Stanley Cup Playoffs : Gretzky Gives Edmonton Overtime Victory, 5-4

Wayne Gretzky scored a short-handed goal at 7:54 of overtime Thursday night at Calgary, Canada to lift the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-4 victory over the Flames and a 2-0 lead in the Smythe Division final series.

Jari Kurri fed Gretzky along the left boards, and with three seconds remaining in a penalty to Mark Messier, Gretzky drove a slap shot from the left circle past goaltender Mike Vernon on the far side. The goal was Gretzky’s fourth of the playoffs and second of the game.

After sweeping the two games at Calgary, the Oilers can win the division title with victories Saturday and Monday at Edmonton.

Kurri had tied the score, 4-4, with 3:59 remaining in the third period with his seventh goal of the playoffs. Taking Mike Krushelnyski’s feed at center ice, Kurri split Paul Reinhart and Hakan Loob at the blue line. Kurri’s shot along the ice from the right circle went between Vernon’s legs.

Tim Hunter had given Calgary a 4-3 lead at 4:03, converting Loob’s pass on a breakaway for his fourth post-season goal. Defenseman Steve Smith had fallen at the blue line, enabling Hunter and Loob to skate in on goaltender Grant Fuhr. Loob drew Fuhr to the right side then fed Hunter for the tap-in.

Charlie Huddy and Gretzky scored just under two minutes apart midway through the period to bring the Oilers even.

Detroit 6, St. Louis 0--Petr Klima scored three goals, and Greg Stefan made 19 saves at Detroit as the Red Wings blanked the Blues to take a 2-0 lead in their Norris Division final playoff series.

“A shutout is a shutout, whether you face 10 shots or 40 shots,” Stefan said.

Stefan, who had one shutout during the regular season, recorded his first playoff shutout.

“A shutout isn’t just the goalie, it’s a team effort,” he said. “You have to have a strong performance from the whole team.

“I had to be strong at the start and for a little while in the third period. Otherwise, I didn’t have that many tough chances.”

Stefan preserved his shutout when he stopped Doug Gilmour on a breakaway with 14:50 remaining.

The best-of-seven series resumes Saturday night at St. Louis.

Klima, who leads all playoff scorers with nine goals, is the first Red Wing to collect two playoff hat tricks in the same season. Klima had three goals April 7 in a 6-2 victory over Toronto.