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The Flames’ penalty kill devoured by Edmonton in 5-1 loss
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Photo credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
Dec 24, 2025, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 24, 2025, 01:26 EST
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Friends, every National Hockey League team has their thing that makes them a tough opponent. For some teams it’s a hot goaltender, for others it’s a feisty forecheck.
For the Edmonton Oilers, the big scary thing about them is their power play.
Yes, they boast elite hockey talents in the form of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid who are terrifying even at even strength. But when you’re playing at five-on-five, defensive structure and playing a speedy game can keep that dynamic duo to the outside and give your team a fighting chance against them.
But when they’re on the power play, these two individuals can truly wreck your team with the time and space they’re provided. Putting the Oilers on the power play repeatedly is akin to putting your head in a hungry lion’s mouth: you might get away with it momentarily, but eventually you’re gonna get your head chomped off.
After Tuesday’s morning skate in Edmonton, we asked Flames head coach Ryan Huska what can be done against Edmonton’s power play – aside from not taking penalties.
Don’t take penalties, you alluded to it. Number one thing is you have to understand that they’re going to get some chances. You have to limit the quality of those chances. So they have a lot of great options. I mean, I don’t think there’s a penalty kill coach in the league that is going to say that ‘we know how to stop it’ because you don’t. They have two of the best players in the world on that side and they move the puck around really well. So one, make sure that your structure is very good and two, don’t take penalties. It’s important.
On Tuesday night, the Oilers scored three times on six power plays en route to a 5-1 win over the Flames.
Late in the first period, Rasmus Andersson took a slashing penalty on a shorthanded breakaway chance by Connor McDavid. After 56 seconds of four-on-four, Edmonton got a truncated power play that ended with Leon Draisaitl scoring off a net-front pass from Zach Hyman to give Edmonton a 2-1 lead.
Early in the second period, Matt Coronato took a hooking penalty on Jack Roslovic after turning the puck over in the neutral zone. On the resulting power play, McDavid and Draisaitl executed an in-zone give-and-go which resulted in Draisaitl scoring from the slot to give Edmonton a 3-1 lead.
Early in the third period, with Joel Hanley serving a tripping minor on Trent Frederic, Draisaitl scored again to complete his power play hat trick and give Edmonton a 5-1 lead.
Yeah, Edmonton out-scored the Flames by a 2-1 margin at five-on-five, too. No, that’s not ideal. But the Oilers earned six power plays in this game – their sixth began with 6.6 seconds left in regulation – and they scored on their first two. By the time the Flames had killed off their first Oilers advantage successfully – a minor by MacKenzie Weegar that eventually led to him being ejected from the game – the Flames were down 3-1.
Following the game, Huska shared his thoughts on how dangerous McDavid and Draisaitl – who combined for eight points – can be.
“Well, you have to stay on top of them, for one,” said Huska. “I mean, if they have room to skate and nobody’s in front of them, they’re the best players in the game, so they’re dangerous. And then the power play too. You can’t give them that many opportunities. They’ll make you pay.”
The Oilers are a known quantity at this point. Opponents know what to expect from them in most game situations, and teams need to be at their best in terms of intensity and their checking details in order to keep up with them. But instead, the Flames opted on Tuesday evening to repeatedly place their head in a hungry lion’s mouth.
It didn’t turn out well for them.
The Flames return to action on Saturday night in a return engagement with the Oilers, this time at the Saddledome.

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