After surrendering the first two goals against the Calgary Flames on Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers came back to double up the Calgary Flames 6-3 in front of 4,888 fans in the South Okanagan Events Centre.
It was the Oilers’ second win in the Canucks Young Stars Classic. Hunter Smith and Andrew Mangiapane had the Flames up 2-0 heading into the second period. The Flames outshot the Oilers 20-11.
“They really took it to us in the first period. We knew it wasn’t good enough,” said Oilers defenceman and former Penticton Vee Joey Laleggia. “Head coach Gerry Fleming had a really good speech actually after that first period. I thnk that really revved the boys up and got everybody going for the second and third.”
Josh Winquist cut into the Flames’ lead to 2-1 burying a shot over the shoulder of Jordan Papirny. Less than two minutes later, Bill Arnold restored the Flames’ two-goal lead on the power-play. With less than three minutes remaining in the second, Laleggia scored on the power-play to cut the lead to 3-2.
In the third period it was all Oilers. Leon Draisaitl and Greg Chase set up Braden Christoffer on the power-play. Oilers captain Darnell Nurse dropped the gloves with Rasmus Andersson at 11:01, which appeared the give the Oilers a push. Draisaitl gave the Oilers a 4-3 lead when he was taken down on a breakaway. He took advantage of the penalty shot awarded not long after Nurse’s fight.
The Oilers then scored two more goals into empty nets by Winquist and Connor Rankin. The Oilers outshot the Flames 23-14 in the final two periods.
Flashes of the dislike between the teams that gives life to the Battle of Alberta also came out a couple of times.
“It was a pretty rough game out there. Calgary is a pretty physical team,” said Laleggia, adding he would like to be part of more of those heated exchanges.
“It was great to get the first one out of the way. It’s awesome. That’s why we play the game for rivalries like that. Something so historic as the Battle of Alberta it’s really special to be a part of.”
Connor McDavid was among the scratches for the Oilers.
