Oilers' Keith turns back the clock to help Edmonton even Battle of Alberta

CALGARY — Duncan Keith had been here before.

Well, maybe not right here — breaking down a wild 9-6 loss to open the Oilers' second-round playoff series against their bitter provincial rival — but the veteran defenceman's eyes have witnessed pretty much everything imaginable over his 17 NHL seasons.

The morning of Game 2, and with his team already wobbling against a physical, grinding opponent, Keith cut a calm figure at the microphone deep in the bowels of Scotiabank Saddledome.

"We've got a fairly good understanding that it's one game, it's early in the series," said the 38-year-old.

"But we need to have a response."

Keith was a huge part of Edmonton's solution against Calgary's relentless, high-pressure forecheck on Friday night. He also chipped in with a goal and two assists as the Oilers rebounded from another early deficit to down the Flames 5-3 and even the first post-season Battle of Alberta in 31 years 1-1.

The virtuoso showing represented the Winnipeg native's first three-point playoff performance since May 2015 when he was in the process of winning a third Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Keith, in no uncertain terms, wound the clock back in Game 2.

"Just unfazed," Oilers winger Zach Hyman said. "Somebody's who's seen it all, has done it all."

"Such a veteran presence back there, such a big voice in the room," added Edmonton captain Connor McDavid, the beneficiary of a slick Keith feed to spark the comeback while down 3-1 in the second period. "He's been great for us."

The move to acquire Keith and his US$5.5-million salary cap hit by Oilers general manager Ken Holland last summer was, however, widely panned following the trade with Chicago.

Critics pointed out the 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy winner was