Oilers blow 3-goal lead to Flames in Season Opener: 'We have a lot to learn'

One game, one lesson learned from the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers hosted their rival Calgary Flames on Wednesday night, and while the game may have started off going their way, a blown 3-goal lead thanks to some very sloppy play has the Oilers' brass frustrated with how things played out.

Turnovers, bad bounces, unnecessary miscues, the Oilers saw it all against the Flames, something forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is hopeful the team can quickly move past this season. 

“We just kind of got sloppy with it and turned the puck over too much, which started to give them life,” said Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who had a goal and two assists. “They capitalized on one and then the power play and then they started to get the momentum there. But it started with 10 minutes of being sloppy and just turning the puck over.”

“I thought when we were playing on top of them, when we were playing fast and simple there was a lot of things to like,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “But obviously the first one, you’d like to close that one out. There’s lots to like but also a lot to learn.

The Flames managed to outlast the Oilers in a shootout, and take home the 4-3 victory. While the Oilers have lots they want to clean up, goaltender Stuart Skinner was also quick to point out Flames' netminder Dustin Wolf stood very tall for Calgary, especially in the shootout, stopping seven of eight shooters. 

“It was a great (goalie) battle. [Wolf] made some spectacular saves, he’s so athletic,” Skinner said. “It really is fun to watch. I thought he played a great game, I thought I was able to battle and make some good stops too. I think that was one of my better shootouts that I’ve had and I feel that I’ve gotten better in that aspect. And it’s the Battle of Alberta, going eight, nine shooters (each), it was a fun game.”

The Oilers host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night, and hope to get themselves back on track in game two.

Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images