During most of Sunday’s Battle of Alberta, re-equipment Calgary Flames hung against a Edmonton Oilers team with their eyes on another Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Calgary held on after a slow start where they led 2-0 eight minutes later. They got some timely saves from the goalkeeper. Dan Vladar and, team after team, resumed the game five against five. They did not allow any dangerous chances in the third period. After Anthony Mantha cut the deficit in half during a power play in the second period, Egor Sharangovich scored an on-sight shot from the point to tie the game 2-2 four minutes into the third period.

It all came undone five minutes later. Martin Pospisilwho started the season with a centering Jonathan HuberdeauEdmonton defenseman Mathias Ekholm in the offensive zone.

Zach Hyman scored seconds later, and the Oilers didn’t look back, winning 4-2. Flames head coach Ryan Huska rarely calls players directly after games, but he was visibly upset with the young forward.

“We’ll do our best to train him,” Huska said.

“A lot of it depends on the player. That’s now twice (Pospisil received offensive zone penalties late in the game). It’s not good.

Pospisil was contrite afterward, saying he needed to be better in these situations.

“That can’t happen in a close game,” he said.

“I have to learn from this.”

Pospisil took an ill-timed offensive zone penalty against Winnipeg and was benched for taking two minors against Pittsburgh. He plays the game with advantage, upsets his opponents, finishes checks and has offensive abilities. Huska and the organization want him to retain those qualities, but reduce what they call “lazy” penalties like high sticks, hooks and trips.

“He’s a type of player who has to play with an edge, but he shouldn’t play with a reckless style,” Huska said. “Because at the end of the day, points are so valuable. It’s so difficult to win in this league that if you go a little overboard it can cost the team dearly. I think he understands that and he really needs to work on becoming a better player in that regard for us.

Pospisil said he is improving.

“Every game I try to be careful,” he said.

“I think I’m getting better and I hope it doesn’t happen again.”

The loss in defeat was another excellent performance from Calgary at five-on-five.

They started poorly, but outscored Edmonton in several categories, including high-danger chances and scoring chances.

“We started skating and I thought there was a little more competition in our game (after the first period),” Huska said.

“We spent more time in the offensive zone instead of being alone.”

Even though the Flames are just one game above .500 at 6-5-1, they have shown they can compete with the league’s best teams at five-on-five. They limited Edmonton on Sunday and beat a New Jersey team that boasts Jack Hughes And Jesper Brattand pushed the undefeated then Winnipeg Jets to their limit.

The players explained that this year’s team had to win by playing boring hockey.

The Flames stayed true to that mantra and almost pulled out another win against Edmonton. As they embark on a three-game road trip through Montreal, Boston and Buffalo, Sunday may serve as further proof that they can punch above their weight this season, provided they avoid auto injuries. -inflicted and they start better.

“We fought to make it interesting,” Mantha said.

“It’s part of hockey. You must play 60 (minutes). Otherwise, you don’t win many matches.