Oilers search for goals in Colorado

Edmonton Oilers vs Colorado Avalanche 2-3 SO (1-0, 1-0, 0-2, 0-1 SO)

The Oilers were forced to make changes due to Patrick O'Sullivan's fractured shin suffered in the game against the Canucks. Following an extended period as a healthy scratch, Ryan Stone finally drew back into the lineup as 3rd line center, while Anton Krysanov took the 2nd line RW role. Nikolai Khabibulin was back in net from the start.

Mark Twain once remarked that "By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity. Another man's, I mean." The Oilers turned the adversity of losing one of their top point getters in Patrick O'Sullivan into Colorado's problem as they opened the first with a primal lust for goal. Head coach Constantine had announced that Edmonton would explore a more offensive style and it was apparently well received among the players. Nonetheless, the array of chances were converted merely once, through a Sam Gagner breakaway on which he deked Nabokov brilliantly and scored.

There was steam left in the Oilers' engine in the second, though Colorado looked more prepared for the onslaught after having the intermission to regroup. The Avalanche were actually able to gain a significant shot advantage through a series of three consecutive, but unfruitful, power plays. Instead, as irony would dictate, the Oilers went up 2-0 in the void of Colorado's failure to score.

Vernon Sanders Law noted, cleverly, that "Experience is a hard teacher, for she gives the test first and the lesson afterwards". Edmonton was delivered a well-timed lesson in the third, because the Avs had observed, endured and learned from the first 4o minutes. Matt Duchene brought them within one by pouncing on a rebound, then former Oiler Raffi Torres sent a soft shot by Khabibulin to equalise the game, strip Edmonton of their confidence and propel the game into overtime, all in a blink of an eye.

The home team kept rolling down the hill upon the fiercely resisting away side in the overtime, and despite looking lost in the depths a few times, Edmonton managed to survive the 5 minutes and go to a shootout. Hemsky and Visnovsky's misses and Stastny's goal meant that Colorado delivered Edmonton's first loss of the season after leading at the second intermission.

Post game: "We melted down, if you will, after starting encouragingly" noted GM Kowalski. There were elements to build on for a struggling Oilers team, but they can take solace in the fact that they are still safely within a playoff position - if that is at all wise to do.

Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Gagner (Penner, Hemsky)

2nd Period:
EDM - Penner (Babchuk, Hemsky)

3rd Period:
COL - Duchene (Modin, Willsie)
COL - Torres (Radivojevic, O'Reilly)



Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Yonkman

Khabibulin
(Hiller)