Flames      1

Oilers       3

The "Battle of Alberta" kicked off with a beauty of a game that unfortunately someone had to lose. In what is expected to be a very competetive and long series Game 1 did not disappoint providing a plethora of offense despite the score. Both teams traded shot after shot and chance after chance with both having double-digit shots in all 3 periods totaling a combined 73 shots for the game. Neither goalie deserved to lose but D. Kuemper got the "L" in a 35 save performance while C. Hellbuyck got the win to move to a perfect 4-0 in these playoffs. The TSN Turning Point for this one came just before the mid-point of the game when the Oilers netted an all important go-ahead goal while shorthanded in what was and finished as a very even game. With this series expected to be close those are simply the mistakes neither team will be able to afford if either has Cup aspirations. Oilers take advantage of the early mistake and lead 1-0.

Blues       0

Av's        4

The reigning BRHL champs waltzed into Colorado having dispatched Nashville feeling pretty good about themselves but quickly found out that Colorado is NOT Nashville. This was a game that wasn't close despite having played 2 very competetive periods as Colorado went to the third with a commanding 4-0 lead. With the firepower possessed by Colorado this is simply a case of if you are even you are likely losing and the proof is the proof. At the end of the game the stats all favored Colorado and they were deserving of the win but the tilted ice stats were anything but after 2 with St. Louis deserving better. Freddie Andersen stood tall in goal turning aside 28 shots thru 2 when the game was still in doubt before getting the third period pretty much off stopping just 4 more shots enroute to the shutout. As Dallas found out in the last series, this is not a team to trail and St. Louis will need to find that out sooner rather than later or this could be a quick series as well. Av's out of the gate up 1-0