Oilers continue road trip in Detroit

Edmonton Oilers vs Detroit Red Wings 2-3 SO (0-1, 1-1, 1-0, 0-1SO)

Edmonton made just the goalie change for this one, allowing Russian netminder Khabibulin back into action following a two-game stint by Hiller. The Red Wings held the Central Division lead with an 18-7-2 record.

Edmonton, having lost 2 of the last 3, were fired up from the get go in this one. The initial onslaught of shots was parried by Osgood's good netminding. With a good parry, comes a good counter - and the Red Wings found a way to slice through Edmonton in the most brutal manner, as Zetterberg drew first blood.

The second mirrored the first, good Edmonton opening minutes, followed by a quick relapse in which Zetterberg added his second. Some appropriate revenge was dealt, when former Red Wing prospect Anton Axelsson scored on a nice attacking play that included Falardeau making a nice backhand pass to Axelsson who buried it. Unfortunately, Gilbert Brule picked up an injury late in the period, and left the game.

Just minutes into the third, Sam Gagner followed Brule to the dressing room, suffering from a twisted knee, forcing additional stress on the forwards. The increased minutes that were dispersed among the 3rd and 4th liners was received upon broad shoulders. Just as Detroit fans figured the win was sealed, Lee Falardeau stood up to check Matt Cullen, turning the puck over, and then followed up by getting the puck back and scoring the game tying goal a minute from full time!

The overtime period did not suffice to break the deadlock and the teams went to a shootout. An epic nine rounds, which saw the teams exchange goals and saves throughout, ended with a Matt Cullen goal and Ladislav Smid miss, giving Detroit the win.

Post game: There was little between the teams, although Edmonton might feel let down after managing to put 44 shots on net. The lower lines were productive, energetic and provided some secondary scoring, yet it was to no avail.



Scoreboard
1st Period:
DET - Zetterberg (Datsyuk, Bertuzzi)

2nd Period:
DET - Zetterberg (Datsyuk, Kronwall) PP
EDM - Axelsson (Falardeau, Visnovsky)

3rd Period:
EDM - Falardeau (Stone, Axelsson)


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
Sam Gagner (3rd period) Knee injury, out a few days
Gilbert Brule (2nd period) Bruised ribs, out about ten days

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Yonkman

Khabibulin
(Hiller)