(Photo via Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

It wasn’t until the second period that the 15th-seeded ’00-’01 Colorado Avalanche imposed themselves on the 6th-seeded ’84-’85 Edmonton Oilers, but they jumped on them on the scoreboard very early. They scored four times in the first 11 minutes and one second here in Game 4. Joe Sakic started it off with his 23rd of the tournament five and a half minutes in. Then, Aaron Miller made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal just 16 seconds later. Then, Milan Hejduk got the first of what would be two goals in the game halfway through the period. Dan Hinote finished off the offensive burst with his fifth goal of the tournament at the 11:01 mark to take the 4-0 lead. With about a minute and a half remaining in the period, Glenn Anderson got one back for the Oilers to make it 4-1.

Then, just nine seconds into the second period, Hejduk got his second goal of the game and his 21st of the tournament to make it 5-1. Edmonton responded by pulling starting goalie Grant Fuhr for backup Andy Moog. The two teams would trade goals over the course of the second period and Colorado would hold a 6-3 lead going into the third period. Despite outshooting Edmonton 25-8 in the second period, the Avalanche couldn’t put the game out of reach. Dave Hunter scored his 13th of the tournament less than a minute into the third period to cut the lead down to 6-4. Just a couple of minutes later, Wayne Gretzky scored to make it a one-goal game with nearly a full period remaining. However, goaltender Patrick Roy and the Avalanche defense would not allow another one as they held on for a 6-5 win to tie the series up at two. 

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY:  ‘00-’01 COL – 6   ‘84-’85 EDM – 5   (2-2)

1st Period:

• 1 – 0 COL – 5:24 – COL: J. Sakic (23) assisted by R. Bourque (25), M. Hejduk (21)
• 2 – 0 COL – 5:40 – COL: A. Miller (4) unassisted
• 3 – 0 COL – 10:01 – COL: M. Hejduk (20) assisted by R. Bourque (26), J. Sakic (25)
• 4 – 0 COL – 11:01 – COL: D. Hinote (5) assisted by G. de Vries (9), P. Forsberg (9)
• 4 – 1 COL – 18:35 – EDM: G. Anderson (13) assisted by C. Huddy (18), G. Sherven (3)

2nd Period:

• 5 – 1 COL – 0:09 – COL: M. Hejduk (21) assisted by J. Sakic (24), R. Blake (9)
• 5 – 2 COL – 6:47 – EDM: C. Huddy (5) assisted by M. Napier (11), D. Hunter (10)
• 6 – 2 COL – 7:49 – COL: R. Bourque (6) assisted by M. Hejduk (22)
• 6 – 3 COL – 12:10 – EDM: W. Gretzky (32) assisted by J. Kurri (30), C. Huddy (19)

3rd Period:

• 6 – 4 COL – 0:49 – EDM: D. Hunter (13) assisted by P. Coffey (47)
• 6 – 5 COL – 3:01 – EDM: W. Gretzky (33) assisted by C. Huddy (20), M. Krushelnyski (21)

TEAM STATS:

STARS OF THE GAME:

• 1st Star: Milan Hejduk (COL)
• 2nd Star: Charlie Huddy (EDM)
• 3rd Star: Ray Bourque (COL)

Ladies and gentleman, we have a series. The Avalanche have evened it up with the powerhouse Oilers. Meanwhile, tomorrow night, the Canadiens will look to move on to the Ultimate NHL Final and continue their quest for a repeat!