The Edmonton Oilers maintain profitable and rewriting report books.
Netminder Stuart Skinner made 26 saves on Saturday night time to equal Grant Fuhr’s franchise report together with his tenth consecutive win and Sam Gagner’s fluke objective was the sport winner because the Oilers made it 13 straight victories with a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames.
It’s the longest win streak by a Canadian crew in NHL historical past, passing the 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens, who received 12 in a row.
“I’ll take it. Any time you may be the one crew to do something that’s constructive, that’s at all times thrilling. Good for our group,” stated Edmonton captain Connor McDavid. “It’s not one thing we have been paying too shut consideration to however clearly we wish to maintain going.”
Zach Hyman, who had an empty netter, acknowledges the importance of what the Oilers are doing.
“Once we did the 10-game streak, we eclipsed the Oilers’ ’80s groups, now it’s the previous Montreal crew,” stated Hyman, who has 28 targets. ”Once you’re within the second you simply go on the market and play, however I’m positive it’ll be one thing cool to look again on.”
That’s additionally 9 consecutive highway wins shattering the previous franchise report of eight set in 1986-87.
Skinner improves to 17-2-0 in his final 19 begins.
“Simply attempt to carry on taking part in the sport and carry on profitable video games,” stated Skinner, who’s 21-9-1 on the season. “We’re nonetheless right here to battle and grind and make our manner up the leaderboard.”
Ryan McLeod additionally scored for Edmonton (26-15-1).
“A lot of issues are going nicely,” stated McDavid, whose 12-game scoring streak (5-13-18) ended. “Stu’s giving us an opportunity each night time. So is (Calvin Pickard) when he’s in there. All six D-men are taking part in actually, actually strong, battling actually arduous on the internet. I feel our PK has been implausible.”
Edmonton has held its opponent to 2 or fewer targets in every of its final 11 video games.
“That’s form of how we wish to play and people are usually the groups that do some good injury within the playoffs, too,” stated Skinner.
MacKenzie Weegar had the lone objective for Calgary (21-20-5), which has dropped consecutive video games after a four-game profitable streak. Nazem Kadri’s eight-game scoring streak (6-5-11) was snapped.
“I believed there would have been a little bit bit extra satisfaction there from us,” stated Weegar. “It’s a giant sport, they’re coming into our territory, our metropolis, I believed we might have a little bit bit extra juice there.”
Dan Vladar, who falls to 7-7-2, was wonderful in internet for the Flames, making 30 stops.
He was actually sharp early making excessive calibre stops off Warren Foegele, McDavid, and Connor Brown as Edmonton may have blown the sport open early.
“We received out-competed, consciousness was restricted. There wasn’t a lot urgency in that first interval,’” stated Weegar. “Vladdy stood on his head. … Battle of Alberta, there wasn’t a lot of a battle tonight from us.”
Deadlocked at 1-1 after 40 minutes, Edmonton took the lead for good on Gagner’s objective 1:39 into the third.
From under the objective line close to the nook, Gagner’s try and centre the puck to Dylan Holloway within the slot deflected off the skate of Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson and went on internet as a substitute the place it caught the highest of the trapper of an unsuspecting Vladar and fluttered into the online.
“Only a dangerous bounce. It’s irritating for me,” stated Vladar.
Ryan Huska felt for his goaltender on this night time.
“That’s the half that stings a little bit bit. That’s a troublesome one. Vladdy made loads of nice saves tonight,” stated the Flames coach. “Typically, when a crew is rolling the best way they’re, you’re gonna get bounces like that. Sadly, that one went towards us tonight.”
Within the first sport between the provincial rivals for the reason that Heritage Traditional in Edmonton, each groups wore their similar retro look from that out of doors sport.
Edmonton lastly broke by means of at 15:03 of the primary when McLeod received in alone and neatly tucked a shot contained in the close to goalpost.
The Flames tied it 1-1 at 1:58 of the second when Blake Coleman setup Weegar on a 3-on-1.
“We weren’t as crisp offensively with the puck, we have been giving pucks away, we weren’t arduous sufficient within the o-zone, arduous sufficient in one-on-one battles. There’s no secret recipe, we simply didn’t have that swagger,” stated Coleman.
CORONATO CALLED UP
With Thursday’s harm to Martin Pospisil (higher physique), Calgary referred to as up 21-year-old Matt Coronato from the AHL Calgary Wranglers. The 2021 first-rounder opened the season with the Flames earlier than being despatched down after 10 video games. He had 29 factors (12 targets, 17 assists) in 27 video games with the Wranglers. Coronato took Pospisil’s spot at proper wing on a line with Nazem Kadri and fellow rookie Connor Zary.
HOLLOWAY HEALTHY
Edmonton welcomed again Dylan Holloway, who had been out since Nov. 13 attributable to a knee harm. He had 4 factors (2 targets, 2 assists) in 4 video games in Bakersfield (AHL) earlier than being recalled. James Hamblin was despatched all the way down to make room. Holloway centred a line with Sam Gagner and Connor Brown.
KLAPKA SOARS
Making his NHL debut was 6-foot-8 RW Adam Klapka, who’s the tallest participant in Flames franchise historical past, a distinction that had belonged to 6-foot-7 D Chris Breen, who performed 9 video games for Calgary in 2013-14. The 23-year-old Czech took the fourth-line spot of Dillon Dube (sickness).
UP NEXT
Oilers: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Flames: Six-game homestand continues on Tuesday towards the St. Louis Blues.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 20, 2024.
