Draisaitl and Keith pace Oilers to series tying win

*Photo from Sports Illustrated*

Series tied 1-1

   The game started off with what was looking like more of the same for the Edmonton Oilers, until it wasn't. Leon Draisaitl picked up a goal and two assists, Duncan Keith had himself a 3 point night, and the Oilers defeated the Calgary Flames with a 5-3 victory on Friday night in Calgary.

   With the win, the Oilers even the second round battle of Alberta matchup at one game apiece. They were driven by 3 point nights from Draisaitl and Keith, who both had a goal and two assists, as well as Zach Hyman, who scored the game winning goal while logging 23:14 of ice time.

   Oilers captain Connor McDavid said of evening the series with a win that "We battled harder, that was all. It's just working, being harder in battles, winning some 50-50 pucks. We didn't win many in Game 1. Obviously, we defended better I thought, still gave up some chances, but Smitty played well."

   Starting the scoring 3:02 into the game was Michael Stone, who put the Flames ahead 1-0 on his second goal of the playoffs. Exactly 3 minutes later, Brett Ritchie scored his second goal of the playoffs, doubling the lead to 2-0. At the 13:38 mark of the first, Keith scored to get the Oilers on the board, making it 2-1 after one period.

   Just 2:04 into the second period, Tyler Toffoli got that goal back for the Flames, making it 3-1 on his second goal of the playoffs, this one coming on the power play. McDavid scored at the 3:05 mark of the second period, followed later by a power play goal from Evan Bouchard, tying the game 3-3 after 40 minutes of hockey.

   While shorthanded 10:14 into the 3rd period, Hyman scored the game winning goal, putting the Oilers ahead 4-3 on his 5th goal of the playoffs, assisted by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Draisaitl then made it 5-3 at the 12:36 mark of the 3rd, sealing the win.

   Hyman said of tying the series that "I think it's an emotional roller coaster. You've got to try to stay off of it as much as you can and stay even-keeled because it's hockey, and some nights bounces are going to go your way and some nights they're not. We've had kind of a roller coaster season where our backs have been against the wall, and our ability to push back has been second to none on any team I've been on."

   Getting the start in goal after a rocky game one for the Oilers was Mike Smith, who contributed on the scoresheet by assisting on Draisaitl's goal. Smith stopped 37 of the 40 shots he was faced with, good for a .925 save percentage in this one.

   For the Flames, they once again stuck with Jacob Markstrom in goal, who had a subpar game for the second straight game. Markstrom turned aside 35 out of the 40 shots on goal the Oilers delivered to him, posting a meager .875 save percentage in the loss.

   Calgary defenseman Noah Hanifin said after the game that "We're kind of leaving our foundation a bit and playing into their hands. When you're playing those 4-on-4's and you're short a lot it's tough. We've got to clean that up for sure. Marky made some huge saves for us and kept us in it."

   Up next, the series shifts a few hours north, to Edmonton, for games 3 and 4, with game 3 on Sunday. There, both teams will try to take a 2-1 series lead in the battle of Alberta.