Oilers defeat Flames outdoors in NHL Heritage Classic

Evander Kane showcased his skills by scoring a goal and contributing two assists, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-2 victory over the Calgary Flames in the NHL Heritage Classic outdoor game at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada (Derek Leung).

This exciting match marked the Oilers’ first home win of the season, while the Flames extended their losing streak to five games. Nearly 60,000 passionate fans witnessed the fierce battle between these Alberta provincial arch-rivals.

The Oilers quickly gained a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game, with Brett Kulak and Zach Hyman finding the back of the net. However, the Flames managed to close the gap with a power-play goal from Nazem Kadri, leaving the score 2-1 at the end of the first period.

Despite the Flames’ effort, the Oilers extended their lead to 3-1 only 71 seconds after Kadri’s goal, thanks to Evan Bouchard’s impressive shot. Connor McDavid, who had been sidelined due to an upper-body injury, provided the assist. In the second period, A.J. Greer scored for the Flames, narrowing the gap to 3-2 with 5:16 remaining.

In the final period, Vincent Desharnais secured a 4-2 advantage for the Oilers with 13:44 remaining on the clock. As the Flames pulled their goaltender Jacob Markstrom for an extra attacker in the dying seconds, Evander Kane seized the opportunity to score an empty-net goal, sealing the victory with a final score of 5-2.

With this win, the Oilers now hold a 2-5-1 record, while the Flames drop to 2-6-1.

Notably, the 26-year-old Canadian centre and Oilers’ star player, Connor McDavid, has been the NHL’s leading scorer for the past three seasons. He was also recognized as the league’s Most Valuable Player in the 2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons.

js/sev