Oilers play Canucks in B.C.

Edmonton Oilers vs Vancouver Canucks 1-4 (0-1, 1-0, 0-3)

Edmonton started their road trip by changing their lineup by adding forwards Hartikainen and Axelsson, while starting netminder Jonas Hiller in this second of a back-to-back series. The Canucks were 33-17-2 for a strong 68 points before the game, enjoying the solid play of their numerous Swedes.

Christina Baldwin eloquenty wrote "Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." In Vancouver, there was nothing but an empty shell and no phoenix to be hatched as the Oilers' offense remained unchanged from last game. No yolk, but an all white scoreboard for the away team, but a Henrik Sedin power play marker at least gave the spectators reason to stay awake.

A more action-filled, but still rather goal-deprived, second period saw Brooks Laich level the score, from a nice play developed by recent call-ups Axelsson and Hartikainen. Unfortunately for Edmonton, goal-scoring forward Patrick O'Sullivan left the game with an injury shortly after the equalizer.

The final period provided jubilation for the home fans, as Vancouver routed Edmonton early on. The protagonist throughout that chase was defenseman Christian Erhoff who was practically involved in everything that the Canucks created. At 4-1, the Oilers relieved goaltender Hiller by putting on Khabibulin instead and managed to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately, their scoring was limited to the lone second period marker and thus they were defeated quite handily by an envigorated B.C. team.

Post game: "Our lineup changes were not followed by the necessary mental change" explained head coach Constantine. The Oilers were clearly still struggling to find their timing offensively and allowed far too many shots through on Hiller. None of the usual point producers stepped up, none of the secondary scorers could help out and the result was a burial.

Scoreboard
1st Period:
VAN - H. Sedin (Erhoff, D.Sedin) PP

2nd Period:
EDM - Laich (Axelsson, Hartikainen)

3rd Period:
VAN - Erhoff (Salo, D. Sedin)
VAN - D. Sedin (Erhoff, Edler)
VAN - Bernier (Lilja, Kesler)


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
INJ - Patrick O'Sullivan (2nd period) - fractured shin (out for about 1 month)

Lines:
Penner - Gagner - Hemsky
Hartikainen - Laich - O'Sullivan
Moore - Krysanov - Axelsson
Moreau - Falardeau - O'Marra

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Yonkman

Hiller
(Khabibulin)