Calgary 4, Edmonton 1

Sam Gagner celebrates after scoring his first career NHL goal in the opening period. - photo by Jonathan Kozub edmontonoilers.com

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The Essentials Preview Game Notes Game Day Centre OILERS TV Photo Gallery Click here to view tonight's photo gallery by Jonathan Kozub Post-Game Video View post-game interviews with Gagner, Roloson, Horcoff, Stoll and MacTavish. Post-Game Podcast Gagner, Horcoff, Roloson, Stoll, assistant coach Rob Daum and head coach Craig MacTavish Three Stars Jarome Iginla, CGY Dion Phaneuf, CGY Kristian Huselius, CGY What's Next Edmonton returns home on Tuesday to face Ryan Smyth and the Colorado Avalanche at Rexall Place. Game time is 7:00 p.m. MDT.

Sam Gagner's first career NHL goal was the lone Oilers tally, as the Flames took round one of this season's Battle of Alberta, 4-1, Saturday night at the Saddledome.

Dustin Penner received a penalty for tripping nine seconds into the game and the Flames capitalized on the power play at the 1:01 mark of period one.

Dion Phaneuf's shot went off the end boards and Kristian Huselius was perched at the right side of the net to put the puck in behind Dwayne Roloson to give Calgary a 1-0 lead.

Ales Hemsky had Edmonton's best chance of the opening five minutes as he created a turnover in the neutral zone to get a two-on-one with himself and Raffi Torres. Hemsky used his speed to break in alone on Kiprusoff but his shot was turned away.

Eight minutes into the first with time ticking off a Stortini tripping penalty, Dwayne Roloson made an unbelievable save off Calgary's David Moss. Moss looked to have the wide open net in the slot but Roloson came across to rob him with a great pad save.

12 minutes into the period, Cory Sarich hammered Joni Pitkanen into the boards as the Oilers defenceman tried to pinch in deep with the puck.

With 6:26 to play in the first, Sam Gagner scored his first career NHL goal to tie the game at 1-1. Matt Greene's initial point shot was blocked but Shawn Horcoff made a nice play to nudge it over to Gagner at the left circle. He had the wide open net and made no mistake, snapping it by Kiprusoff.

After one period, shots on goal were 10-6 in favour of Calgary.

Calgary's Kristian Huselius took a penalty early in the second period after Gagner maneouvered his way through the neutral zone with the puck. 

On the ensuing power play, the Oilers had several great chances to take the lead. The best chance came with Kiprusoff down and out in the crease and Cogliano had the puck in the high slot. His wrister didn't quite make its way towards the net, however. 

Dick Tarnstrom came within inches of giving Edmonton the lead. While on the power play, his blast from the left point went off Kiprusoff's shoulder before ringing off the post behind the Flames netminder.

After the penalty expired, Daymond Langkow picked up the puck and carried it behind the Oilers net. He spotted Iginla in front for the one timer, making it a 2-1 game.

With eight minutes left in the second period, Zack Stortini dropped the gloves with Calgary's Owen Nolan. The fight was more of a wrestling match with neither combatant gaining a decisive edge.

Torres almost tied the game with six minutes to go. Right after coming out of the penalty box, he was sprung alone on a breakaway. He elected to shoot it and Kiprusoff made the save.

Seconds later, Torres dropped the gloves with Rhett Warrener in what was the second fight of the game and period between the two teams.

After two periods, shots on goal were 21-11 for the Flames.

Roloson came up with a big save early in the second to keep the Oilers in the game. Huselius picked up the puck after another odd bounce and the Edmonton netminder came across to get his left pad on the low shot.

With 8:54 to go in the third, Adrian Aucoin received two minutes for hooking to give Edmonton the power play and a good chance to tie the game with time winding down.

The Oilers weren't able to score on the man advantage and with seconds ticking off the penalty, the Flames broke down the ice on a two-on-one. Langkow attempted to feed Iginla with the pass but Pitkanen made a nice play to break it up with his stick.

Late in the third, Calgary scored its second power play goal of the night. Dion Phaneuf pinched in from the point and redirected a cross-ice pass from Daymond Langkow with just under five minutes to play.

NOTES: Wayne Primeau left the game in the second period with an ankle injury and did not return. David Moss was kept out in the third period for precautionary reasons.