Oilers clash with Wild at Rexall

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

The Wild held a mediocre 20-22-3 record coming into this away match against divisonal rival Edmonton. The Oilers iced the same lineup as last game, save for a goaltending change - anticipating that Khabibulin will mind the net tomorrow against the Flames in the last game of a back-to-back session for Edmonton.

The home team came out strong in this one, clearly determined to force their opponents to submit to their style of hockey from the start. It took seven minutes before Patrick O'Sullivan netted the first goal, having steamed in on a three on one with linemates Laich and Cogliano setting him up for an eassy marker. Greg Moore added to his already admirable goal total on the power play five minutes later. Minnesota provided nothing except a few weak-angle shots in the period.

Shakespeare wrote: "It's not enough to help the feeble up, but to support him after." Edmonton did nothing of the sort, but rather stabbed the feeble as he attempted to rise himself. Following a big Wild chance, Moore found some space to break away on Bäckström giving the Oilers a comfortable 3-0 lead. O'Sullivan built on it late in the period, before Darren Helm finally put the away team on the board with a nice one-timer.

The third mirrored the second, O'Sullivan completed his hat trick just after the Wild had been gifted a big chance from a missed Babchuk pass. An exchange of power play goals with a few minutes to go left the home fans satisfied and the away fans embarrassed.

Post game: "Our offensive game was nurtured by a strong willingness to harass our opposition, for the entire 3 period match" remarked GM Kowalski after the game, obviously pleased with a commanding 6-2 victory. Patrick O'Sullivan's three goal night propelled him into 18 goals on the year - while linemate Brooks Laich's four assists gave him 30 points on the season.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - O'Sullivan (Cogliano, Laich)
EDM - Moore (Laich, Penner) PP

2nd Period:
EDM - Moore (Yonkman, Smid)
EDM - O'Sullivan (Cogliano, Laich)
MIN - Helm (Hossa, Hilbert)

3rd Period:
EDM - O'Sullivan (Gagner, Visnovsky) PP
MIN - Havlat (Sturm, Preissing) PP
EDM - Gilbert (Moore, Laich) PP



Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

Lines:
Penner - Gagner - Hemsky
Cogliano - Laich - O'Sullivan
Moore - Krysanov - Brule
Moreau - Falardeau - O'Marra

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Yonkman

Hiller
(Khabibulin)