Échec total pour Edmonton

Edmonton Oilers vs Montreal Canadiens 2-4 (1-2, 1-2, 0-0)

The Oilers came into this game winless in 4 and with just a single win in the last 8. The Montreal Canadiens were not any better off, sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference with 23-24-7. Edmonton opted to start veteran goalie Nik Khabibulin, but kept the lineup otherwise unchanged.

It took a mere minute before there was darkness and nausea at the Bell Center, as the Oilers were quickly eclipsed and gut-wrenchingly spun behind the eight ball. Veteran Jeff Hoggan took advantage of a buffet of rebounds, missing one attempt, but scoring on his second go at the loose puck. Sam Gagner had plans, however, and kept Edmonton in this stellar game of space chess by scoring on a breakaway. The Habs, through the dilligent work of Brian Gionta, readjusted Edmonton's course for the black hole by adding a power play marker before the intermission.

Both teams were producing quality scoring chances, but the pattern of conversion was setting in the mould - Andrei Kostitsyn opened the period's scoring, having little trouble in the process. Anton Axelsson and Edmonton's third line opened the eyes of betting agencies to the possibility that the Oilers were more than just two lines, though the odds of bottom 6 goals were likely not dramatically adjusted as Krysanov's fine cross-crease pass landed on Axelsson's merciless blade before going in. There was no concern among the home fans, however, since Gionta took it upon himself to erect a solar sail upon Edmonton's errant space craft and sent them rapidly towards nowhere.

The final frame was a trivial twenty minute session where the Oilers did come close to reducing the lead on numerous occasions, but could not find their way back into the game.

Post game: "Every other line takes the game off, and that's not going to cut it in our position" said head coach Constantine of the performance. The Oilers got fine efforts from their first and third lines, but the second line in particular, including struggling Brooks Laich, newcomer Eric Tangradi and recent call up Cogliano, were dismal at best. Some critics pointed out the Oilers' unwillingness to match lines, avoiding sending inconfident players out against what was clearly an overpowering line of Kostitsyn, Gionta and Gomez.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
MTL - Hoggan (Michalek, Grabovsky)
EDM - Gagner (Penner, Hemsky)
MTL - Gionta (A. Kostitsyn, Gomez) PP

2nd Period:
MTL - A. Kostitsyn (Gomez, Gionta)
EDM - Axelsson (Krysanov, Moore)
MTL - Gionta (Gomez, A.Kostitsyn) PP

3rd Period:
-


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

Lines:
Penner - Gagner - Hemsky
Tangradi - Laich - Cogliano
Moore - Krysanov - Axelsson
Moreau - Falardeau - O'Marra

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Yonkman

Khabibulin
(Hiller)