Stanley Cup Playoffs : Gretzky Has Three Assists as Oilers Win, 4-1

Wayne Gretzky set up three goals, and the Edmonton Oilers defense shut down the listless Detroit Red Wings for a 4-1 victory Tuesday night in the opening game of the Campbell Conference finals.

The best-of-seven series will resume Thursday night at Edmonton.

Gretzky, the game’s all-time leader in playoff points with 229, set up a first-period goal by Jari Kurri and second-period goals by Randy Gregg and Craig Simpson. The goals by Kurri and Simpson came on two of the Oilers’ eight power-play opportunities.

Simpson’s goal gave the Oilers a 3-1 lead, and the Oilers clinched it when Esa Tikkanen scored on a breakaway 2:07 into the third period.

The Oilers allowed the Red Wings only 16 shots, including only three on six power-play attempts. Meanwhile, the Oilers took 32 shots at Detroit goaltender Greg Stefan.

Coming off a 4-game sweep of Calgary in the Smythe Division finals, the Oilers won their 9th of 10 playoff games.

The Red Wings looked nothing like the team that took two of three games from the Oilers during the regular season and beat the Toronto Maple Leafs and the St. Louis Blues in preliminary rounds in the Norris Division.