The Calgary Flames played some very good stretches of hockey in their season-opening game against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. They created chances and looked very poised with the puck at times. But some sloppy execution and a habit of taking bad penalties at bad times sunk them.
They lost 5-2 to the Oilers to begin their 2021-22 season.
The rundown
The Oilers came out of the gates strong, but the Flames took over at even strength after a successful penalty kill (following a Glenn Gawdin offensive zone penalty). But the Flames failed to capitalize on a great chance at one end – Johnny Gaudreau couldn’t bury an Andrew Mangiapane saucer pass – and at the other end the Oilers took advantage of a nice bounce.