Oilers domesticate Coyotes

Edmonton Oilers vs Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 SO (0-2, 2-0, 1-1, 0-0, 1-0 SO)

The Oilers had lost the last two games at Jobing.com arena and faced a team on the rise. Three points out of the playoffs, the Coyotes had won three in a row and had a 30-30-8 record. Edmonton enjoyed the return of scoring forward Patrick O'Sullivan who slotted in on the second line, while Gilbert Brule took the place of temporarily sidelined Andrew Cogliano on the third line. Jonas Hiller got another start.

The Oilers started well, made some nice chances from the rush and looked to assume command of the game. Shane Doan, however, rejected this idea and scored a quick duce to stun the Oilers who had spent most of the time in the Phoenix zone.

Edmonton kept having most of the possession, but Phoenix were not subjugated by any means as their counter attacks kept posing significant problems for Hiller. Ultimately though, the Oilers overcame Bryzgalov and Laich put away an easy goal after Tangradi had driven to the net and caused havoc for the defense. The same duo were involved in the game tying goal late in the second, but it was returning Patrick O'Sullivan who made this goal by humiliating former Oiler Lashoff before dishing the puck to an open Laich who made no mistake.

It was the same blood through the same vein in the third, the Oilers controlled play, but the 'Yotes created chances on quick rushes. Radim Vrbata finished off one of those counter attacks by ramming the puck by Hiller on a one-timer. The home fans were beginning to get comfortable with the idea of a win when Greg Moore managed to send the game to overtime just fifteen seconds before full time! Again, Laich and Tangradi were involved to give Edmonton the necessary offense to prevail.

The overtime period provided to resolution, in spite of a full two minute power play for the Oilers - on which Bryzgalov proved himself once again and gave himself and his team a chance to win in a shootout. That was not to be, however, as both Tangradi and O'Sullivan beat Bryzgalov, but only Prucha managed to score for Phoenix.

Post game: The Oilers were carried by their second line, now featuring sniper O'Sullivan along strong forwards Tangradi and Laich. The almost complete absence of threat from the Hemsky-Gagner-Penner line was eclipsed by fine performances by the bottom 2 lines and a superb one from the second line. Jonas Hiller, although shakey on a couple of the goals, were able to turn away the shots at the key moments, allowing the win.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
PHX - Doan (Lashoff, Pyatt)
PHX - Doan (Lombardi, Pyatt)

2nd Period:
EDM - Laich (Tangradi, O'Sullivan)
EDM - Laich (O'Sullivan, Tangradi)

3rd Period:
PHX - Vrbata (Stuart, Bissonnette)
EDM - Moore (Laich, Tangradi)



Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

Lines:
Penner - Gagner - Hemsky
Tangradi - Laich - O'Sullivan
Axelsson - Brule - Moore
Moreau - Falardeau - O'Marra

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Hiller
(Khabibulin)