Oilers take series lead in the Battle of Alberta with Game 3 win

EDMONTON –

Evander Kane scored a pure hat trick throughout an electrical six-minute span and captain Connor McDavid supplied extra magic with three assists in one other dominant efficiency because the Edmonton Oilers downed the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead of their second-round playoff sequence.

Mike Smith, who was briefly changed by Mikko Koskinen within the third interval after getting run over by Milan Lucic, made 31 saves within the win.

Zach Hyman had the opposite aim for Edmonton, whereas Leon Draisaitl set an NHL file with 4 assists in a playoff interval. Koskinen wasn’t compelled to make a cease in simply over 4 minutes of motion.

Oliver Kylington replied for Calgary. Jacob Markstrom allowed 4 targets on 34 pictures earlier than getting pulled for the Flames, who’ve been outscored 8-1 since taking a 3-1 lead within the second interval of Recreation 2. Dan Vladar made seven saves in aid.

McDavid now has 23 factors (six targets, 17 assists) by way of 10 post-season video games this spring. The one gamers in NHL playoff historical past with extra factors over the identical span are Wayne Gretzky (29 in 1983 and 25 in 1985), Mario Lemieux (25 in 1992) and Rick Middleton (23 in 1983).

The Oilers will look to take a 3-1 stranglehold on the best-of-seven Battle of Alberta – the primary post-season assembly between the provincial rivals in 31 years – Tuesday night time at Rogers Place.

The primary playoff assembly in Edmonton to function the Oilers and Flames since April 14, 1991, when Theo Fleury scored in time beyond regulation of Recreation 6 to spark a wild and memorable celebration, the Oilers exploded for 4 targets in simply over 12 minutes within the second interval, together with Kane’s second hat trick of the month.

Hyman opened the scoring 52 seconds after the restart following a 21-shot first off a setup from Draisaitl and McDavid for his sixth aim of the post-season to ignite the gang inside and outdoors a packed Rogers Place.

Kane, who signed with the Oilers in January after having his contract terminated by the San Jose Sharks following a string of off-ice incidents, scored his first of the night time at 6:58 off a feed from Draisaitl after the Flames turned the puck over on the offensive blue line.

The winger then pushed the result in 3-0 on an outrageous McDavid rush after stepping previous Calgary defenceman Noah Hanifin like he wasn’t even there simply 53 seconds later.

Smith made a fantastic save on a Johnny Gaudreau breakaway later within the interval earlier than additionally denying Matthew Tkachuk.

Kane accomplished his hat trick – the seventh-fastest in NHL post-season historical past – together with his tenth aim of the 2021-22 playoffs at 12:58 on a 2-on-1 with McDavid earlier than followers littered the ice with headgear.

Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane skates amongst hats thrown onto the ice after his hat-trick throughout second interval NHL second spherical playoff hockey motion towards the Calgary Flames in Edmonton, Sunday, Might 22, 2022 (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh).

The 30-year-old Kane is simply the third Edmonton participant to attain three straight targets in a post-season recreation, becoming a member of Gretzky (1983) and Petr Klima (1991). Draisaitl’s fourth help of the interval, in the meantime, set an NHL playoff file.

Markstrom, who allowed 11 mixed targets in Video games 1 and a couple of after posting a .941 save share within the opening spherical towards the Dallas Stars, acquired the hook in favour of Vladar to start out the third with the Flames turning their consideration to Recreation 4.

Calgary, which completed seven factors away from Edmonton within the regular-season standings to prime the Pacific Division and was minus injured defenceman Chris Tanev (undisclosed) for a fourth straight contest, acquired an influence play early within the remaining interval searching for a spark, however Smith was sharp at each flip.

Lucic ran over Smith behind the Oilers’ web halfway by way of the third to kick off a melee involving all 10 skaters. The Edmonton netminder was subsequently eliminated in favour of Koskinen, however returned to a hero’s welcome after re-emerging from the locker room.

Kylington acquired a comfort aim for the guests – his first of the playoffs – with below 5 minutes to go in regulation.

The Oilers fell behind early in each video games at Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome, however after dropping a wild opener 9-6, rebounded with a 5-3 comeback victory two nights later to even issues up 1-1.

Edmonton had a a lot better begin Sunday, with Brett Kulak’s level shot that leaked by way of Markstrom and hit publish earlier than being cleared away by the Flames goaltender and defenceman Nikita Zadorov had the very best probability of the opening interval.

The Flames had hoped to maintain the motion at 5-on-5 as a lot as potential after McDavid, Draisaitl and the Oilers took benefit of energy play, short-handed and four-on-four conditions in Recreation 3, however took two penalties to Edmonton’s one within the first.

McDavid, who appeared to have the puck all interval, went on one in all his jaw-dropping rushes on his workforce’s second man benefit, however Markstrom was there to disclaim the Oilers captain in what was an indication of issues to return.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Might 22, 2022.