In a thrilling matchup that underscored the intensity of hockey rivalries, Devin Cooley delivered an impressive performance with 36 saves, helping the Calgary Flames secure a narrow 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday night.
"Honestly, it was such an enjoyable experience," Cooley reflected after the game, also noting that he recorded his first NHL point with an assist. "Games like this are way more exciting when they’re close, especially considering it’s a rivalry match-up.
“The last time I faced these guys was while playing for the San Jose Sharks, and we suffered a heavy defeat of 9-1. That wasn’t a fun experience at all. During those kinds of games, you just think, 'I can’t wait for this to be over.' So, I’m really glad I got a chance to redeem myself tonight. It felt much better than that last outing."
In addition to Cooley’s efforts, Matvei Gridin contributed significantly to the Flames’ offense, scoring a goal and assisting another, while teammates Jonathan Huberdeau, Connor Zary, and Ryan Lomberg each found the back of the net. The Flames, now holding a record of 23-27-6, have been alternating between wins and losses for their last four games. Notably, MacKenzie Weegar, Nazem Kadri, and Zach Whitecloud each tallied two assists in this contest.
Lomberg expressed his enthusiasm post-game, stating, "We really wanted to finish strong with a win, and what better way to do that than against our rivals? This is the Battle of Alberta, which is arguably the best rivalry in hockey. It’s always easy to get pumped up for a game like this, and I absolutely relish scoring against them and seeing them lose."
For the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl stood out with two goals, while Evan Bouchard shone with three assists, and Kasperi Kapanen added another goal. The Oilers, now at 28-22-8, find themselves on a troubling three-game losing streak, having lost 5-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs just a day prior. In net, Tristan Jarry made 21 saves during the contest.
Reflecting on the Oilers' current struggles after reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in consecutive years, Draisaitl commented, "We’re not the same team anymore. Right now, we’re not playing at the level we need to be, and it’s clear we need to recognize that. With a break coming up, it’s crucial that we return ready to step up our game."
The action kicked off with Huberdeau scoring a power-play goal just 3:12 into the first period. Weegar set him up beautifully, allowing Huberdeau to find the back of the net with a precise wrist shot.
"I was thrilled to score," Huberdeau shared, humorously noting that he borrowed one of Gridin’s sticks for the play. "He was surprised that I actually intended to use it; he thought I was joking!"
Draisaitl quickly evened the score at 1-1 with a power-play goal at 5:14, as he maneuvered in from the left circle and fired a shot over Cooley’s shoulder.
Gridin responded for the Flames, regaining the lead at 2-1 with another power-play goal at 14:44. After receiving a stretch pass from Weegar, Gridin skillfully controlled the puck from his skate to his stick and released a shot past Jarry from the left circle.
Calgary head coach Ryan Huska praised Gridin’s talent, saying, "He picked that up off his foot while moving full speed, and to shoot accurately like he did is a remarkable skill."
The Flames extended their lead to 3-1 in the second period when Zary redirected Whitecloud’s shot into the net at 11:43. Knoblauch, the Oilers' coach, acknowledged the difficulty of the save due to the timing of the screen.
Draisaitl, refusing to go quietly, scored his second power-play goal at 18:26, bringing the Oilers closer at 3-2. He executed a perfect one-timer from a sharp angle, marking Bouchard’s 300th NHL point with the assist.
Kapanen managed to tie the game 3-3 at 4:17 in the third, as his wrist shot from the right circle deflected off Cooley before trickling into the net.
"I caught some lucky breaks earlier in the game, but that one was just unfortunate," Cooley remarked. "Sometimes bounces like that happen. Thankfully, I was able to regain my footing and make some good saves to balance things out."
Ultimately, Lomberg secured the victory for the Flames with a goal at 6:44, tapping in his own rebound after a bouncing puck. Jarry admitted, "I could’ve done a better job keeping the puck closer and absorbing it. It just bounced around and ended up going in."
A few noteworthy highlights from the game include: Kadri being involved in his 43rd game-winning goal since joining the Flames in the 2022-23 season—leading all Flames players during that time. Gridin’s achievement made him the first teenager to register multiple points in a game for Calgary since Matthew Tkachuk did so back in 2017-18. Meanwhile, Draisaitl reached a career milestone with 1,036 points, surpassing Mark Messier to claim fourth place on the Oilers' all-time points list. Bouchard’s 300-point mark came in just 405 games, making him the second-fastest defenseman to reach this milestone in Edmonton history, trailing only Paul Coffey.
