Oilers continue home stand against Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche vs Edmonton Oilers 3-5 (1-2, 1-0, 1-3)

The Oilers made no changes to the lineup that beat the Coyotes two nights ago, facing an inconsistent Avalanche. Colorado trailed the Oilers by 6 points before this game, though sitting only one place below them at 8th, with a 10-10-4 record.

Colorado came out with some intent in this one, perhaps inspired by the fact that they had won the last matcup between the two. Paul Stastny finished off an exciting chain of passes on the Avs power play, absolutely humiliating the penalty killers with their skill. It was not to last, however, as Moore and Moreau broke away on a 2 on 0, with Moore opting not to pass to an open Moreau, but rather just scorching the twine himself. Those who have followed the Oilers this season will not be unfamiliar with the late goals, and Visnovsky added to that trend with a power play marker only 4 second before the intermission.

Brian Willsie beat Denis Grebeshkov in a foot race, breaking away and scoring the equaliser after 5:30 of the period. The visitors kept up their relentless pressure and fired shot after shot on the Oilers net, but Khabibulin battled hard to keep his team in it. At the second intermission, the Oilers were being outplayed and they knew it.

Kunitz and Hejduk combined nicely to put Colorado ahead 4 minutes into the last period, but the Oilers had other plans. Youngsters Cogliano and Gagner both executed similarly astonishing goals, just two minutes apart, when they carried the puck by two defensemen before scoring on Nabokov from close range. The resiliency of the home team ignited a wave of celebration in the stands. The Oilers fed off the energy, potting another through their captain, Ethan Moreau, who had been bumped up to the second line temporarily.

Post game: General Manager Morgan Kowalski praised his head coach at the post game press conference, commenting that Constantine's line changes during the third was a vital element to turning the game around. An energized captain was bumped up a few lines, shuffling some firepower that proved successful in melting away the Avalanche's lead.

Scoreboard
1st Period:
COL - Stastny (Hejduk, Wolski) PP
EDM - Moore (Moreau)
EDM - Visnovsky (Gagner) PP

2nd Period:
COL - Willsie (McLeod, Yandle)

3rd Period:
COL - Hejduk (Kunitz, Berard)
EDM - Cogliano (Moore)
EDM - Gagner (Grebeshkov, Stone)
EDM - Moreau (O'Sullivan, Gilbert)


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

Lines:
Penner - Gagner - Hemsky
Cogliano - Laich - O'Sullivan
Axelsson - Stone - Moore
Moreau - Falardeau - Brule

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Yonkman

Khabibulin
(Hiller)