Oilers vs Canucks in NHL playoffs

Edmonton Oilers News (April 10th 2011) "Oilers meet Canucks in round 1"

4th seed Vancouver Canucks are set to face 5th seeded Edmonton Oilers in the NHL Western Conference Playoff Quarter Final. The fans will be in for a treat as the two teams battle it out. The rivalry between the two sides is undeniable and only grew during this season.

In the 8 regular season games between the two teams, the Canucks outscored the Oilers 25-20 as they clinched the season series 5-3-0. Oilers will start on the road as decided from their regular season position.

Regular season wrap up

Edmonton Oilers News (April 8th 2011) "Regular season wrap up"

Final standings 2011


General Manager Morgan Kowalski:
"I am delighted with the year as it has exceeded our initial expectations for this team. Our core is still among the youngest in the league and we will continue to build with patience and long-term success in mind. It is with that in mind I hope that we can use this playoff experience, going in with little pressure and a lot to win."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular season Stats (Players)


Edmonton Oilers News (April 8th 2011)
Ales Hemsky did not just shake a monkey off his back with his first point-per-game season, he did it in such a fashion that it might be considered animal cruelty. At just a goal shy of 30 goals, he was a major contributor to the offensive output of the team, both even handed and on the power play. His plus 4 testaments to a relatively successful overall year too. Dustin Penner also reached the point-per-game plateau with a tremendous finish - adding a total of 38 goals! But the most impressive of the first liners may yet be 21 year old Sam Gagner who had his breakout year, being a major reason for Hemsky's 29 and Penner's 38 markers with 56 assists and a strong +10 - which was a team best.

Brooks Laich, Patrick O'Sullivan and Greg Moore also added strong scoring to the Oilers and Moore did so mostly from the third line throughout the season. Lubomir Visnovsky's totals were also notable. Following his move from Carolina, young power forward Eric Tangradi also made himself an outside Calder candidate by scoring 23 points in 28 games - it would be his less impressive numbers from the Hurricanes that will stop him from being named rookie of the year.

On the negative side, goalless Denis Grebeshkov had a rather average year while building up (or tearing down) an ugly -19, mostly spent alongside big Nolan Yonkman, who posted similar numbers.

General Manager Morgan Kowalski:
"I am pleased with our general output, even though there are players that I hoped would do a bit better. Our top 6 forwards, including players like Moore and Cogliano were right were we wanted them or better. No doubt that having 5 players over 25 goals was a major factor in the season's success so far. I emphasise, "so far" because we're really at the starting line, waiting to go. Next year I hope to have a few forwards crack the top 30 list, we really only had Hemsky close to that at 31st in the league in points."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular Season Stats (Goalies)


Edmonton Oilers News (April 8th 2011)
Edmonton's goaltenders were among the premier in the league for goals against, as the Oilers finished 4th in goals allowed with 225, behind Vancouver, Anaheim and Calgary - the Flames allowing just 187 goals in all.


General Manager Morgan Kowalski:
"I think we have the best goaltending tandem in the league. Jonas made up some ground later in the year and finished with a good record as a backup. Our ambition is to let our two netminders share the workload about as much as they have this year. Who is the starter, is up to themselves through effort and results. Nik kept us in games throughout the season and will be the starter for the playoffs.



Team Stats:
Edmonton finished 19th in goals for with 245, some 52 goals behind the Red Wings who were first with 297. The Oilers were 11th, however, in shots on goal average - with 31.37, just a mere 2 shots per game from the Wings who were first at 33.41 spg.

At 4th in goals against, Edmonton had a strong defensive year, allowing 225 goals. They were in a six-way tie in shutouts, sitting at 9th with 4 shutouts. Kari Lehtonen and the Thrashers were on top with 9 shutouts. The Oilers were 12th in shots on goal against average, with 30.09 shots against per game. Detroit were first in this category as well, allowing 27.32 shots against on average.

