Mikael Backlund's game winner midway through the third period lifted the Calgary Flames past the host Edmonton Oilers 5-3 Saturday night in the latest chapter of the Battle of Alberta.

Edmonton had several chances to take control of the game, but managed just one shot on six man-advantage opportunities as it fell to Calgary for the second time this season.

With the game tied 2-2 after a tightly-played 40 minutes, rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins put Edmonton in front 5:27 into the third period. The 18-year-old converted a rebound of a Jordan Eberle shot for his team-high 29th point of the season.

Calgary's Derek Smith responded less than a minute later, beating Oilers netminder Nikolai Khabibulin up high with a wrist shot for his second career NHL goal.

The Flames surged in front at 10:25, with Backlund beating Khabibulin between the pads after Edmonton defenseman Jeff Petry fell down with Calgary on a power play.

The Oilers pressed for the equalizer in the final 90 seconds but Kiprusoff made several good saves and Olli Jokinen added an empty-netter to preserve Calgary's third win in four games.

Lennart Petrell and Sam Gagner posted Edmonton to a 2-0 lead just three minutes into the game, but Jokinen and Rene Bourque countered for the Flames to even things up by the 6:45 mark.