Stanley Cup Playoffs : Overtime Victory Gives Flames 3-1 Series Edge

Al MacInnis’ power-play goal from the right point at 15:05 of overtime Monday night gave the Calgary Flames a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks and a 3-1 lead in their National Hockey League semifinal playoff series.

MacInnis’ third goal of the playoffs came with 52 seconds remaining on a penalty drawn by Trent Yawney, who was whistled for a delay of game when he caught a loose puck in midair and threw it down ice.

“I think he did it on reflex,” Calgary Coach Terry Crisp said of Yawney. “He had lost his stick and when he got the puck he closed his hand and threw it. If he had only slapped at it, it would have been all right.”

Yawney said he couldn’t remember if he had closed his glove “but he called it and that’s the bottom line. I had two guys around me and I had to get rid of it. I couldn’t just give them the puck and let them go in and score.”

The Flames can wrap up the best-of-seven series with a victory at Calgary Wednesday night.

Each team scored a power-play goal in the second period, Denis Savard for Chicago and Doug Gilmour for Calgary.

The Blackhawks were limited to three shots in the first period as they spent much of their time killing penalties, including a five-minute boarding call against Jeremy Roenick at 18:06.

At 2:35 of the second period, Bob Bassen was called for high-sticking and, for 31 seconds, the Flames had a five-on-three edge but couldn’t take advantage.

Then came a break for Chicago. Joel Otto drew a game misconduct and five-minute penalty for spearing Keith Brown. At 10:04, Rob Ramage was called for slashing and for the first time since the playoffs started, the Blackhawks had a five-on-three edge.

It took only 21 seconds for them to take a 1-0 lead at 10:25. Steve Larmer flipped a pass to Yawney in the slot and Yawney fed Savard, who shoved it into the net from the right side of Mike Vernon.

The lead didn’t last long. Bassen drew a tripping penalty at 17:54. Nine seconds later, Gilmour scored his seventh goal with a 15-footer from the left side of Chicago goaltender Alain Chevrier. MacInnis and Theoren Fluery assisted.

Both teams thought they had scored in the third period only to be denied.

At 12:21, Joe Nieuwendyk put a shot on goal that hit Chevrier’s pads and dribbled behind the goaltender, who reached out and stopped the puck from going in.

Moments later, Roenick had a similar shot that dribbled behind Vernon, who reached back and made the save.