The first playoff Battle of Alberta game in over 30 years didn’t disappoint as the teams combined for 15 goals and the Calgary Flames took Game 1 by a score of 9-6 over the Edmonton Oilers. There were ups and downs for both teams and it was a real throwback to the last time these teams matched up in the postseason.
As the series is only getting started, there are some things we learned from just the first game that looks at trends, surprises, and what was and can be expected for the remaining games.
Oilers & Flames Had No Trouble With Offence
“It’s a game full of game-breakers”, the broadcasters pointed out. I thought that was the perfect way to describe the first game of the Battle of Alberta, as there are four 100-plus point scorers in the series and two on each team.
Connor McDavid led the NHL in points with 123 and won his fourth Art Ross Trophy in just his seventh season. Johnny Gaudreau wrapped up the regular season tied for second in points with 115, third in assists with 75, and led the league in plus/minus. It was Gaudreau’s first time reaching 100 points along with his teammate Matthew Tkachuk. The second member of the Flames’ top line finished eighth in the NHL in points with 104 while each member of the top line scored over 40 goals and was ranked in the top three in plus/minus in the league. Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers is the fourth member of the 100-point club in the series. He finished fourth in points with 110, second in goals with 55, and the former Art Ross winner reached the century mark for the third time in his career.
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
McDavid was already the early Conn Smythe favourite before putting up a four-point performance in the first game of Round 2. He has recorded seven multi-point games thus far in only eight playoff games and has recorded 12 points in the last four games. He takes over games and is showing it with 18 points and a six-point…
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