New York. Expectations for the first “Battle of Alberta” in the playoffs in 31 years were very high – but no one could have imagined that the opening match between Calgary and Edmonton would be a crazy show in the Wild West.
Calgary managed to lose a 6-2 lead – but eventually won 9-6 anyway.
– That’s not how it should look, but the only thing that matters is that we won in the end, goal scorer Elias Lindholm tells Sportbladet.
Classic rivals Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, diametrically opposed to the province of Alberta, haven’t met in the playoffs since 1991, so there was a truly glowing boom when the team lined up on the ice at Saddledome last night for the first dance in this year’s much-anticipated quarter-final series.
However, all the exciting expectations about how hot and exciting the match would be to watch were all exceeded.
It looked as if it was fixed on the spot, because already after 26 seconds Elias Lindholm made it 1-0 for Calgary and 25 seconds later Andrew Mangyapan increased the score to 2-0 – and when the match clock reached 6.05, Brett Ritchie was also third.
The Oilers were able to downsize later in the opening period, but in others a fresh move came into the house that should have certainly eliminated the event. The Flames led 5-1 6-2
Then the real madness broke out. In an amazing way, the Oilers managed to score on goal – and at the start of the third half, Keeler Yamamoto had a 6-6 tally.
– In this case, think “what happens”. Elias says when we talked to him after that, I didn’t feel good.
turned out well
No, at that time the impression was rather that the guests had taken the reins and might win, but suddenly it turned around again. Sweden defender Rasmus Anderson repeated quickly, Matthew Tkachuk got another tweak and it all ended with the same Tkachuk who completed a hat-trick in the empty net at the end.
– It was the opposite of what happened in the Dallas match, where no goals were scored at all, as Elias continues.
– Of course, it was not intended to look like this, it is not good to lose such a big lead and conceded six goals. He could have really gone into the woods because we’re starting to deal with this neglect. But on the other hand, only earnings mean something at the moment.
In the future, according to the Gävle sniper – who has already made it four times in qualifying this year – the series will be smoother and more “natural”.
Yes, it can’t go on like this. We will not receive six more targets. The match will already be tighter in the next match.
It will be decided the night before Saturday.