McDavid nets hat trick, Oilers douse Flames 5-2
Flames Oilers Hockey
Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) and Darnell Nurse (25) celebrate a goal against the Calgary Flames during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) celebrates his hat trick against the Calgary Flames, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29), Connor McDavid (97), Darnell Nurse (25) and Cody Ceci (5) celebrate a goal against the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a save on Edmonton Oilers' Zach Hyman (18) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Christopher Tanev (8) skates past as the Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers' during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Dillon Dube (29) is stopped by Edmonton Oilers goalie Mike Smith (41) as Tyson Barrie (22) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames' Mikael Backlund (11) skates to the bench as Edmonton Oilers' Cody Ceci (5) and Derek Ryan (10) celebrate a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers scuffle during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) is congratulated for goal against the Calgary Flames during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97), Darnell Nurse (25) and Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrate a goal against the Calgary Flames during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Derek Ryan
Elias Lindholm
Andrew Mangiapane
17 October 2021, 1:34 am ·2-min read
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor McDavid scored three goals for his 11th career hat trick and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Calgary Flames 5-2 on Saturday night.
Mike Smith made 45 saves, and Jesse Juljujarvi had a goal and two assists for Edmonton (2-0). Derek Ryan also scored, and Leon Draisaitl added three assists.
Andrew Mangiapane and Elias Lindholm scored for Calgary, which has lost a record 12 straight season openers.
The Oilers opened the scoring with seven minutes to play in the first period when Warren Foegele put a shot on Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom, and Ryan was there to convert the rebound.
Edmonton made it 2-0 on the power play with 2 1/2 minutes left in the first. Puljujarvi's shot went off a Calgary stick right to McDavid, who scored his first goal of the season.
McDavid got another power-play goal 5 1/2 minutes into the second, firing a one-timer from near the right faceoff dot.
Calgary scored its first midway through the second. Mangiapane was able to track down his own rebound in tight and score on a backhand.
The Flames made it 3-2 five minutes into the third with the man advantage. Matthew Tkachuk made a nice pass from behind the net to set up Lindholm.
But the Oilers regained their two-goal edge 26 seconds later. Cody Ceci sent Puljujarvi in alone and he made no mistake, putting his second of the season past Markstrom.
McDavid completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal.
NOTES: The Flames were without forward Blake Coleman, who was serving a suspension for boarding Winnipeg Jets forward Jansen Harkins on Oct. 6. ... Calgary dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen. ... F Zack Kassian returned for the Oilers after hitting his head on the ice during a fight in a game against Vancouver on Oct. 7. ... The last time the Flames won a season opener was 2009 when Miikka Kiprusoff was in net. The previous NHL record for consecutive season-opening losses was seven. By comparison, the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) and Cleveland Browns (NFL) have had the longest streaks of the sort of the four major North American sports, with 13 straight season-opening losses apiece.
Flames: Host Anaheim on Monday night.
Oilers: Host Anaheim on Tuesday night.
Cantlay leads as Zalatoris fires his way into contention at American Express
The late Mike Stefanik inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame
Super Rugby: All Black's brother among new Waratahs recruits
The Waratahs have signed Hamdan Tuipulotu and Geoff Cridge to beef up their forward stocks ahead of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka through: Australian Open 2022 day one report and round-up
With so much attention on the 11-day saga of Djokovic's attempt to participate in the year's first Grand Slam tournament, the returns of Naomi Osaka and Rafael Nadal have been overshadowed.
Newcastle contact Manchester United over Jesse Lingard loan deal
The struggling Magpies have already spent around £37million this month thanks to their new owners.
Crystal Palace consider Jean-Philippe Mateta January U-turn after upturn in striker's fortunes
Crystal Palace are reconsidering their decision to potentially allow Jean-Philippe Mateta to leave the club this month. There is interest in the striker from his homeland France in a loan deal until the end of the season, but a recent upturn in form may see him stay at Selhurst Park. Mateta has two goals in his last four games across all competitions and was turned to by manager Patrick Vieira ahead of Burnley target Christian Benteke during the 1-1 draw with Brighton, playing a role in Conor Gallagher's fine goal.
LeBron and Westbrook snap Lakers out of losing streak
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 101-95 as they bounced back from a horrid run of form...
Ashes 2021-22: Player ratings for Australia's ruthless rout of England
Mark Wood was a rare shining light for the visitors, but the series had few redeeming features for Hameed, Pope and Burns Ollie Robinson trudges off as Australia celebrate victory on day three of the fifth Test. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Cricket Australia/Getty Images ENGLAND Jimmy Anderson His final Ashes series in Australia (surely) was bookended from the sidelines. In his three Tests, he was typically parsimonious but only at his barn-storming best at Melbourne. Blocked out that final over at Sy
Brendan Rodgers hoping to see Leicester fightback in second half of season
The Foxes are playing catch up in the race for the top four.
Ben Stokes set to join England captain Joe Root in missing this year's IPL
All-rounder featured in last four seasons of T20 tournamentHe also decides to skip auction following gruelling Ashes tour Ben Stokes ahead of the recent Ashes Test in Hobart. The all-rounder had a difficult series having taken a four-month break from cricket. Photograph: Tertius Pickard/AP Ben Stokes is set to join Joe Root in making himself unavailable for this year's Indian Premier League auction following England's Ashes defeat in Australia. The all-rounder has featured in the last four seaso
The sporting weekend in pictures
The one-sided Ashes series ended in a Hobart hammering for the tourists.
Peng Shuai news: Pat Cash gives his opinion over Peng Shuai sexual harassment allegations
Pat Cash believes scratching his head over the saga.