The Calgary Flames defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Saturday night in a heated Battle of Alberta rematch at Scotiabank Saddledome. Ryan Lomberg, the Flames' fourth-line agitator, played a pivotal role, scoring a crucial goal that broke a 1-1 tie in the second period.
The Flames were looking to avenge a 5-1 defeat to their provincial rivals before the holiday break. According to Oilers' defenseman Evan Bouchard, the Oilers wanted to start better after having three days off. However, the Flames came out with energy, setting the tone early. Yegor Sharangovich scored the opening goal for Calgary, but Bouchard responded quickly with a power-play goal for Edmonton. Lomberg then intercepted a pass from Oilers defenseman Alex Regula and fired the puck past goaltender Connor Ingram to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.
Blake Coleman extended Calgary's lead in the third period, scoring his 11th goal of the season. Connor McDavid brought the Oilers within one, but the Flames held on for the victory. The announced attendance was 19,289.
Lomberg's goal was his third in the last five games, matching his total from 80 games last season. After the game, Lomberg took a playful jab at Regula and Ingram, referencing a "Pizza 73 deal". "I got a little Pizza 73 deal here, so I think that Regula, or whatever his name was, he might be helping out with some of that," Lomberg said. "I told him I wanted to hand some pizzas out over the break, and I didn't mean to me... Shout out Pizza 73. Great pizza. Put it right in the oven there".
The Flames have been strong at home recently, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games at the Saddledome. Goaltender Dustin Wolf, who was playing in his 100th NHL game, made 29 saves. "We feel comfortable and we feel confident in this building, and that's how it should be," Wolf said. "Home ice should be your advantage, and we just need to be able to turn the road ice into more of an advantage for us going forward". Coach Ryan Huska emphasized the importance of home wins, stating, "You've got to win at home. It's a big part of this league".
Coleman noted the team's determination to rebound from their previous loss to the Oilers. "It was pretty clear from puck drop, we didn't have any anything in the tank in Edmonton," Coleman said. "There was an energy in the room this morning. Guys were pissed off and wanted to bounce back, and it was nice that we had the opportunity to do so". Huska said that the team needed their top players to be their top players and felt that they were. He specifically mentioned Coleman's energized performance.
With the win, the Flames (16-18-4) are now within three points of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The team is currently on a five-game homestand. The Oilers will have circled February 4th on their calendar as they prepare to face the Flames again.
