Oilers clash with Blackhawks in Chicago

Edmonton Oilers vs Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 (1-2, 2-0, 2-2)

The Oilers were left battered and bruised on top of their loss against the Red Wings two days ago, and it had an impact on the lineup for the game against the Hawks. Both Gilbert Brule and Sam Gagner were out injured, and Edmonton had called upon Falcons Jack Skille and newly acquired Anton Krysanov to go into NHL battle. For Krysanov, it would be his NHL debut. Chicago were struggling in 12th place in the West, sitting at 27 points from a 11-14-5 record. Edmonton's recent spree of 3 losses in 4 games had them at 6th with 37 points.

The United Center was cooking with a sour stew, as the fans brewed on their dismay of head coach Joel Quenneville's poor record both this season and last year. The Oilers spiced the pot with an early go-ahead goal from Ales Hemsky, who slipped by Bolland and Sharp before cutting in on Huet, scoring five-hole. Nevertheless, there would be no denying the Hawks' top line of Hossa, Kane and Toews as they combined for a late equaliser, very deservedly rallying to get back. Former Hurricane Andrew Ladd found just enough time and space to create a paradoxal goal-continuum for the home team.

Ex-Hawk Nikolai Khabibulin displayed his icey veins and firey skates as he recovered from a save to reject both Hossa and Kane's bids for goals in a superb three-save combination well into the second period. Edmonton's forwards were continually forced to play to the outside by livid Chicago defensemen. Still, Edmonton's own blueliners stepped up to fill the scoring void, first through Tom Gilbert's point blast, then through Ladislav Smid's nice rush and subsequent wrist shot.

Foiling his team's chances for a quick comeback, forward Kris Versteeg took an untimely five minute boarding major some minutes into the final period, allowing Edmonton to work their elusive magic. A fine tic-tac-toe play produced a two goal lead during that man advantage. The Oilers continued to take liberties with the crumbling home team, scoring another shortly thereafter. It could seem, however, that poor defense was a disease, because it spread to the visitors - and Patrick Sharp could add two goals within a 5 minute span, creating major unrest with the away team, but the clock averted complete meltdown as the final whistle blew just as Sharp was breaking away on Khabibulin.

Post game: It was a close game, only one shot separated the teams, who were otherwise equal to one another in power play convertion, blocks, hits, face offs and give aways. Anton Krysanov had a quiet debut, while the Oilers defense lit the board up adding 4 points between them.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Hemsky (Penner, O'Sullivan)
CHI - Hossa (Kane, Toews)
CHI - Ladd (Bolland, Sharp) PP

2nd Period:
EDM - Gilbert (Laich)
EDM - Smid (Laich)

3rd Period:
EDM - Hemsky (Cogliano, Visnovsky) PP
EDM - Penner (Hemsky, Yonkman)
CHI - Sharp (Bolland, Keith)
CHI - Sharp (Bolland, Kane)


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

Lines:
Penner - O'Sullivan - Hemsky
Cogliano - Laich - Skille
Axelsson - Krysanov - Moore
Moreau - Falardeau - Stone

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Yonkman

Khabibulin
(Hiller)