The Edmonton Oilers couldn’t have started the season worse than they have. After reaching the Stanley Cup Finals last season and eventually losing Game 7 against the Florida Panthers, many expected them to start the 2024/25 season strong, but it’s been quite the opposite.
The Oilers lost their third straight game on Sunday, in the battle of Alberta against the Calgary Flames, but the game also had some controversial incidents regarding the officiating.
The Oilers thought they were up 2-0, but after a lengthy review, Corey Perry’s goal was overturned due to goalie interference. The call had both fans and several insiders furious, with some even calling it ’the worst decision they’ve seen.’ However, there was also a controversial incident regarding Mikael Backlund and Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner.
READ MORE: Fans, insiders furious over goalie interference call in Oilers game
At the end of the first period, Flames forward Backlund gave Skinner a light-looking slashing to the unprotected part of his leg. Skinner was behind his goal playing the puck when Backlund caught up to him and delivered the slash.
Skinner went down to the ice briefly, but the officials didn’t call a penalty on the play, which had both the Oilers bench and Skinner himself absolutely furious. In a heated discussion, Skinner went after the referee, but it didn’t help. Instead of a powerplay for the Oilers and a great opportunity to make it a 2-0 game, Rasmus Andersson equalized seven minutes into the second period, and the Flames would go on to win the first battle of Alberta of the 2024/25 season 4-1.
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The Skinner incident received a lot of attention on social media, but instead of slamming the referees for not calling a penalty on Backlund, many called out Stuart Skinner for exaggerating.
”Did he survive?” one jokingly said.
”I’m not saying this is right but I wouldn’t be surprised if the ref didn’t call it because Skinner embellished. If you get tapped and act like someone two handed you the ref might keep their whistle in their pocket,” another said.
”Am I the only one that thought he was giving him a “hey, right behind you” type of tap? Didn’t seem too hard. Looked like a hard sell though,” a third said.
”Man Skinner got shot apparently based off that flop,” a fourth said.
