Edmonton, Alberta ? Edmonton finally figured out a way to beat Cam Ward, and now the Oilers are right back in the Stanley Cup finals with a 2-1 win over Carolina.

Ryan Smyth wouldn’t be denied as he powered in front of the net to knock in a rebound with 2:15 left in the third period, giving the Oilers the victory Saturday night and cutting the Hurricanes’ lead in the series to 2-1.

“The puck went off Cam Ward and I guess it hit my shaft,” Smyth said. “I don’t really remember. I remember it hitting my chest and crossed the line. It was a gritty goal, but we’ll count it.”

Jussi Markkanen, the replacement goalie for injured Dwayne Roloson, stopped 24 shots and had the crowd roaring his name with several big saves – a striking contrast to the regular season, when he was regularly booed as the Oilers struggled to find a reliable stopper in the nets.

The Oilers scored 21â2 minutes into the game and zealously guarded the lead until Rod Brind’Amour tied it up with 10:51 remaining in the third.

It was left to Smyth to prevent Edmonton from falling into a virtually insurmountable hole in the best-of-seven series. The team’s leading goal scorer during the regular season, he was held without a point in the first two games of the series.

Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Smyth (94) scores the winning goal against Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward, right, as Hurricanes defenseman Aaron Ward (3) tries to tie Smyth up. Game 3 of the NHL Finals went to Edmonton, 2-1, Saturday in Edmonton, Alberta. Carolina leads the series 2-1.

That’s over now. Ward blocked a shot by Ales Hemsky but couldn’t control the rebound. Smyth fought through the defense, got some part of his stick or body on the puck and managed to barely get it over the line.

Ward took a whack at Smyth’s legs as the Edmonton player stood over him in triumph. The Oilers had to temper their celebration while officials took a look at the replay, but they allowed the goal to stand.

A deafening horn went off and silver streamers dropped from the rafters.

“There’s not a prettier goal in our view,” Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said.

Cheered on by a raucous crowd that waited 16 years for the Stanley Cup finals to return to northern Alberta, the Oilers came out aggressively and got just what they needed – the first goal.

Jaroslav Spacek unleashed a slap shot from just inside the blue line and Shawn Horcoff, getting free of Carolina defenseman Bret Hedican in the slot, managed to deflect the puck past Ward,

The Oilers won despite another miserable night on the power play. They went 0-for-7 with the man advantage, even failing to covert a two-man edge for nearly 11â2 minutes in the first period. Edmonton dropped to 1-for-20 in the series.