Oilers butcher Wild at Rexall

Minnesota Wild vs Edmonton Oilers 2-6 (1-3, 1-0, 0-3)

To no one's surprise, the Oilers allowed the lineup which was on a two game win streak to stay together, with veteran netminder Nik Khabibulin starting his 48th game of the season. The Wild had spent the time since the team's last met by losing heavily to divisional rivals Calgary and were staring practical elimination from the playoffs in the face every game.

Minnesota hid their struggles well in the beginning of the first, hammering away at the Oilers who looked like paralysed nails in the corners. The presence of big bodies like Laich, Tangradi, Moreau and Falardeau did help Edmonton keep it from escalating into pure physical domination though. The Wild were clearly intent on starting differently than in the last match, and Havlat's goal allowed them to gain some confidence too. It was, unfortunately, shredded by the relatively immediate replies from Penner, Hemsky and a little later, Moore. The Oilers now provided the clinical finishing they sorely lacked in that bombardement in Minnesota just days ago.

The Wild grasped at straws and wove a way into the game by doing so - as defenseman Clay Wilson added a power play marker late in a second period that had generally been all about Edmonton.

Again, the Oilers were piling on the shots and Bäckström kept his team in it on a number of occasions. It proved insufficient, nonetheless, because Edmonton's relentless forwards combined with a soft, generous defense gave Penner and Gagner chances they did not fail to convert. When the soft handed giant scored his third of the night on the power play, it also meant the first NHL point for defenseman Jeff Petry.

Post game: "Stunning offensive display today, I was impressed by many of our forwards" said head coach Constantine, who was naturally in a stellar mood. Penner's three goal, four point night was unmatched, though Gagner, Hemsky, Moore and Laich all had quality games. Edmonton suddenly looked more than playoff-worthy.

Scoreboard
1st Period:
MIN - Havlat (Sturm, Burns)
EDM - Penner (Moore, Laich) PP
EDM - Hemsky (Gagner, Axelsson)
EDM - Moore (Visnovsky)

2nd Period:
MIN - Wilson (Bouchard, Chistov) PP

3rd Period:
EDM - Penner (Gagner, Gilbert)
EDM - Gagner (Hemsky, Penner)
EDM - Penner (Moore, Petry) PP



Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Khabibulin
(Hiller)