NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : Flames Keep Hopes Flickering, Beat Oilers, 5-3

The Flames’ light isn’t out yet.

Carey Wilson scored his first two goals of the playoffs at Calgary Friday night and the Flames beat the Edmonton Oilers, 5-3.

The Oilers, with a chance to wrap it up Sunday night at Edmonton, still lead the best-of- seven series, 3-2.

Only seven teams in NHL history have come back from a 3-1 deficit. And the Flames have won only five of 15 playoff games in Edmonton’s Northlands Coliseum. In the first two games there in this series, they lost 4-3 and 5-2.

The Flames scored two goals in the first eight minutes, but the Oilers tied the score on goals by Glenn Anderson and Adam Graves in the first period.

Wilson’s second goal, at 7:37 of the second period, put the Flames ahead to stay. Only 71 seconds later, Rick Nattress scored to restore the two-goal lead.

Late in the second period, Mark Messier bulled his way in for his second goal of the series.

The Flames would have won easily except for the sensational goaltending of Grant Fuhr. The Flames had 37 shots on goal.

Minnesota 6, Chicago 0--The rough stuff continued in this series, but the North Stars turned it into an easy victory at Chicago and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The North Stars scored five power-play goals to support another brilliant performance by goaltender Jon Casey. Casey stopped 25 shots for his third victory in four games.

Brian Bellows keyed the North Stars’ victory. He assisted on the first four goals.

A four-goal outburst in the second period made it an easy task for Casey.

The underdog North Stars can win the series with a victory at home Sunday night.

The North Stars had 12 power-play opportunities, while the Blackhawks had only six chances.

Rookie Ed Belfour, the best goalie in the NHL during the regular season, gave up five goals before being removed in the second period.

St. Louis 6, Detroit 1--The Blues knew they were out of the playoffs if they didn’t find someone to help Brett Hull put the puck into the net.

Adam Oates stepped forward. Usually the playmaker on the Hull line, Oates had a hat trick and two assists at St. Louis to keep the Blues’ playoff hopes alive.

They still trail, 3-2, in the series with the next game Sunday night at Detroit.

Hull had two goals and two assists and has scored seven in the five games.

It was the first time in the series the Blues resembled the team that posted the second-best record in the NHL during the regular season.

The Blues beat the Red Wings in six of the eight games the teams played during the regular season.

But until the Blues took charge after Detroit scored two minutes after the opening faceoff, the Red Wings dominated the series.

It was the roughest game of the series. Five players were ejected with game misconducts.

But, while it was a game, the Blues’ defense kept the Red Wings in check. On four second-period power-play opportunities, the Blues permitted the Red Wings only two shots on goal.