MUST-SEE: Oilers and Flames combine for absolutely wild Game 1
The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers lived up to the hype of the "Battle of Alberta" with an instant classic game one of their second-round series.
The Flames went up 2-0 just 51 seconds into the game on goals by Elias Lindholm and Andrew Mangiapane. A third goal at 6:05 of the first by Brett Ritchie chased Oilers goaltender Mike Smith after allowing three goals on nine shots. By 13:50 of the second period, the score was 5-1 for Calgary.
However, the Oilers wouldn't quit as they scored four goals in the final 13 minutes of the second to end the period with the score 6-5 for the Flames. Even though the shots were 40-18 for the Flames after 40 minutes.
Kailer Yamamoto tied the game 6-6 just a 1:28 into the third to complete the Oilers' comeback. Rasmus Andersson would restore Calgary's lead just over a minute later, and they were able to hold onto the lead this time. Matthew Tkachuk would score at 8:55 and into an empty net to make the final score 9-6 for the Flames. At least five players on each team had multi-point games. The top performer for each team was Connor McDavid for the Oilers, who had 1 goal and 3 assists, and Matthew Tkachuk for the Flames, who collected a hat-trick.
The 15 combined goals are the most in a playoff game since 1993 and three shy of tying the all-time record of 18. If this is a preview of the rest of the series, hockey fans are in for a doozy! I'm sure the coaches won't enjoy another game like this, though!
Check out the full highlights here:
| POLL | ||
Who will win this series? And how many games? | ||
| Flames in 4 | 25 | 28.4 % |
| Oilers in 5 | 14 | 15.9 % |
| Flames in 6-7 | 23 | 26.1 % |
| Oilers in 6-7 | 26 | 29.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
