NHL Playoffs Roundup : Flames Upset Oilers Behind Rookie Goalie

The Calgary Flames shut down the Edmonton Oilers’ attack and skated to a 4-1 victory Friday night in the opener of the best-of-seven Smythe Division final series at Edmonton, Canada.

It was the third time that rookie goaltender Mike Vernon has faced the Oilers, and he hasn’t lost to them yet. He stopped 31 shots. Vernon, who had a win and a tie in two regular-season games with the two-time Stanley Cup champions, lost his shutout with 12 seconds left in the second period.

Wayne Gretzky, from behind the Calgary net, fed the puck in front to Glenn Anderson, who fired it past Vernon for the Oilers’ only goal.

The Flames took the lead before the game was two minutes old when Lannie McDonald beat goalie Grant Fuhr from right in front. Six minutes later, rookie defenseman Gary Suter scored what proved to be the decisive goal.

The Flames scored twice more in the third period to stifle any plans the Oilers had of coming back.

Vernon stopped breakaways by high-scoring defenseman Paul Coffey and Gretzky in the second period to keep the Flames in command.

The second game of the series will be played Sunday at Edmonton.

St. Louis 6, Toronto 1--Gino Cavallini and Ron Flockhart scored seven seconds apart in the second period at St. Louis to lead the Blues to victory in the opener of their best-of-seven Norris Division final playoff series.

The win extended the Blues’ home unbeaten streak over the Maple Leafs to 13 games. The Maple Leafs, who will try again Sunday, haven’t won in St. Louis since February 1983.

St. Louis defenseman Charlie Bourgeois scored two third-period goals, the first time he had ever scored more than one goal in a game.

“It was a ttypical boring game by the St. Louis Blues,” Bourgeois said. “Our game is forechecking and it may not be pretty, but it is effective. All we want to do is keep winning.”

Greg Millen stopped 23 shots and had a 3-0 lead before Toronto scored its only goal, by Wendell Clark.