Wednesday, May 30 Dynasty takes form By Joy Russo ESPN.com After the Calgary Flames broke up Edmonton's run at a three-peat in the 1986 semifinals, the Oilers were on a mission to make it back to the Cup finals the following season. Oilers 4, Flyers 3 Date Result Goalie 5/17 Oilers 4, Flyers 2 Fuhr 5/20 Oilers 3, Flyers 2 Fuhr 5/22 Flyers 5, Oilers 3 Hextall 5/24 Oilers 4, Flyers 1 Fuhr 5/26 Flyers 4, Oilers 3 Hextall 5/28 Flyers 3, Oilers 2 Hextall 5/31 Oilers 3, Flyers 1 Fuhr Without fail, Edmonton finished at the top of the NHL at the end of the regular season and lost only two playoff games heading into its Cup finals matchup against the Flyers, who were second only to the Oilers before the postseason. The Cup clash would be an interesting pairing – Edmonton's speed, skating and masterful offense against Philadelphia's gutsy defense and endless forechecking. But the matchup seemed lop-sided at first. The Oilers took a 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5 at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton. And then it happened – the Flyers saw signs that served as the ultimate motivation. Philly players saw workers cart bottles of champagne into dressing rooms and read in the papers that Edmonton's mayor had already scheduled parade routes. Not so fast. Philadelphia took the next two games – 4-3 and 3-2 – to force a decisive Game 7 back in Alberta. Flyers goalie Ron Hextall, who was outstanding the entire series, kept Philly in the game despite the team trailing 2-1 heading into the third period. Then came what many called Edmonton's best period of hockey in the series. The turnaround In Games 5 and 6, the Oilers had made the mistake of becoming too comfortable while holding a lead over the Flyers. Not in Game 7. Wayne Gretzky and Co. came out firing in the third period, and Oilers goalie Grant Fuhr faced just two shots in that time. Edmonton got 12 on Hextall, and Glenn Anderson's slap shot went five-hole to give the Oilers a 3-1 lead. Edmonton would not relinquish this one, and the score turned to stone to give the Oilers their third Stanley Cup in four seasons. The MVP Conn Smythe winner Ron Hextall. Along with playoff MVP honors, Hextall also won the Vezina Trophy. Hextall stopped 40 of 43 shots in that Game 7 against Edmonton – 204 of 229 overall in the series. Ironically, Hextall made his NHL start opening the 1986-87 season at the Spectrum against Edmonton. He stopped Gretzky on a breakaway and won that game 2-1. Hextall and the Flyers lost the Cup finals, but Hextall gave them life when they needed it most. Joy Russo is a staff editor for ESPN.com Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories