JT Compher scored twice and the Colorado Avalanche held on after a late three-goal surge from the Edmonton Oilers to triumph 8-6 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Conference Finals. the West.
Like other Oilers games, the offense was in order: each team used its two goaltenders throughout the game. The Avalanche also tied their most goals in a playoff game.
The Avalanche took a 7-3 lead late in the third period, but got a bit of a scare. The Oilers cut the deficit to one goal with 7:24 left in the third period, but were unable to tie the game.
Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Nazem Kadri, Mikko Rantanen, Andrew Cogliano also scored for the Avalanche. The captain, Gabriel Landeskog, completed the job in an empty net.
Makar and his defensive partner, Devon Toews, added two assists to their roster.
Evander Kane, Zach Hyman, Ryan McLeod, Connor McDavid, Derek Ryan and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins flashed the red light for the Oilers.
McDavid and Leon Draisaitl had two assists despite the loss. For his part, Hyman rattled the ropes in the sixth straight game and tied the team record – in the playoffs – achieved by Esa Tikkanen in 1990.
Darcy Kuemper stopped 13 of 16 shots for the Avalanche before giving way to Pavel Francouz due to injury. In relief, Francouz blocked 18 shots.
Mike Smith allowed six of 25 goals before being replaced. Mikko Koskinen was solid for the Oilers, making 20 saves.
The second game of the Stanley Cup semi-final will be held Thursday, again in Denver, Colorado.
The Oilers reached the third round for the first time since 2006 — when they were ultimately defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final — after prevailing against the Calgary Flames in their first playoff game between Alberta rivals in 31 years.
For their part, the Avalanche finally reached the semifinals after three straight years of being eliminated in the second round. To do so, they beat the St. Louis Blues in six games.