Stanley Cup Playoffs : Oilers Now Just a Win Away From Eliminating Flames

The Calgary Flames thought they were too tough for the Edmonton Oilers, but they find themselves on the verge of elimination by the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Charlie Huddy’s controversial second-period goal Saturday night at Edmonton led the Oilers to a 4-2 victory and a 3-0 lead in the series. A loss Monday night at Edmonton would knock the Flames, who had the best record in the regular season, out of the playoffs.

In a third consecutive rough game in which both sides were guilty of numerous cheap shots, it was not surprising that the go-ahead goal was scored at the same time a dangerous spearing foul was made.

As Huddy fired, the Oilers’ enforcer, Marty McSorley, was spearing Calgary’s Mike Bullard. Over the vehement protest of Calgary Coach Terry Crisp, Huddy’s 30-foot blast, which gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead, was permitted to stand.

The officials ruled that because no whistle was blown until after the puck went into the net, it was a legal goal. McSorley was hit with a major and a match penalty.

The Flames took their share of cheap shots, too. Tim Hunter, with the game lost in the third period, took his anger out on the Oilers’ superb goalie, Grant Fuhr. While the goalie was watching the action on the boards, Hunter knocked Fuhr into a goalpost. Although shaken, Fuhr remained in the game and continued to frustrate the Flames.

The Oilers won again because they were tougher on killing penalties. The Flames, during the regular season and against the Kings, were effective on the power play. But in this one, they were 0 for 8.

Wayne Gretzky, who assisted on two goals and hit the post on an empty-net shot in the closing seconds, played a key role on the penalty-killing unit.

“I’m not tired of winning the Stanley Cup,” said Gretzky, who has led the Oilers to three Cup victories in the last four years. “You never get bored winning championships. Individual records are all right, but they’re nothing if you don’t win the championship.”

The only time in the last four seasons they didn’t win was in 1986, and it was the Flames who knocked them out in the second round. As Gretzky sees it, turnabout is fair play.

St. Louis 6, Detroit 3--Spurred on by a noisy home crowd, the Blues made sure that the Red Wings didn’t jump out to a 3-0 lead.

Tony McKegney and Gino Cavallini each scored twice, and the Blues came back resolutely from their 6-0 drubbing at Detroit Thursday night. With a victory Monday night on home ice, they could send the series back to Detroit tied, 2-2.

St. Louis scored three times in the second period to overcome a 2-1 deficit and take a 4-2 lead. McKegney scored the tying goal early in the period, then later gave the Blues the two-goal lead.