Oilers ambushed by Red Wings

Edmonton Oilers vs Detroit Red Wings 3-5 (0-2, 1-0, 2-3)

Playoff-bound Edmonton faced Central Division champions Red Wings hoping to fend off the Stars for 5th - with Dallas trailing by 2 points with 4 games to go. If the Oilers were to fall to 6th, they would face today's opponent in the post-season. Due to a minor injury to Greg Moore, Axelsson drew in on the third line, while Falardeau returned to duty on the fourth line.

Following rather eventless opening minutes, the Oilers were punished harshly for a bad linechange on the power play - which allowed Brendan Witt(!) to break away and score. Not only that, Witt added another rare marker to his career total on a pass from Draper sending the Oilers behind by two.

Red-hot power forward Dustin Penner brought the Oilers back into the game with his fifteenth point in the last eleven games, this one included. It certainly did not look like the Oilers were ready to take their playoff security and coast, because the goal incited a solid period for the away team, although Osgood denied them getting to level terms.

Brooks Laich scored his 25th goal on a ferocious slap shot from a sharp angle, assisted by recent rookie-of-the-month Tangradi. What happened in the next six minutes would tempt outsiders to ask if the Oilers had not fought their way back into the game, but rather been tricked into an ambush. Ville Leino's duce and Cleary's rebound goal swiftly slaugthered the Oilers' chances to win the game - and even though Laich scored his second on the man advantage after the Wings-dagger had struck, it was too late.

Post game: "We disintegrated, quite simply" said head coach Constantine, and continued "when Leino and Cleary took the ice in the third". It was a close game in terms of chances, possession and penalties, but some excellent efforts fom key Wings sunk the Oilers.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
DET - Witt (-) SH
DET - Witt (Draper)

2nd Period:
EDM - Penner (Gagner, Hemsky)

3rd Period:
EDM - Laich (Tangradi, Brule)
DET - Leino (Cleary)
DET - Leino (Cleary, Stuart) PP
DET - Cleary (Bertuzzi, Witt)
EDM - Laich (Penner, Babchuk) PP


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Khabibulin
(Hiller)