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Instant Reaction: Flames beat Edmonton to head into Olympic break
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
Feb 5, 2026, 00:39 EST
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Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below! 
The Calgary Flames hosted the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday evening in the final game for each team before the National Hockey League schedule pauses for the 2026 Winter Olympics. And dare we say: it was a heck of a hockey game.
In a back and forth game with some nice goals, some ugly goals, and a pretty good fight, the Flames held on for a 4-3 victory over Edmonton to head into the three week break on a winning note.

The rundown

The Flames opened the scoring on a power play just 3:12 into the first period. After Nazem Kadri drew a minor, the Flames made some decent plays on the power play. However, Jonathan Huberdeau, traditionally a passer, opted to shoot, picking the top corner, far side, on Tristan Jarry to give the Flames a 1-0 lead.
A couple minutes later, though, the Oilers tied things up on a power play of their own. With Joel Hanley in the sin bin, the Oilers had their looks. But then, like on the Flames advantage, someone just decided to shoot. This time, Leon Draisaitl walked in and picked the short-side corner over Devin Cooley’s shoulder to tie the game at 1-1.
Later in the period, though, the Flames retook the lead off another power play marker. After Kadri drew another minor, MacKenzie Weegar made a great pass to spring Matvei Gridin in with a clear lane towards the Oilers net. He opted to shoot, picking the short-side corner over Jarry’s shoulder to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.
First period shots were 10-10. Via Natural Stat Trick, 5v5 scoring chances were 7-4 Oilers and high-danger scoring chances were 3-2 Oilers.
We saw a heck of a scrap between Joel Hanley and Ty Emberson midway through the second period, right after Kevin Bahl crashed into the boards awkwardly after losing an edge. Head over to HockeyFights to vote on who you think got the better of it. (Highlight of the tilt is a tie between Emberson’s helmet popping off and Hanley patting Emberson on the head at the end.)
A little later, the Flames padded their lead. After a clean zone entry and some nice passing, Zach Whitecloud fired a shot from the point that changed directions off of Connor Zary, battling for position out front, and beat Jarry. That gave the Flames a 3-1 lead.
The Oilers got one back on the power play. Yegor Sharangovich battled with Leon Draisaitl along the wall and went down after some contact – on replay, it looked like Draisaitl elbowed Sharangovich’s glove into his face – and that gave the Oilers extra space to work with. A few passes later, and Draisaitl beat Cooley with a one-timer from low in the offensive zone. That cut the Flames’ lead to 3-2.
Second period shots were 15-6 Oilers. 5v5 scoring chances were 13-8 Oilers and high-danger scoring chances were 5-2 Oilers.
Early in the third period, the Oilers drew even on a weird goal. Kasperi Kapanen fired a shot from the high slot on net. It hit Cooley in the shoulder, blooped just over him and trickled just over the goal line to tie the game at 3-3.
But later in the period, the Flames retook the lead off an equally weird goal. The Flames chucked the puck into the Edmonton zone, towards several awaiting players in white jerseys. That puck bounced around a ton, off several skates, until Ryan Lomberg zipped in, took control of the puck, and fired it past Jarry to give the Flames a 4-3 lead.
The Oilers pressed to try to even things up. They pulled Jarry for the extra attacker with about 90 seconds remaining in regulation. But the Flames defended well, killed the clock, and picked up two points via a 4-3 win.
Third period shots were 14-9 Oilers.

Why the Flames won

Let’s call a spade a spade: the Oilers were playing their second game in as many nights with a bit of travel, so this is what the kids call a “scheduled win” for the Flames. But playing a team that, on paper, is stronger than them, the red team worked hard and did a lot of good things.
Yeah, you probably don’t want to give up multiple power play goals. But they answered back with a couple of their own. They got saves, several players made big plays at key moments, and the Flames head into the break feeling a little better about their game than they did beforehand.

Red Warrior

Matvei Gridin had his first multi-point NHL game and looked quite dangerous, so we’ll give him the nod.
But honourable mentions to Devin Cooley and MacKenzie Weegar.

Turning point

You had to feel a bit bad for Devin Cooley with the way Kasperi Kapanen’s tying goal blooped past him. So it probably felt really good for him to see Ryan Lomberg score an equally odd goal to retake the lead a little while later.

This and that

This was the first Battle of Alberta game action for Devin Cooley, Zayne Parekh and Zach Whitecloud.
During a first period TV timeout, the Flames saluted members of their organization that are headed to the Olympics: forward Martin Pospisil representing Slovakia, and vice-president communications Sean Kelso, head athletic therapist Kent Kobelka and team physician Dr. Ian Auld for Canada.

After Burner

Join Mike Gould and Kent Wilson right after the game for After Burner!

Up next

The Flames (23-27-6) are off for awhile. They’re back on the practice ice on Feb. 17. They’re back in game action on Feb. 26 in San Jose. Martin Pospisil, meanwhile, is off to the Winter Olympics in Italy.

This article is brought to you by Platinum Mitsubishi

This article is a Presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the best warranty in the business with ten year warranties available. Check out the showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca

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