The Oilers were by far the least penalized team, having amassed a puny 920 PIM through the season. Most belligerent were the Blue Jackets at 1770PIM. Edmonton were 8th in power play goals with 91, a category the Panthers won with 102 power play markers. Nevertheless, Edmonton were just 19th in PP% with 15.4%, due to having the second most power play opportunities. At 83.5% penalty killing percentage, Edmonton were 21st in the NHL, but because of their discipline they allowed the least power play goals in the league with 57 against. In the same vein, they were last in the short handed goals category with a mere 2 SHGs.

"Generally special teams is something we can become significantly better at, but I am pleased with our discipline. We have been critisized for being soft, but that is the most ignorant kind of stat-reading I know about. Everyone who sees our team knows we play physically, but we don't do it at all costs. Grit appears in more areas than a 'hit column' or 'PIM' statistic.

Flames even out season series

Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames 3-4 (2-0, 0-1, 1-3)

Edmonton come into the final game of the season, an appropriately dramatic Battle of Alberta no less, with the chance to dethrone Calgary from the divison lead, if Vancouver win one of their two remaining games. The Flames' strong 53-23-5 record is in itself imposing, but the Oilers actually have the series lead this season with 4-3-0. Greg Moore returned to the lineup, meaning Brule was scratched. Nik Khabibulin started the game, after sitting for a couple.

Confident home fans were taunting their opponents from the opening face off, but were quickly silenced when Brooks Laich took advantage of a power play. Calgary was most definitely in the game, playing their usually physical hockey, but it rendered no results in the first. Instead, Sam Gagner doubled the Oilers lead before the intermission.

There was a strange smell emanating from the home bench in the second, quite possibly from the extra odour from the new ones the team had been ripped in the break. It had an apparent effect on the ice too, David Moss scored a gritty goal during a period of solid pressure by the Flames. Edmonton's chances were reduced to a few rushes, a power play, but they could not do much else than defend.

Moss and Schafer combined effectively on two separate occasions leading to a turn-around in the game a few minutes into the third. The Oilers were struggling to keep their opposition from gaining the zone, the Flames more often than not operating on the inside, getting good chances from hard work and quality passing. Jarome Iginla added the 4-2 goal and the home fans were certain of triumph. Dustin Penner managed to create some late period distress, but it was limited to uneasy chants and a few moments of anticipatory silence only.

Post game: "It was a good final test, but not one I feel we passed with any authority" reflected GM Kowalski on the final game of the regular season. Painfully for the Oilers fans, it also meant that Calgary would clinch top spot in the Northwest Division and also the President's Trophy.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Laich (Penner, O'Sullivan) PP
EDM - Gagner (Hemsky, Penner)

2nd Period:
CGY - Moss (Schaefer, M. Murray)

3rd Period:
CGY - Schaefer (Moss, Kubina)
CGY - Schaefer (Moss)
EDM - Penner (O'Sullivan, Laich)


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Yonkman

Khabibulin
(Hiller)

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)

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)

Oilers ambushed by Red Wings

Edmonton Oilers vs Detroit Red Wings 3-5 (0-2, 1-0, 2-3)

Playoff-bound Edmonton faced Central Division champions Red Wings hoping to fend off the Stars for 5th - with Dallas trailing by 2 points with 4 games to go. If the Oilers were to fall to 6th, they would face today's opponent in the post-season. Due to a minor injury to Greg Moore, Axelsson drew in on the third line, while Falardeau returned to duty on the fourth line.

Following rather eventless opening minutes, the Oilers were punished harshly for a bad linechange on the power play - which allowed Brendan Witt(!) to break away and score. Not only that, Witt added another rare marker to his career total on a pass from Draper sending the Oilers behind by two.

Red-hot power forward Dustin Penner brought the Oilers back into the game with his fifteenth point in the last eleven games, this one included. It certainly did not look like the Oilers were ready to take their playoff security and coast, because the goal incited a solid period for the away team, although Osgood denied them getting to level terms.

Brooks Laich scored his 25th goal on a ferocious slap shot from a sharp angle, assisted by recent rookie-of-the-month Tangradi. What happened in the next six minutes would tempt outsiders to ask if the Oilers had not fought their way back into the game, but rather been tricked into an ambush. Ville Leino's duce and Cleary's rebound goal swiftly slaugthered the Oilers' chances to win the game - and even though Laich scored his second on the man advantage after the Wings-dagger had struck, it was too late.

