Flames turn hot late, send Stars packing
CALGARY: Johnny Gaudreau scored the series-winning overtime goal and the Calgary Flames claimed a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game Seven of their Western Conference first-round series on Sunday.
Tyler Toffoli and Matthew Tkachuk also scored for the Flames, while goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 26 saves in an exhilarating game.
The Flames will face the Edmonton Oilers in the second round of the Stanley Cup play-offs — the first Battle of Alberta play-off meeting since 1991.
Jamie Benn and Vladislav Namestnikov replied for Dallas, but the star of the show was goalie Jake Oettinger, who made 64 saves, the second-most saves in a Game Seven loss in NHL history.
Kelly Hrudey had 73 saves for the New York Islanders against the Washington Capitals in 1987.
The Flames were buzzing all over with one opportunity after another when Gaudreau lifted a sharp-angled topshelf shot from the left wing for his first play-off overtime goal with 4:51 minutes remaining in the first overtime period.
At New York, Artemi Panarin scored a power-play goal with 15:14 minutes remaining in overtime and the Rangers outlasted the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in Game Seven of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
With 17:05 minutes left, Pittsburgh’s Brock McGinn was called for holding on K’Andre Miller after losing the puck.
As time wound down on the man advantage, Panarin got a cross-ice pass from defenceman Adam Fox and lifted a wrist shot from the upper part of the left circle past goalie Tristan Jarry’s glove.
Panarin’s second career overtime playoff goal sent the Rangers into the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Rangers won the final three games after being down 3-1, marking their third comeback in team history from such a deficit.