Highest-scoring NHL playoff game: Where the Avs-Oilers 14-goal Game 1 ranks all time

The Oilers just cannot stop being a part of high-scoring Game 1s. 

After falling 9-6 in Game 1 in their second-round series against thenFlames, the Oilers followed that up with an 8-6 game against the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. 

The Avalanche led 3-2 after the first period, built a 6-3 lead less than seven minutes into the second and chased Oilers goalie Mike Smith from the game, then early blew a 7-3 lead as the Oilers scored three in the third to make it a close contest. 

Despite 14 goals scored in the contest, it was only Avs forward J.T. Compher with a multi-goal effort on either side. Cale Makar had a goal and two assists while Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog all had a goal and an assist. 

For the Oilers, Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists and Leon Draisaitl had a tally and a helper. 

As for the goalies, it was a struggle. Mike Smith let in six goals on 25 saves before he was yanked in the second period. Mikko Koskinen was better in relief, allowing just one goal on the 21 shots he saw. 

For the Avs, Darcy Kuemper had allowed three goals on 16 shots before he was forced out of the game with an injury. Pavel Francouz wasn’t great coming into the crease, stopping 18 of 21 shots. 

MORE: NHL playoffs schedule 2022: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels

Here are some of the highest-scoring NHL playoff contests in history. 

Highest-scoring NHL playoff games

The Oilers teams of the ’80s had some of the highest-scoring postseason affairs. While Edmonton was typically on the winning end, they highest-scoring playoff match had them as the losers.

Their eight goals against the Kings in the 1982 playoffs was not enough to win, as Los Angeles potted 10, bringing the game total to 18 goals, the record for most goals in a playoff game. 

The Penguins-Flyers rivalry resulted in a 17-goal affair in 1989, the second-highest total goals scored in the postseason. After that, it is that vaunted Oilers team again, this time coming out with a win after thumping the Kings 13-3 in 1987. 

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