Oilers still rule the Wild

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

Facing the NHL's worst team, Edmonton made some line changes. Patrick O'Sullivan was bumped up to the first line, while Gilbert Brule took the third line role. Nolan Yonkman dressed for the third pairing, forcing Jeff Petry into the press box. GM Kowalski stated, oddly, that those who read the last sentence again and find more than the hockey-related interpretation should seek therapy. Obviously, reporters were dumb-founded by the strange statement. In any case, Jonas Hiller started in net for the 29th time of the year.

Defenseman Andrew MacDonald gave the Wild a surprising lead against an Oilers team that started well, testing Bäckström on several occasions in the first ten minutes. Former Oiler Matt Greene's holding minor led to Dustin Penner's 33rd goal of the year, 14 of them on the power play.

A winning formula of the season has been the combination of Penner and Hemsky, and they were at work again in the second - Penner tipping in another goal born from his strength and skill. Nolan Yonkman also picked up a rare point on that on his return from extended time in the press box. Minnesota was awarded a penalty shot as Havlat was brought down by Gilbert on a breakaway, but Hiller stopped the Czech star's attempt confidently.

Yonkman was involved again, sending Penner and O'Sullivan away on a two-on-one on a third period power play, which led to the 3-1 goal and Yonkman's ninth point of the year. The Wild had given up and Edmonton could increase the bottom 6 lines' minutes. In spite of the extra minutes on the bench, Dustin Penner managed to complete his hat trick with less than thirty seconds to go in the game, burying Gagner's excellent pass - but also giving Yonkman his third second assist of the night!

Post game: "It's nice to see the team keep battling and not softening up with the knowledge that we're in the playoffs anyway" commented GM Kowalski in the post-game press conference. "We should definitively use these remaining games to refine our game, build some extra offensive connections, but not least have fun and take that into the post-season." Penner's hat trick puts him close to point-per-game on the season, with 71 points in 72 games.

Scoreboard
1st Period:
MIN - MacDonald (Havlat)
EDM - Penner (O'Sullivan, Laich) PP

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

3rd Period:
EDM - O'Sullivan (Penner, Yonkman) PP
EDM - Penner (Gagner, Yonkman)


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)