Flames beat Oilers 9-6 in a wild series opener
The host Calgary Flames set a NHL playoff record with two goals 51 seconds into the game and eventually claimed a 9-6 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday to open their Western Conference second-round series.
After the Flames blew a four-goal lead, Rasmus Andersson broke a 6-6 tie three minutes into the third period with a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot for the winning goal to cap a three-point game.
Matthew Tkachuk’s second goal of the game at 8:55 of the third period, a breakaway tally, provided the insurance tally, and he netted an empty netter to complete his first career playoff hat trick and finish the highest scoring playoff game in Battle of Alberta history.
Blake Coleman scored twice, while Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane and Brett Ritchie added singles for the Flames. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 22 saves.
Zach Hyman scored
twice and Connor McDavid netted one goal and three assists for the Oilers. Evan Bouchard, Leon Draisaitl and Kailer Yamamoto also scored. Starting goalie Mike Smith was pulled after surrendering three goals on 10 shots. Mikko Koskinen took the net and stopped 32 shots.
Game 2 of the best-ofseven will be Friday. HURRICANES 2, RANGERS 1 >> Ian Cole beat Igor Shesterkin at 3:12 of overtime to lift Carolina past visiting New York in Game 1 of their second-round playoff
series.
The defenseman’s second career playoff goal capped a late comeback by the Hurricanes after they trailed most of the night. Sebastian Aho finally pushed one past Shesterkin in the final minutes of the third period to send the game into OT.
Then came Cole’s rebound shot, which clipped the stick of Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren to change direction on the way toward the net before slipping past Shesterkin to end this one.