Post game: "We disintegrated, quite simply" said head coach Constantine, and continued "when Leino and Cleary took the ice in the third". It was a close game in terms of chances, possession and penalties, but some excellent efforts fom key Wings sunk the Oilers.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
DET - Witt (-) SH
DET - Witt (Draper)

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

3rd Period:
EDM - Laich (Tangradi, Brule)
DET - Leino (Cleary)
DET - Leino (Cleary, Stuart) PP
DET - Cleary (Bertuzzi, Witt)
EDM - Laich (Penner, Babchuk) PP


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Khabibulin
(Hiller)

Oilers expel Blue Jackets

Edmonton Oilers vs Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1 (3-1, 2-0, 0-0)

Fourth line stalwart Lee Falardeau suffered a lower leg contusion in practice before this game and Anton Krysanov drew in to replace him. Despite his failure against Chicago, Nik Khabibulin was given the start. The Blue Jackets were facing practical elimination from the playoff race, sitting 13th with 33-36-7, six points out with six games to go.

The Oilers wasted no time taking advantage of the fragile Blue Jackets confidence as Anton Babchuk scored his first in several months. Ales Hemsky added his 27th of the year before power forward Rick Nash managed to halt the onslaught with a strong drive to the net following Jonas Junland's stunning break out saucer pass. While it spurred a period of Blue Jacket offense and got the fans into the game, it never looked to threat the Oilers. Andrew Cogliano sniped in a fine shot to make it 3-1 before the teams headed to the locker rooms.

The loyal Blue Jacket supporters averted their eyes in agony as Sam Gagner was allowed to get three attempts at a rebound before scoring, having outbattled the tall but lacklustre pairing of Tyutin/Junland. Edmonton's merciless hunt for more goals culminated in yet another somewhat embarrassing situation for the home team - Craig Anderson's mismanagement of the puck let Cogliano, Smid and Hemsky quickly turn possession into goal from a nice passing play.

Seemingly more due to the Oilers feeling quite satisfied with their game than any increased effort by Columbus, the scoring pressure relented in the third.

Post game: Sam Gagner, Ales Hemsky and Dustin Penner all played tremendously and contributed heavily to the win that secured Edmonton their first playoff place since their infamous cup run in 2006.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Babchuk (Gagner) PP
EDM - Hemsky (Penner, Gagner)
CBJ - Nash (Junland, Jokinen)
EDM - Cogliano (G. Moore, O'Sullivan)

2nd Period:
EDM - Gagner (Penner, Hemsky)
EDM - Hemsky (Cogliano, Smid)

3rd Period:
-


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

Lines:
Tangradi - Laich - Brule
Penner - Gagner - Hemsky
O'Sullivan - Cogliano - Moore
Moreau - Krysanov - O'Marra

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Khabibulin
(Hiller)

Chicago oust Oilers in dream encore

Edmonton Oilers vs Chicago Blackhawks 1-3 (1-2, 0-1, 0-0)

After having their 5 game win streak broken against the Blackhawks last game, Edmonton travelled to Chicago to embark on their final road trip of the year - that would culminate in a Battle of Alberta in Calgary in game 82. Nik Khabibulin started this one, but no other changes were made to the lines.

Edmonton opened the game very encouragingly, rapidly building an impressive shot advantage - and Brooks Laich found the net on the ninth shot of the game, putting the Oil in front. All the lines were doggedly keeping Chicago pinned in their own zone and the shot clock showed 13-0 in shots after fifteen minutes, that having included a full four minutes of power play time for the home side. But as stats may be misleading, this game was a pure bred example, and the Hawks scored on their first shot - a blueline blast from Cam Barker. When their second attempt of the night also went by Khabibulin, coach Kevin Constantine was forced to make this game the reverse of the last. Hiller replaced Khabibulin after he had allowed goals on the first two shots.

Chicago established a firm grip of the game in the second, but in no way dominated offensively. Instead, increased defensive efforts kept the opposition in check. Still, a poor clearance from Smid gave Seabrook the chance to unleash a shot from far out, and it rocketed by Hiller to send the Blackhawks up by two.

