Things get ugly in the Battle of Alberta after Mikael Backlund cheap shots Stuart Skinner
Things did not take long to get ugly during the battle of Alberta, as it took loss then one full period during their first meeting of the 2024-25 season.
Oilers, and fans were not happy with officials during the game towards the end of the period whenever Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund decided to cheap shot Stuart Skinner, and no penalty was called on the play.
On the replay you can clearly see that Mikael Backlund would slash Stuart Skinner in the unprotected part of his leg, while forechecking a lose puck behind the Oilers net that Skinner was playing. Skinner went down to the ice after this incident took place, but would not stay down for long, and would look to be alright.
The Oilers bench was not a fan that there wasn't a call on the play, and it didn't help that the same official that missed the slash Backlund landed on Skinner, was the same one who just overturned a Oilers goal that was scored by Corey Perry, it was called back for goaltender interference.
The play in question involving Backlund slashing Skinner:
The goaltender interference goal that was called back:
The Edmonton Oilers are off to a terrible start to the year, currently sitting dead last in their division, after dropping games to the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, and now the Calgary Flames.
The Oilers lost 6-0 to the Jets, 5-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks, and 4-1 to the Calgary Flames. In 3 games so far the team has allowed 15 goals for, and has only scored 3 goals. It's still early in the year, and last year we saw the Oilers bounce back and make the Stanley Cup Finals after a terrible start to the season, but if nothing changes soon, something has to be done.
Many thought the Oilers were going to be a powerhouse this year, after losing game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Florida Panthers, but it's not looking like that right now.
As seen on Hockeyfeed:
Mikael Backlund takes a cheap shot at Stuart Skinner.
