CENOVUS GAME STORY

Under the Scope: Oilers vs. Flames

An in-depth look at Edmonton's 3-1 win over Calgary Friday night.

Friday, 16.03.2012 / 10:21 PM / Cenovus Game Story
By Travis Knee  - edmontonoilers.com


In a game that Calgary needed much more than Edmonton, it was the Oilers that carried the play from start to finish. The Oilers came out with a ton of energy and speed, getting out to a quick 2-0 lead.

Even after Calgary got to within one after two periods, Edmonton came out strong in the final frame, putting the game away on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins second goal of the night.


All you need to know and more as we go Under the Scope:

WIth the game 2-1 for the Oilers mid-way through the third period, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would find a loose puck in front of the net and score his second of the game. The goal brought RNH to 18 on the season and put the Oilers up 3-1.
51 The faceoff winning percentage for the Oilers overall in tonight's game. They won 28 of 55 draws.
1 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' two-goal night gives him 45 points now on the season, just one back of the lead in the rookie-scoring race.
10 Tonight's loss leaves the Calgary Flames in 10th place in the west, failing on a chance to jump back into the top eight.
 


Jordan Eberle
G A P +/- Shots
1 2 3 +3 3


Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
G A P +/- Shots
2 0 2 +3 6



Jeff Petry
G A P +/- Shots
0 1 1 E 1



 
Flames
Leland Irving
SA SV GA TOI SV%
25 22 3 59:02 .880
OILERS
Devan Dubnyk
SA SV GA TOI SV%
19 18 1 59:55 .947



 
 Flames
  Jay Bouwmeester- D

28:49 - 0 PTS, -2 rating
OILERS
  Jeff Petry- D

24:44 - 1 PTS, E rating

The first goal of the game would come courtesy of the Oilers young stars. Jordan Eberle would display his elite hands by dancing in the Flames zone and feeding Nugent-Hopkins with a pretty pass. The 'Nuge' would finish the play off by snapping a shot top-corner on Leland Irving.

WATCH THE GOAL

As the season draws closer to its conclusion, Jordan Eberle continues to put his stamp on the claim for 'team MVP'. Eberle was fantastic again tonight, setting up RNH on the first goal and adding another goal himself, his 31st of the season. Eberle finished with three points(1G, 2A) and was named 'first star'.

Flames backup goaltender Leland Irving was at the top of his game despite the loss tonight. Irving would keep his team in it for much of the game with some sensational saves including an unreal glove save on Jordan Eberle in the third period.

More than a decade seperated the first career NHL goals of Sam Gagner and Ryan Smyth, both coming against the Calgary Flames. For Sam happened back in 2007 and for Smyth, 1995. No matter what the year, good things always seem to happen in the Battle of Alberta.


"One of the reasons we dressed seven defencemen tonight was to have that grit. "

-- Tom Renney on the gritty effort by his team tonight.


Sunday, March 18  vs. Phoenix
  6:00pm MDT (SNET-W / 630 CHED)

The Oilers will play the last of a four-game homestand Sunday night when the Phoenix Coyotes come to town. It will be the fourth meeting of the season between these two teams with the Coyotes having won the first three. The game can be seen live on Sportsnet West.