all NHL scorers with 69 points.

NEXT UP

The Oilers were originally scheduled to play home games against the Canucks on Monday and Wednesday before visiting the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. However, due to Vancouver’s COVID-19 outbreak, Edmonton will not play for the next five days before taking on the Canucks on the road on Friday and heading to Winnipeg the following night as originally scheduled.

Video: POST-RAW | Dave Tippett 04.10.21

PARTING WORDS

“I was hoping we’d have some energy tonight, but it caught up with us,” Head Coach Dave Tippett said of the four-game road trip coupled with the memorial service for former teammate Colby Cave this morning. “You hope your team pushes to new levels and finds ways to push through things, and you can never use excuses, but there’s times when you can tell your team just doesn’t have it and there’s not enough energy in the group, and tonight was one of those times.”

“We were obviously not very good, but some days are a little bit more than just about hockey,” McDavid said. “The performance wasn’t there tonight, but today was about Colby and his memorial… I don’t want to make excuses. We weren’t a good enough team. They were better than us. But I think you’re asking a lot from guys to sit through something like that, remember your teammate, see what their whole family is going through and expect to perform that night. It’s a hard day.”