Down to the Wire

Flames fall in overtime in preseason tilt with Oilers

By Ty Pilson

CalgaryFlames.com

September 30, 2023

It was wild one in the final minutes Friday night.

Brad Malone scored halfway through overtime, slipping a backhand between the pads of Dan Vladar on a breakaway to give the Oilers a 2-1 preseason victory at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

The game marked the debut of Mikael Backlund wearing the 'C' after signing a new two-year deal Wednesday and being named the franchise's 21st captain.

Backlund appeared to score with 2:38 left to make it 2-0 for the Flames, but the officials then waived it off citing goaltender interference on Blake Coleman.

The Flames challenged saying Coleman was pushed into the blue paint and Edmonton goalie Jack Campbell but after review, the call stood.

Calgary went a man down after losing the challenge and youngster Dylan Holloway knotted it up with 1:40 to go.

Then during the final ticks of the frame, Backlund got a backhand on net and the puck went to Jordan Oesterle, who got a shot and then newcomer Yegor Sharangovich looked to score the winner with .1 of a second left but on second look, the puck had not crossed the line before time expired forcing the OT frame.

Elias Lindholm scored the Calgary marker, while Vladar made 22 saves.

Prior to puck drop, the team honoured Assistant GM Chris Snow. Watch the video below.

We pay tribute to one of our own. #SnowyStrong will live on forever

Back in the first period, Oesterle - who has been strong all camp - played an Oilers 2-on-1 perfectly, blocking the cross-ice pass attempt which led to a Flames 2-on-1 the other way. Nazem Kadri carried the puck up and held it, snapping a wrister that Campbell stopped, Dillon Dube getting a whack at the rebound that was sitting in the blue paint but not able to put it home.

Just past the midway mark, Holloway got a breakaway after a turnover in the Oilers zone, but his attempt at a backhand around the outstretched left pad of Vladar - who was in perfect position - went wide of the far pipe.

With 7:24 left in the opening frame, the Flames went to the powerplay, Matt Coronato getting a good look but unable to beat Campbell high, shortside.

Shots were 12-4 for the homeside after 20 minutes.

Not long after they killed off a Too Many Men penalty, Lindholm would open the scoring.

Ilya Solovyov made a cross-ice pass up high to his d-partner Jeremie Poirier, who snapped a wrister from distance that hit Lindholm and beat Campbell shortside at 12:55. The goal was originally credited to Poirier but changed later.