Flames set new mark in Game One win

The hosts Calgary Flames set an NHL play-off 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 secondround 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 face-off dot for the winning goal to cap a threepoint game.

Matthew Tkachuk’s second goal of the game at 8:55 minutes of the third period, a breakaway tally, provided the insurance tally, and he netted an empty-netter to complete his first career play-off hat trick and finish the highest-scoring play-off game in Battle of Alberta history.

The 15 goals tied for the fifth-highest total in play-off history. The last postseason game to feature at least 15 goals was a 9-6 Flames loss to the Los Angeles Kings on April 29, 1993.

Calgary matched their franchise play-off record with nine goals, a feat also accomplished in 1988, 1993 and 1995.

Tkachuk recorded the Flames’ first postseason hat-trick since Theo Fleury had one in 1995.

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 produced 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 Two of the best-of-seven series will be in Calgary today.

Meanwhile Ian Cole scored 3:12 minutes into overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes to a 2-1 win against the New York Rangers in Game One of their second-round Eastern Conference play-off series in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Cole, who had two goals during the regular season, scored on a slap shot from the right point that hit the stick of New York defenceman Ryan Lindgren along the way to the net.

Sebastian Aho scored the tying goal late in regulation for Carolina, and Antti Raanta made 27 saves. The Hurricanes won the Metropolitan Division title by six points over the Rangers this season.

Filip Chytil scored early in the game and Igor Shesterkin made 24 saves for the Rangers, who have advanced past the first round for the first time since 2017.

Game Two is tonight, also in Raleigh.