What Oilers captain Connor McDavid lacked in regulation time, he more than made up for in overtime. After being held pointless for the first time in his series against the Flames, he scored the game-winning goal in 5:03 of overtime..“It means everything to me. It means everything to this group,” McDavid told Sportsnet’s Scott Oake immediately following the game..The goal was McDavid’s only point, snapping a seven-game, multi-point scoring streak. Leon Draisaitl scored at least three points in every game this series — another NHL record. And Zach Hyman scored a goal in every game of the series also. The team is riding high as they prepare to face either Colorado or St. Louis in the Western Conference Final — the Oilers’ first in 16 years..It was looking so good for the Flames — until it wasn’t. They took a 2-0 lead, only to watch the Oilers bounce back. Jesse Puljujarvi scored the first Oiler goal and the second one began another moment for the record books. Zach Hyman, Johnny Gaudreau, Calle Jarnkrok and Evan Bouchard each scored 1:11 apart in the 2nd period, the fastest 4 goals in playoff history..Calgary thought they’d taken a late 5-4 lead when the puck went off of Blake Coleman’s skate and into the net. The referees ruled that he kicked the puck in and waived off the goal. In was a favour to Flames fans who were doomed to be disappointed anyway. By blaming the refs all summer they can avoid blaming themselves for their losses without giving Edmonton credit for their clear superiority either..Like a convict in jail, Coleman said he didn’t break any laws, as best he knows, or so he feels.."I opened my foot, but my understanding is that you can redirect the puck off your foot as long as you're not lifting it and kicking it into the net. I'll go watch it again and maybe it's glaringly obvious. I just didn't feel like I did.".Flames coach Darryl Sutter offered a new rulebook definition for kicking the puck.."If somebody's on the ground and you lift your foot up, kick him in the head, that's a distinct kicking motion,” Sutter said.."If you slide your foot in the ground, it's not a distinct kicking motion.".Very well, but hockey is played on ice, not dirt, and that’s what the Flames will eat all summer. Sutter admitted they showed up to the duel with nothing in the holster, and when they needed to show themselves the better team, they never could.. “Kinda run out of ammo in this round here… Quite honest, this series was about Games 2, Games 4 and Games 5, which was tonight. They were all tied in the third period halfway through. Edmonton scored the big goal,” Sutter said..“The best player won the series for them…[If] we scored the big goal in 2, 4 or 5 then you extend the series. And then the longer it goes, the better chance you have. Simple.”.After disappointing nearly 20,000 fans in person, Sutter told his team, “Keep your chin up and your chests out and walk out proud.” After all, it was already clear to everyone last fall they were nowhere near as good as the Oilers..“Did a hell of a lot more than anybody said they’d do,” Sutter said. “I mean, the team that beat us was a favourite coming into the year and we weren’t even close, so, did a good job. I’m sure they’re disappointed, but that’s this division, against those guys.”.I’m sure they’re disappointed too. The Flames had an outstanding regular season, winning the Pacific Division with a 50-21-11 record. They’ll actually hang a banner for that above the rafters because there’s nothing else they can hang..Goaltender Jacob Markstrom (Vezina Trophy), forward Elias Lindholm (Selke Trophy), and Sutter (Jack Adams Award) are finalists to win awards. Fortunately for the Flames, these awards are for regular season play and not for their performance against Edmonton. A goalie who gets lit up like a Christmas tree every night, a “defensive” forward who is -4, and a coach who can’t get his team to do anything in the clutch are politely overlooked at best..This season was the first in seven years the Flames got as far as the second round. Unfortunately it may take another seven for them to do that well again. Apart from their goalie, who leaves this series with post-traumatic stress disorder, most Flames “talent” could flee for better places like Canada geese in the fall..Forwards Johnny Gaudreau, Lewis, Calle Jarnkrok and Brett Ritchie; and defencemen Nikita Zadorov, Erik Gudbranson and Michael Stone will be unrestricted free agents. Forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane, and defenseman Oliver Kylington will become restricted free agents. .Hopefully the flagpoles on the golf course offer the erstwhile Flames less frustration than Mike Smith..Thanks for the memories, boys. No one gave Calgary false hopes quite like you!
