Calgary Flames' Curtis Glencross celebrates his goal against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin during first-period NHL hockey action in Edmonton on Saturday, October 3, 2009.John Ulan
Nikolai Khabibulin's gift goal to David Moss with 48.7 seconds left was the difference as the Calgary Flames spoiled archrival Edmonton's home opener, defeating the Oilers 4-3 on Saturday.
The Oilers goalie went out to corral a puck in the final minute but lost control of it and gave it to Moss, who easily score his second of the game.
Curtis Glencross and Nigel Dawes also scored for the Flames who improved to 2-0-0 on the season. The last time the Flames won two straight to start a season was 2001-02.
Dustin Penner, Gilbert Brule and Sam Gagner replied for the Oilers (0-1-0) who were making their 2009-2010 debut.
Calgary struck quickly, scoring on the first shot of the game. Dustin Boyd made a nice no-look backhand feed from behind the net to Glencross, who roofed a shot over Khabibulin.
Edmonton tied the game six minutes into the opening period as Penner picked up a rebound on a hard O'Sullivan shot and hammered it past Calgary starter Miikka Kiprusoff.
The Flames regained the advantage on the power play as Moss redirected a shot that was going wide through Khabibulin's legs.
Edmonton outshot Calgary 14-6 in the first period.
Calgary took a two-goal lead on another power play with seven minutes to play in the second as Dawes hammered a point shot glove side for a 3-1 lead.
The Oilers crawled back to within one with two minutes left in the second period. Brule got everything behind a slapshot from the top of the circle to beat Kiprusoff stick-side.
Edmonton dictated the bulk of the play for most of the third and finally were rewarded for it with seven minutes to play. A Calgary clearing attempt took a bad hop of the boards and came straight out to Gagner in front of the net, who made the most of is fourth-line playing time by scoring the tying goal.
Both teams are off until Tuesday night when Calgary hosts Montreal and Edmonton welcomes the Dallas Stars.
Notes: This is the first of two games between the provincial rivals within a week as Edmonton also has a home date with Calgary on Thursday. In the six games between he two teams last year, both squads picked up three winsa The Oilers play seven of their first nine games at homea Edmonton captain Ethan Moreau was thought likely to be scratch earlier in the week but played the home opener despite an ankle injurya Calgary defenceman Cory Sarich missed his second consecutive game with a bruised foota The Oilers entered the game holding the league's longest active streak of a least a point in season openers, with a 5-0-1 record the past six years.