Flames take point from shootout loss to Oilers

EDMONTON, AB -- Point taken.

The Calgary Flames forced extra time in the second of back-to-back games, but Leon Draisaitl netted the shootout-winner and Cam Talbot made 24 saves to lift the Edmonton Oilers to a 2-1 win in the Battle of Alberta on Hockey Night in Canada at Rogers Place on Saturday.

"It was a big game for us," goaltender Brian Elliott said. "We came out of here with one point. You've got to look at the positive and look at this game, the way we play and the chances we get.

"When we play the right way I think in the long run that's the way we want it."

Elliott made 26 saves, and Sean Monahan scored for a second straight game for Calgary (23-20-3).

Patrick Maroon scored for Edmonton, who leads Calgary by four points for second in the Pacific Division. The Flames currently hold the second wild card from the Western Conference.

"I thought today was one of the best games we've managed the puck in in the season," coach Glen Gulutzan said. "This is how we're going to have to play if we want to get points in back-to-backs. At this juncture of the season the way we played, I think it is an encouraging step for us.

"I wish we would've got the two but we did a lot of good things."

The Flames are 117-91-19-2-3 all-time against the Oilers, including 51-52-10-2-2 in Edmonton. Calgary has earned 22 of a possible 30 points between the two Alberta teams over the last 15 meetings.

The Oilers also won the first two games between the provincial rivals this season. The Battle of Alberta series will wrap Jan. 21 at Calgary.

"We were nowhere close at the start (of the season) there," captain Mark Giordano said. "We gave them breakaway after breakaway in those first few games. Tonight we were aware of getting above them. They're a tough team to play against. They play with a lot of speed. You could see some confidence in some of their players that are really rolling.

"We did a good job. The shootout sucks.

"It feels like a loss, but it shouldn't if you really think about it."

Draisaitl and Mark Letestu scored in the opening two rounds of the shootout, and Talbot stopped both Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau to clinch the win.

"We got out of (overtime) unscathed but I couldn't come up with a save in the shootout and we couldn't get a goal, either," Elliott said.

Elliott's heroics in overtime forced the game to a shootout.

He stopped Jordan Eberle's redirect on a setup by Oscar Klefbom at 4:08, and, after Gaudreau hit the post, Maroon's deke with two seconds remaining in OT.

"Huge saves in the overtime period, which helped us," Gulutzan said. "It got us to a shootout, which you all know is anybody's ball-game. Some of the saves he made, especially in that overtime, were big saves for us."

Elliott made seven first-period saves; Talbot made five, including two glove saves on chances off the stick of Monahan. Monahan one-timed a setup by TJ Brodie on a 3-on-1 that he snagged at 8:19. Talbot flashed the glove again on Gaudreau's slap-pass into the slot on the power play that Monahan redirected at 14:12.

Maroon put the Oilers up 1-0 with a power play goal at 16:24 of the second period, but Monahan replied 26 seconds later with his second goal in as many games after going 11 straight without scoring. Talbot made the initial save on Monahan's drive to the net, but the 22-year-old netted his 12th goal of the season by following up with his rebound.

Deryk Engelland hit the post with a slap shot 8:10 into the third, and Talbot made 13 saves in the third period to get the game to overtime.

"Both teams played well," Giordano said. "I thought they had moments where they had some looks. I thought we had a lot of good looks. Both goalies played really well tonight and made some key saves. There were a lot of good battles out there."
NOTES: Calgary and Edmonton teamed up to celebrate the outstanding career of hockey icon Hayley Wickenheiser prior to the game. Wickenheiser has been a trailblazer for women's hockey across the world and has made a deep impact on grassroots hockey in Alberta … Matt Stajan played in career NHL game No. 900 … Micheal Ferland missed his second straight game because of a lower body injury.

UP NEXT: The Flames host the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday (7p.m. MT; SNW, SN1, SN960).