Throwback Thursday: On this day in 1988, Mark Messier leads Edmonton Oilers to game three win over Calgary Flames

On this day in 1988, the Edmonton Oilers took down the Calgary Flames 4-2 in game three of the Smyth Division finals in thanks to a three-assist night from Mark Messier.

The win gave the Oilers a 3-0 stranglehold on the second-round series against the Flames, who Edmonton would finish off two nights later.

In that game three, Edmonton got down early as Hakan Loob scored 3:11 into the game. Edmonton didn’t stay down long, as Steve Smith scored a powerplay tally at 9:23 assisted by Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier.

Messier would later notch assists on the Oilers third goal, scored by Glenn Anderson on the powerplay at 17:10 in the second, and another on the Oilers fourth goal, scored by Jari Kurri at the 9:04 mark of the third period.

After completing the sweep of Calgary with a 6-4 win two days later, the Oilers went on to face the Detroit Red Wings in the third round eliminating them in five games.

Edmonton squared up with the Boston Bruins in the cup finals winning that series, and the cup, in five games.

Gretzky and Messier put up some insane numbers in those 19 playoff games. Gretzky scored 43 points in 19 games, while Messier put up 34 points in those 19 games.

On Twitter: @zjlaing