(via oilersnation.com)

Game 1 here was all about momentum changes. The first 20 minutes was all about the 6th-seeded ’82-’83 Edmonton Oilers. Pat Hughes started the scoring with just his second of the tournament nearly four and a half minutes into the game. Then, just over a minute later, after Chris Simon of the 15th-seeded ’95-’96 Colorado Avalanche was given a minor for elbowing, Glenn Anderson scored a PP goal to give Edmonton a 2-0 lead. The Oilers capped off their good start with a goal from Wayne Gretzky, his 19th, as they took a 3-0 lead into the second period.

The second 20 minutes was all about Colorado. Valeri Kamensky started their scoring just 37 seconds into the second with his fifth of the tournament. Andrei Kovalenko responded with his third of the tournament just 22 seconds later and just a minute into the second period the Avalanche had made it a one-goal game. At the 16:49 mark of the period, after he was called for his second minor penalty of the game, Simon made up for it with his first goal of the tournament to tie the game for Colorado. He would add to his PIMs with another minor penalty in the third period.

Much like the second, there was a goal just seconds into the third period. It was Mark Messier, 21 seconds in to be exact, with his 14th of the tournament to reinstate Edmonton’s lead. The Oilers followed that up a couple minutes later as Anderson scored his second of the game and 14th of the tournament to take a 5-3 lead. Colorado responded by pulling starting goaltender Patrick Roy and replacing him with backup Stephane Fiset. That didn’t change much as the Oilers only added to their lead in the final five minutes with Kevin Lowe scoring his second goal of the tournament. 6-3 would be the final as Edmonton also outshot the Avalanche 39-34 to take a 1-0 series lead.

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY:  ‘82-’83 EDM – 6   ‘95-’96 COL – 3   (1-0   ‘82-’83 EDM)

1st Period:

• 1 – 0 EDM – 4:21 – EDM: P. Hughes (2) assisted by D. Semenko (1), C. Huddy (11)
• 2 – 0 EDM – 5:40 – PP – EDM: G. Anderson (13) assisted by C. Huddy (12), W. Gretzky (25)
• 3 – 0 EDM – 15:01 – EDM: W. Gretzky (19) assisted by M. Messier (20), G. Anderson (21)

2nd Period:

• 3 – 1 EDM – 0:37 – COL: V. Kamensky (5) assisted by C. Lemieux (17), S. Ozolinsh (11)
• 3 – 2 EDM – 0:59 – COL: A. Kovalenko (3) assisted by P. Forsberg (12)
• 3 – 3 tie – 16:49 – COL: C. Simon (1) assisted by C. Lemieux (18)

3rd Period:

• 4 – 3 EDM – 0:21 – EDM: M. Messier (14) assisted by W. Gretzky (26), P. Coffey (17)
• 5 – 3 EDM – 3:04 – EDM: G. Anderson (14) assisted by M. Messier (21)
  • COL pulls starting goalie P. Roy for backup S. Fiset
• 6 – 3 EDM – 15:04 – EDM: K. Lowe (2) assisted by G. Anderson (22), W. Gretzky (27)

TEAM STATS:

STARS OF THE GAME:

• 1st Star: Glenn Anderson (EDM)
• 2nd Star: Wayne Gretzky (EDM)
• 3rd Star: Mark Messier (EDM)

Edmonton takes the early lead over Colorado and will look to take a 2-0 series lead on Thursday. Meanwhile, tomorrow night, in the other semifinal, the top-seeded ’76-’77 Montreal Canadiens will try for a 2-0 lead over the 12th-seeded ’84-’85 Philadelphia Flyers.