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Oilers top rival Flames

Mar 17, 2012 - 5:15 AM Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins netted a pair of goals, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames at Rexall Place on Friday in the sixth and final edition of the Battle of Alberta this season.

Jordan Eberle scored and added two assists for the Oilers, who have won two straight against their Provincial rivals and two straight overall. Devan Dubnyk made 18 saves in the victory.

"It was a great win," Eberle said. "We came out hard and got the two goals quick. We had a little bit of a lull in the second, but finished it off in the third."

It wasn't all good news for the Oilers, though, as they lost standout second- year forward Taylor Hall early in the game after he was crushed in open ice by Flames defenseman Cory Sarich.

Mark Giordano scored the lone goal for the Flames, who had a five-game winning streak snapped. Leland Irving was touched for all three tallies on 25 shots.

The Flames remained in 10th place in the Western Conference with 80 points, but are just one point behind Colorado for the eighth and final playoff position.

Edmonton struck first at 10:12 of the opening frame after Eberle collected the loose puck along the left wing wall and drove to the net on his backhand. He then slid the disc over to Nugent-Hopkins and the talented rookie fired it past Irving from the slot.

The Oilers extended their lead to 2-0 with 4:42 showing on the first period clock. Eberle took a drop-pass from Teemu Hartikainen along the left wing wall, circled around to the left dot and beat Irving with a rising wrist shot to the glove side.

Giordano pulled the Flames within one at 12:24 of the second period after he threw one on net from the left point that fooled Dubnyk and found its way into the net.

Nugent-Hopkins collected his second goal of the game at 9:25 of the third period after he pounced on a rebound off the stick of Ryan Jones to the right of the net to seal the outcome for the Oilers.

"Losses this time of the year all sting, it doesn't matter who you're playing against," Flames head coach Brent Sutter said. "We need to be better than we were tonight if we want to get to where we want to get to."

Game Notes

Calgary fell to 14-5-0 against Northwest division opponents this season...It was Eberle's fourth three-plus point game this season...The Oilers failed to score on six power-play chances, while the Flames went 0-for-1...The Oilers will host the Phoenix Coyotes on Sunday, while the Flames will battle the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.