After scoring an all-important overtime winner for the Calgary Flames in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round, Johnny Gaudreau says he's excited to experience a play-off version of the Battle of Alberta in Round Two.
(This article was originally published on 18.05.2022)
The Flames are 1/2 to eliminate the Oilers in the rivalry match-up and 11/2 to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1989.
Rivalry renewed
Gaudreau's goal saw the Flames eliminate the Dallas Stars 3-2 in Game 7 setting up a best-of-seven series against the Edmonton Oilers who they last met in the playoffs back in 1991.
Calgary heavily outshot Dallas 76-28 in the winner takes all showdown on Sunday, finally winning on Gaudreau's second goal of the playoffs 15.09 into the sudden-death overtime period.
28-year-old Gaudreau also had six assists for a total of eight points in the Round One series.
The dynamic winger helped the Flames finish top of the Pacific Division (50-21-11) by recording a career-best season of 40 goals, 75 assists totalling 115 points in 82 games.
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Strong records to get this far
Edmonton (49-27-6) finished seven points behind Calgary and were also forced to a Game 7 by the Los Angeles Kings in the First Round which they won 2-0.
Calgary and Edmonton were each victorious in two of their four games in the regular season.
Gaudreau said to the media: "I've been here for nine years and never had even a sniff of a chance to play them in the playoffs, so it's pretty special.
"I think it's going to be a lot of fun. It's going to be good for the province. It's going to be fun for them, for us. It's going to be a pretty cool series."
