EDITOR'S NOTE: Western Standard reporter Arthur Green, a Flames fan, abd Lee Harding, an Oilers fan, are having some fun in the Battle of Alberta with whomever team wins, getting to write a game story. Sadly, Harding gets a chance today..Mike Smith and the Edmonton Oilers silenced their critics and disappointed a sellout crowd in Calgary with a 5-3 win Friday night, tying their seven-game series at one win each..Smith let in three goals for the second game in a row, this time in 60 minutes instead of 6. He suffered an early deficit as a shot by Mark Stone broke Zach Hyman’s stick. Stone scored at the 3:02 mark as Hyman returned from getting a new stick..Three minutes later, Brett Ritchie scored on a rebound, all alone in front of Smith. It was the second game in a row a blown coverage by Oiler defenseman Evan Bouchard led to a goal on Smith. .But before the period was over, Connor McDavid fed Bouchard’s defensive partner Duncan Keith for his first playoff goal in six years to reduce the deficit to one..Calgary won another round of pick-up-sticks early in the second period. Darnell Nurse’s stick lay on the ice as Elias Lindholm passed the puck past him for a successful one-timer by Tyler Toffoli. Connor McDavid got returned the Oilers to within one by deking out goalie Jacob Markstrom following a give-and-go with Evander Kane..Bouchard redeemed himself with a slapshot goal at the 15:03 mark of the second period. Halfway through the third period, Hyman also redeemed himself with a nifty shorthanded breakaway goal, thanks to an intercepted pass and feed by Ryan-Nugent Hopkins..Leon Draisaityl gave the insurance goal with less than 8 minute left in the third period. He picked up the puck along the boards at the centre line thanks to a clearing attempt from Mike Smith, then overcame his high ankle sprain to get the break on Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov. His shot beat Markstrom off the post on his stick side..The referee disallowed three goals in the game—one was due to Connor McDavid’s goalie interference on a would-be Draisaityl goal. Both the Flames and Oilers had one goal disallowed thanks to the referee blowing the whistle early as players hacked away in the crease. .The Oilers were the ironic beneficiary when an Evan Bouchard crosscheck sent the Flames’ Johnny Gaudreau to the ice. The puck was nowhere near him when Bouchard gave his cheap shot. The surprising result was an Oilers power play as the ref called Gaurdreau for embellishment—just one of many calls and non-calls that bewildered Flames fans..Still, the victory was sweet for Edmonton. Hyman could talk about what he did with his stick, not what happened when it broke. He says the key is to get it up…on Markstrom.. “He’s such a big goalie. He’s long and lanky and it’s hard to beat him across unless you get it up. So when you’re coming in with that much speed it’s hard to save it when you just get it off quick,” Hyman said..McDavid had his 8th multi-point game of the playoffs, reaching the 20 point total in just 9 games. Only Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy had ever gotten there faster at 8 games, while Mark Messier and Mario Lemieux also matched the nine 9 game mark. Hyman said McDavid’s status as best player in the world is clear..“When you’re the best, it’s easy to be comfortable because guys are chasing you…but it’s hard to keep pushing and keep challenging yourself. And he’s a guy who wants to win more than anybody. So you’re seeing him push himself, push our team and those are the results,” Hyman said..“Connor stays so even-keeled, nothing fazes him. He’s just Connor. He’s humble and goes about his day.”.McDavid’s nearest scoring rivals are Draisaityl at 15 points and Gaudreau at 13. His goal came 32 seconds after the Draisatyl goal he would have assisted on was disallowed..“I’m always hungry to make a play, just happy to contribute,” said McDavid..Both goalies faced 40 shots. Flames coach Darryl Sutter was not disappointed with his netminder’s performance..“He was really, really good for us. I think their individual skill stood out tonight in situations that they scored on,” Sutter said.
