Oilers overcome the Wild again

Edmonton Oilers vs Minnesota Wild 4-2 (0-0, 1-1, 3-1)

The Oilers were 6-1-0 against the Wild in the season and opted to keep the lines as they were. Minnesota were now a lock for last in the league and their dedicated fans had to live with that ambivalence of being last and hopefully picking first at the draft.

Minnesota were able to keep it close in the first, although both teams had their chances to get a lead and even add to one. The away fans were slightly disappointed to see their team waste a four full power plays, mostly through an inability to gain the zone consistently.

Smelling the playoffs for the first time since signing an offer sheet with Edmonton following his cup season with Anaheim, Dustin Penner showed his enthusiasm and quality as he deflected Grebeshkov's point effort into the net. Minnesota, in the nothing-to-lose position, scored the equaliser immediately upon Penner's opener.

The Wild turned the game around, enjoying a rare roar of cheerfulness from the home fans, when Martin Havlat one-timed Bouchard's pass by Hiller's blocker. Unfortunately for the Minnesota passionate, the Oilers would have none of it. Ales Hemsky netted his 29th goal of the season on a much improved power play. Dustin Penner scored yet another to bring Edmonton ahead, before Tangradi put the game beyond Minnesota's reach with six minutes to go.

Post game: "Dustin Penner owes Sam and Ales a few steak dinners" remarked GM Kowalski on his top goal scorer this season, reflecting on the impact playmakers Hemsky and Gagner have had to his scoring as well. Jonas Hiller brought his win total to 13, while Eric Tangradi was looking to make a serious bid for the Calder Trophy in a year without many prominent rookies.



Scoreboard
1st Period:
-

2nd Period:
EDM - Penner (Grebeshkov, Gagner)
MIN - Chistov (McKee, Greene)

3rd Period:
MIN - Havlat (Bouchard, Cuma)
EDM - Hemsky (Tangradi, Gagner) PP
EDM - Penner (Gagner, Gilbert)
EDM - Tangradi (Hemsky, Gagner) PP

Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Yonkman

Hiller
(Khabibulin)