Flames top Oilers in high-scoring opener

The first Battle of Alberta in the playoffs in 31 years didn’t disappoint.

The Flames got a hat trick from Matthew Tkachuk to outlast the Oilers 9-6 and grab Game 1 of the NHL Western Conference semifinal series Wednesday night after a blistering game that saw the most goals

in a postseason game in 29 years.

Blake Coleman scored twice for the host Flames. Rasmus Andersson and Andrew Mangiapane each had a goal and two assists, and Elias Lindholm and Brett Ritchie also scored. Jacob Markstrom stopped 22 shots for the win.

Zach Hyman scored twice for the Oilers, and Connor Mcdavid had a goal and three assists for his fourth straight multipoint game in the playoffs. Mcdavid leads the league’s postseason points race (five goals, 13 assists). Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists and Kailer Yamamoto and Evan Bouchard also scored.

Oilers starter Mike Smith was pulled in the first period after allowing three goals on 10 shots. Mikko Koskinen made 32 saves in relief.

It was the highest scoring postseason game since the Kings beat the Flames 9-6 in the 1993 division semifinals.

Ian Cole beat Igor Shesterkin at 3:12 of OT to help the Hurricanes beat the visiting Rangers 2-1 on Wednesday night and take Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series . ... The Predators extended the contracts of coach John Hynes and his assistants through the 2023-24 season. Financial terms weren’t yet available.

College football: Former Pittsburgh WR Jordan Addison announced Thursday that he will transfer to USC. Addison won the Biletnikoff Award and was a first-team All-american as a sophomore last season.

NBA: The Hornets signed GM Mitch Kupchak to a multiyear contract extension. Terms weren’t yet available. Kupchak, 67, will continue to lead the team’s search for a coach.