Stanley Cup Playoffs : Oilers Get a Break and a Goal From McSorley

It’s easy for Marty McSorley to get lost on the Edmonton Oilers, the National Hockey League’s highest-scoring team. Fortunately for the Oilers, McSorley turned up in the right place Saturday night.

McSorley, who scored only twice in the regular season, grabbed a loose puck and scored the game-winning goal with 36 seconds left to give the Oilers a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 3 of their Stanley Cup semifinal series.

The Oilers lead the best-of-seven Campbell Conference finals, 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for the Joe Louis Arena here Monday night.

Playing on a team that includes both Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, McSorley is seldom noticed--but he doesn’t let it bother him.

“I wanted to be on the ice and take the shot,” McSorley said. “I’ve never been this far before in the playoffs. The pressure’s all new to me. The feelings are all new.”

McSorley picked up the puck after Detroit’s Shawn Burr fanned on a clearing pass and beat Detroit goaltender Greg Stefan with a wrist shot.

“I didn’t pick any corner with it,” McSorley said. “It just went between his pads. I just wanted to get the shot away.”

Detroit Coach Jacques Demers said: “Burr feels badly. The puck bounced over his stick. It happens. I guess it was meant to happen. I’m very, very hurt for my players. They put out tonight; they did.”

Both goalies were brilliant.

Stefan foiled numerous opportunities by the Oilers, who outshot Detroit, 28-22. Edmonton’s Grant Fuhr, though not tested as often, made his best stop and preserved the 1-1 tie when he stopped Petr Klima alone in front with less than eight minutes left to play.

“It wasn’t a bad hockey game,” Demers said. “They’re as capable as anybody. They’re like sharks.”

Craig MacTavish put Edmonton ahead, 1-0, with his first playoff goal at 5:41 of the first period on a play set up by Oiler defenseman Reijo Ruotsalainen.

Detroit’s Bob Probert tied the game, 1-1, with his third playoff goal at 17:24 of the second period.