GAME RECAP: Flames 3, Oilers 1

CALGARY, AB - For the first time this season and just the fourth time in their last 12 meetings, the Oilers were bested by the Calgary Flames on Monday in a 3-1 decision.
Tyler Toffoli led the way for Calgary with their first two goals while Devin Shore was the lone Edmonton player to score on Jacob Markstrom, who finished the night with 27 saves.

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FIRST BLOOD

It took three unsuccessful Oilers power plays and one from the Flames before either team was able to convert with the man advantage as the home side was finally able to break the goose egg at 6:27 of the second period. Johnny Gaudreau played the puck down to the side of the net for Matthew Tkachuk, who attempted to execute a between-the-legs shot that misfired but landed right on the stick of Tyler Toffoli, who roofed a shot from in close past Mikko Koskinen for his 15th of the season.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Toffoli's second goal of the night came on a perfectly-executed breakout as Andrew Mangiapane spotted Adam Ruzicka cutting through the neutral zone, drawing both Oilers defenders to him. The collapse freed up Toffoli streaking down the left wing and Ruzicka found the newest Flames forward for a top-shelf, glove-side snipe.

SAVE OF THE GAME

As he has been most of the season, Jacob Markstrom was superb between the pipes for the Flames, and his best stop of the night came 2:37 into the second period with the game still scoreless as he got his blocker on a point-blank shot from Brad Malone after Colton Sceviour found him alone in front following a Calgary turnover. The Swedish puck-stopper improved to 26-11-6 on the season.

TURNING POINT

Special teams in general were the turning point on this night as the Flames went 1-for-4 with the man advantage while the Oilers were unsuccessful in four attempts. Calgary also generated a number of shorthanded scoring chances as Edmonton struggled to generate rhythm on their power play.

TOP PERFORMER

Toffoli's two-tally performance propelled the Flames to the victory and he now has seven goals in 10 games since the Flames acquired him from the Montreal Canadiens on Valentine's Day.

FAST FACTS

With his assist on Devin Shore's third-period goal, Derek Ryan now has nine points in 12 games.
Philip Broberg played the second-most minutes of his NHL career at 22:34 TOI with three shots.

PARTING WORDS

Leon Draisaitl on Edmonton's overall performance:
"We played a solid game, I think, but you're not going to win very many games when you score one goal. On the defensive side of it, I thought it was good, but offensively we didn't create enough."
Head Coach Jay Woodcroft on the depleted Oilers lineup:
"Our schedule is what our schedule is and our injury situation is what our injury situation is. I thought the 20 players we dressed tonight gave us everything they had. It was a competitive game versus a good team. We're going to continue to work at our game and work to get healthy as well."

Woodcroft on the team's power-play struggles:
"There is no easy answer on it. We're going to look to adjust some things personnel-wise to give it a fresh look and we're going to work on it in practice."
Shore on some key miscues costing the team goals:
"In every game in this league, especially two good teams, Battle of Alberta, the difference is always going to be really small and in the details. Just a few things all over the ice you'd probably want to clean up, and that ends up being the difference."