NHL Playoffs : Eaves’ Goal Helps Flames Win and Take 3-2 Lead Over Blues

Mike Eaves missed the National Hockey League’s regular season because of a preseason injury, but he is coming through for Calgary in the playoffs.

Eaves’ wrap-around goal in the third period ended a brief St. Louis comeback attempt, and the Flames went on to a 4-2 victory over the Blues Saturday night for a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Campbell Conference final.

Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal series will be Monday night at St. Louis.

Eaves sat out the entire season after announcing his retirement when he suffered the 10th concussion of his career. He assumed the role of an assistant coach but was in shape and ready to play when Coach Bob Johnson asked him to return for Game 2 of the series against St. Louis.

His goal, at 13:19 of the final period, restored a two-goal Calgary lead less than four minutes after the Blues had scored.

Dan Quinn had given the Flames a 3-1 advantage as he scored twice in less than two minutes midway through the second period.

“Joe Mullen was fighting for the puck in the corner, and I saw he had good position,” Eaves said of the play leading up to his goal. “I yelled at Joe, and he kicked the puck up. I looked out front and saw the defenseman hesitate.

“Once I saw that, I thought I’d try a Lanny McDonald slam-dunk. I went around behind the net and got my stick out far enough to catch the other corner.”