The Calgary Flames earned a crucial and satisfying 3-2 victory over their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The win served as a strong response after a disappointing loss to the same team just four nights earlier.
Pizza and Payback: Lomberg's Moment
The game's turning point came from an unlikely source. Flames fourth-line forward Ryan Lomberg capitalized on a critical turnover by Oilers defenseman Alec Regula, scoring on a breakaway in the second period to give Calgary a lead they would not surrender. It was Lomberg's third goal in his last five games, a surprising scoring burst for the energy player.
Post-game, Lomberg lightened the mood with a humorous nod to a local pizza chain. "I got a little Pizza 73 deal here so I think that Regula or whatever his name was, he might be helping out with some of that," Lomberg joked. "I told him I wanted to hand some pizzas out over the break... Put it right in the oven there." The quip underscored the positive atmosphere following a feel-good win.
Masterful Defense Against McDavid
A central storyline was the Flames' effective containment of Oilers superstar Connor McDavid. While McDavid, the NHL's leading scorer, did manage to score a goal with just over four minutes remaining in regulation, limiting him to a single point was a significant accomplishment. McDavid had been on a torrid 12-game point streak, racking up 32 points, including a five-assist performance against Calgary earlier in the week.
Flames forward Blake Coleman, who scored the game-winning goal, praised the team's collective effort. "For the most part, I thought guys did a great job team-checking him," Coleman said of McDavid. "They did get the one there but other than that, there wasn't a whole lot." Head coach Ryan Huska also highlighted the performance of his top players in the crucial matchup.
A Vital Response Before the New Year
The victory allowed the Flames to split the home-and-home series with their arch-rival, providing a much-needed morale boost. After what Coleman described as a previous game that "left a pretty bad taste in all of our mouths," the team delivered a resilient performance. The win showcased a tightened defensive structure and timely scoring, key ingredients as they head into the next phase of the NHL season. The Battle of Alberta rematch proved that the Flames could bounce back and execute a game plan against one of the league's most dynamic offenses.
