EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - Connor McDavid used both his actions and his words to express his displeasure with an overtime call Thursday night.
McDavid scored in the third round of the shootout to help the Edmonton Oilers salvage a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames.
The shootout tally came after McDavid thought he had set up the winner on a goal by Ryan Strome in overtime, only to have it called back after he was charged with goaltender interference for clipping David Rittich’s on his way through the crease.
Upset the goal was called off, McDavid was seen indicating that maybe they should check upstairs to see if his shootout winner was valid as well.
“I shouldn’t have done that, but it was frustrating,” the Oilers captain said. “I think everyone just wants it to be black and white, to be goaltender interference or not. I saw it on the Jumbotron and what I saw was just myself trying to make a play at the net and I was trying to get out of the way. I do avoid the goalie, but I catch his stick.”
Brandon Davidson scored twice and Zack Kassian had a goal for the Oilers, who rallied from 2-0 down to win their fourth in five games.
“It had been a month since I had played and I just wanted to keep getting better every shift,” Davidson said. “It was a good win for our team and it was great to contribute.”
Matthew Tkachuk had two goals and Mark Giordano also scored for the Flames, who have a point in 11 straight games despite their fourth straight loss in extra time (7-0-4).
Calgary scored 1:32 into the first period on the first shot of the game. After a giveaway by Oilers forward Milan Lucic, Troy Brouwer chipped a puck from behind the net out to Tkachuk, who scored his 15th of the season on goalie Cam Talbot.
It was the eighth time this season the Oilers have allowed a goal on an opponent’s first shot.
Calgary made it 2-0 with 5:39 to play in the opening frame when Giordano scored on a long screen shot during a delayed penalty.
The Oilers finally got on the board with six minutes to play in the second as a spin-around shot from a bad angle by Davidson surprised goalie David Rittich.
Edmonton tied it just over a minute later when Kassian cashed in on the rebound from Leon Draisaitl’s shot.
The Oilers took the lead five minutes into the third period when Ryan Strome fed it in front to Davidson, who scored his second of the game and the season.
Calgary pulled back even eight minutes into the third when Edmonton defenseman Matt Benning lost the puck behind his net, leading to Tkachuk’s second goal of the game.
Strome had a goal called off in overtime on goaltender interference, much to the ire of Edmonton fans.
NOTES: It was the third of five meetings between the teams this season, with Edmonton winning the previous two and the last six encounters overall.
UP NEXT
Flames: Host Vegas on Tuesday night.
Oilers: Host Colorado on Thursday night.
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