Oilers run over by Flyers

Edmonton Oilers vs Philadelphia Flyers 4-6 (3-4, 0-1, 1-1)

Without their junior trial players, Edmonton changed things up to include names like Karamnov, Tangradi and Vande Velde in the lineup. Jonas Hiller got the start in net.

In an absolutely stellar first period, from an offensive standpoint, both teams racked up the points. Teemu Hartikainen's power play goal was a beauty from the high slot. Carcillo and Richards rapidly turned the game to the home team's advantage with two rebound goals on Hiller. Edmonton's fourth line combined to equalise, before Hemsky rallied his team and got them ahead with a nice deke on the netminder in close. It looked as though the period would end with a 3-2 score, but Carter and Dumont both scored in the final minute, turning it in the Flyers' favour once again. Philadelphia's technicians were worried the budget for score board light bulbs would be exceeded even before the season started.

The second was a major disappointment for the fans, although Mark Streit did manage to put one by Hiller. Generally, the coaches must have screamed their lungs out and into orbit in the break, forcing their players into better defensive efforts.

The teams exhanged goals in the third, through Skille and Timonen, but neither team seemed to bring their full bag of tricks in the final frame.

Post game: "We were playing only one way, which was forward. Do that against a better lineup like we did today, and the result is a given" said head coach Constantine on the loss. Despite doing a decent job, the Oilers defensive pairs were exhausted by the lack of assistance from their forwards, most of which were only looking to score and not to prevent being scored on. On a positive note, Axelsson and Skille's good games were welcome news to the Oilers management who are looking for players to fill out the bottom six with Moreau and O'Marra gone.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Hartikainen (Skille, Tangradi) PP
PHI - Carcillo (Belanger, Blake)
PHI - Richards (Giroux, Hartnell) PP
EDM - Axelsson (Laich, Vande Velde)
EDM - Hemsky (Cogliano, Karamnov)
PHI - Carter (Gagné, Hartnell)
PHI - Dumont (Richards, Coburn)

2nd Period:
PHI - Streit (Liles, Carter)

3rd Period:
EDM - Skille (Axelsson, Laich)
PHI - Timonen (Hartnell)

Lines:
Cogliano - Karamnov - Hemsky
Tangradi - Hartikainen - Brule
Moore - Krysanov - Skille
Axelsson - Laich - Vande Velde

Smid - Chorney
Fowler - Yonkman
Peckham - Plante

Hiller
(Roy)