NHL / STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : Flames Finally Can Keep Their Goals, Beat Oilers

All the Calgary Flames are asking for in the playoffs is to be given the goals they earn.

They were Saturday night at Calgary, and they rolled to a 3-1 victory to even their best-of-seven first-round Smythe Division series with the Edmonton Oilers.

In their two previous playoff games, including the one that eliminated them from Stanley Cup competition in 1990, Calgary was deprived of a goal it earned.

Last spring against the Kings in the final game, referee Denis Morel disallowed a goal in overtime, and the Flames were eliminated in double overtime.

Thursday night in the opener with Edmonton, referee Dan Marouelli waved off a goal that would have tied the score, 2-2. The Oilers went on to win, 3-1. A TV replay clearly indicated Joe Nieuwendyk had scored.

“All I know is that we lost a chance to win when the goal was disallowed,” General Manager Cliff Fletcher said. “Maybe it’s proof that we need instant replay to review disputed scores.”

Gary Suter put the Flames ahead on a power play midway through the first period Saturday, and Doug Gilmour scored early in the second. That was all goalie Mike Vernon needed. He stopped 35 shots, losing his shutout when Adam Graves scored at 3:10 of the second period.

Only 43 seconds later, Paul Ranheim restored the two-goal lead. Vernon, booed by the home crowd in the losing effort Thursday, made some brilliant saves thereafter and was being cheered.

What started as a fast-paced game was slowed repeatedly by penalties.

St. Louis 4, Detroit 2--When the Red Wings took a 2-0 lead at St. Louis, it appeared the Blues were in deep trouble.

But the Blues, with the second-best record in the NHL, rallied for four goals in the third period to even the Norris Division series at a game apiece.

Brett Hull, the most prolific goal-scorer in the league, assisted on the first goal in the final period. Jeff Brown scored it at 5:28 and 78 seconds later, Dan Quinn, on a power play, made it 2-2.

Hull broke the tie with his third playoff goal with eight minutes left in regulation. Rich Sutter completed the scoring with a goal into an empty net with 36 seconds remaining.

Although they go into Detroit for Game 3 Monday night tied in the series, the Blues hold an 81-48 edge in shots.

Yves Racine and Bob Probert scored first-period goals for the Red Wings.

Chicago 5, Minnesota 2--The Blackhawks also bounced back from an opening loss at home to even their series.

Walter Rychel, playing in only his third NHL game, led Chicago to the victory. He scored a goal and assisted on two others.

The Blackhawks, pushed around in the series opener, dominated from the outset.

Minnesota was held in check by rookie goalie Ed Belfour until, with four minutes remaining, the North Stars’ Basil McRae was awarded a penalty shot when pulled down on a breakaway.

McRae beat Belfour with a backhander.

The other goal came a minute later when Minnesota had a two-man advantage.