EDMONTON — Mark Giordano, Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Mikael Backlund each had a goal and an assist as the Calgary Flames came away with a 5-2 victory over the rival Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
Oliver Kylington also scored for the red-hot Flames (32-13-5), who have gone 7-0-1 in their last eight games.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Milan Lucic responded for the Oilers (23-22-3), who had won back-to-back games before meeting Calgary.
There was no scoring in the first period, although the Flames came awfully close on the power play with 1:10 remaining.
A shot by Gaudreau hit the post and then Mikko Koskinen’s back and was headed into the net before the Oilers goalie made an acrobatic behind the back save with his glove, a play that survived a video review.
Calgary had 14 first-period shots to just six by Edmonton on Flames starter David Rittich.
Gaudreau would get his goal just 44 seconds into the second period as he swung wide before putting the puck through Koskinen’s legs for his 29th goal of the season and his 17th in his last 19 games.
Calgary Flames’ Mikael Backlund scores on Edmonton Oilers Mikko Koskinen. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson)
Calgary took a 2-0 lead with a power-play goal seven-and-a-half minutes into the middle frame when Giordano smacked in a shot in during a scramble out front.
The Flames added to their lead with four-and-a-half minutes left in the second on a one-timer by Kylington.
Edmonton finally got on the board with 18 second left in the second when Nugent-Hopkins scored his 16th while the teams were playing four aside.
The Oilers pulled within one with a power-play marker four minutes into the third when Lucic tipped a Jesse Puljujarvi shot past Rittich.
Calgary regained its two-goal lead with six minutes left when Backlund picked off a pass and scored his 11th.
Monahan added a late power-play goal to put the game away, his 27th of the season.
The Oilers are right back at it on Sunday night when they host the Carolina Hurricanes. The Flames are off until Tuesday, when they will also host Carolina.
Notes: It was the third of four meetings this season between the Alberta-based rivals. Each team came into the game having won in its home arena, with the Flames beating the Oilers 4-2 in Calgary and Edmonton winning 1-0 at Rogers Place.
Shane Jones, The Canadian Press
