Flames shut out Oilers in final visit to Rexall Place

EDMONTON -- Joni Ortio made 28 saves in his first start against the Edmonton Oilers, and the Calgary Flames won 5-0 in their final visit to Rexall Place on Saturday.
Mikael Backlund and Johnny Gaudreau each scored twice, and Joe Colborne had a goal for Calgary (33-40-6), which won for the first time in three games.

It was Ortio's first shutout in 17 starts this season and the second of his NHL career.
"We played a pretty strong game," Calgary coach Bob Hartley said. "We weathered the storm in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Oilers came on strong, and Joni Ortio gave us a few good saves, and then we scored that [shorthanded] goal and it seemed like we kind of took control of the game. I'm very proud. It was big team effort."

The Flames won five of their final six games at Rexall Place. The Oilers will begin playing in a new arena next season.
Cam Talbot made 30 saves for Edmonton (30-43-7), which has lost three in a row. The Oilers were shut out for the eighth time this season and the fifth at home.
"It wasn't a great effort for us," Oilers left wing Taylor Hall said. "We expect a lot better from ourselves. We have to be better as a team. In a lot of areas tonight, we just weren't good enough, weren't sharp enough. You want to play well in that final Battle of Alberta and have a good last home game (against the Flames) at Rexall.
"We are going to have to be better next game. We'll come out with some jump, for sure. We can't let that happen again. These fans are loyal and passionate, and they want to see a good show to finish it off here. We have to be better and sharper."

The Oilers play their final game at Rexall Place on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks in the first of a home-and-home series to end the regular season.
Backlund opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal at 3:51 of the first period. The Flames center got to a bouncing puck in front of Talbot and batted it into the net.
A minute before Backlund's goal, Ortio made an outstanding glove save against Oilers center Anton Lander after a set-up by Zack Kassian from the end boards.
"I felt really good," Ortio said. "I think after that glove save, I felt even better. I think if that goes in, it's not a great start for us. But I felt really good. I think our third period was one of the best we've played in a while, maybe all year. When we had our chances to put them away, we did. That was a great effort."

Defenseman Dougie Hamilton appeared to give the Flames a 2-0 lead on a shot from the point at 18:24 of the first, but Oilers coach Todd McLellan challenged the goal, and it was overturned after video review showed Colborne made contact with Talbot before the puck crossed the goal line.
Colborne gave the Flames a 2-0 lead at 15:13 of the second period, converting a cross-ice pass from Backlund.
Gaudreau scored to make it 3-0 at 3:11 of the third period, jamming a rebound past Talbot from the side of the net.
"I don't know if there is a number big enough to describe how disappointing that effort was," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "We've been together for 200 days and talked a lot about competing and working hard, and we get that? That's the exact crap we're trying to eradicate from this group. You work hard, you try to get some foundation and you give it all back in one night. We were outshot, we were out-hit, we were outscored, out-faceoffed, out-power-played, out-penalty-killed."

Gaudreau scored on the power play at 7:21 to give Calgary a 4-0 lead. He took a pass from Sean Monahan in front and was able to get the puck past Talbot for his 30th goal.
"I think it's a really cool accomplishment, never did I think I was going to be able to score 30 goals in the NHL," Gaudreau said. "It's a really cool milestone, and I'm really fortunate. A lot of great plays from a lot of great players helped me get to this, this season."
Backlund scored his second goal of the game at 12:35 on a breakaway to give Calgary a 5-0 lead. The goal came as Flames forward Sam Bennett's hooking penalty expired.
"There have been some big rivalry games here," Backlund said. "They may not have been playoff games here, but still, we want to beat them every time, no matter what's at stake, and it was a big win for us."
Calgary hosts the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.