Flames won the offensive festival

The Calgary Flames beat the Edmonton Oilers 9-6 at Scotiabank Sadildom on Wednesday night to take a 1-0 lead in their best-7 series.

At one point in the second period the hosts were leading 6-2, while Connor McDavid and his gang exploded with four unanswered goals early in the third period to tie the game at 6-6. The Flames, however, defended themselves by scoring three goals in the final period.

Matthew Tkachuk led the winning aggression with a hat trick. Blake Coleman twice, Brett Ritchie, Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane and Rams Anderson also scored for Calgary. Oilers goals came from Jack Hyman with Connor McDavid, Leon Driesightel, Ivan Bouchard and Kyler Yamamoto.

McDavid finished the game with four points. For the Flames, along with Takachuk, Johnny Goudru, Rammus Anderson and Andrew Mangiapane all finished the game with three points.

Oilers goaltender Mike Smith was quickly eliminated from the game after missing three of his ten shots. His replacement Miko Koskinen blocked 32 of the 37 shots aimed at him. Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom did not have his best play allowing six goals in 28 shots.

The second game in the series will be played Friday evening, still in Calgary, and will air on TVA Sports.