Edmonton tried in various ways to open up Chicago's defense in the third, but apart from a few nice shifts by the top two lines, there was little in terms of a concerted attempt to come back.


Post game: "Obviously we were let down by our goaltending early, but we also show we're not quite mature enough as a team to handle those kinds of situations - and they do happen - and that is a major area we must improve in" stated General Manager Morgan Kowalski. Jonas Hiller redeemed himself by having a solid game, allowing just the Seabrook-goal on 27 shots.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Laich (Brule, Tangradi)
CHI - Barker (Hossa, Toews) PP
CHI - Persson (Sharp, Ladd) PP

2nd Period:
CHI - Seabrook (-)

3rd Period:
-


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Khabibulin
(Hiller)

Chicago strike swiftly and down the Oilers

Chicago Blackhawks vs Edmonton Oilers 5-2 (3-1, 0-1, 2-0)

With seven games to go, the Blackhawks were tracking Edmonton with vigor, having won three in a row, sitting at a 36-31-8 record. The Oilers closed out their home stand by injecting scorer Patrick O'Sullivan into the lineup, forcing Anton Axelsson out - leaving him, Krysanov and Yonkman in the press box.

The Blackhawks started the game appropriate to their name by using a hit-and-run offense to rout Jonas Hiller by scoring on their first two shots. Edmonton looked bewildered as to how they would contain their opponents, and though they put up a power play goal - Penner's 30th of the season - Marian Hossa kept the Oilers on the run by scoring a third on the 18:58 mark. All the Hawks' goals had been scored unassisted from stealing the puck and going in alone on the netminder.

Chicago began the second more offensively, abandoning the selective rushes for a broader offensive approach. Former Hawk Nik Khabibulin was impressive as he kept the puck out over an extended barrage in which Chicago released eightteen shots in twelve minutes. Ironically, the tables were turned as Edmonton took advantage of a turnover to bring them within one late in the period.

Nonetheless, Chicago put the game out of reach quickly in the third, capitalizing on two rushes.

Post game: The Oilers strangled themselves by turning the puck over far too often. Chicago looked quite energized, with particularly good performances from Bolland, Sharp and Versteeg.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
CHI - Bolland (-)
CHI - Sharp (-) PP
EDM - Penner (Laich, O'Sullivan)
CHI - Hossa (-)

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

3rd Period:
CHI - Arnason (Barker)
CHI - Bolland (Sharp, Ladd) PP


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Hiller
(Khabibulin)

Oilers deny Avalanche once again

Colorado Avalanche vs Edmonton Oilers 1-4 (1-1, 0-1, 0-2)

Edmonton made no changes from the team that shut out the Avalanche last night, including keeping netminder Jonas Hiller in from the start. The Avs still had key centerman Paul Stastny out.

Quick winger Ales Hemsky put Edmonton ahead a mere minute into the first, blazing past Shultz and Bergeron to score on Budaj with a memorable deke. The Oilers continued to pressure the Avs, but gave up a number of big chances due to the high-risk game they played. Marek Svatos was able to capitalize on a breakaway to level the scores late on.

Although in a much more blue collar fashion, Ethan Moreau matched Hemsky's early first period marker by putting the Oilers in front once again less than a minute from the opening face off of the second frame. The game was dominated cyclically, each team giving up around five shots before going on the offense.

After being thoroughly repulsed by the intrepid Avs defense for the first ten minutes of the third, Edmonton finally caught some relief when Brule deflected some a point shot on the power play - bringing the gap to two with less than half a period to go. Eric Tangradi made it comfortable with three minutes to go, but it had been a much closer game than the three-to-nothing elimination last night.

Post game: "We performed admirably against a team that showed a bit more desperation than us. Then again, composed tenacity - if that is ever a concept - won us ground over Colorado who looked a bit stressed at times" commented GM Kowalski on the win. "We are not doing anything differently from the sequences when we have struggled" said head coach Constantine, "but we are mentally improved, reacting faster, thinking less and focusing on the objectives, not the result."


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Hemsky (Penner, Gagner)
COL - Svatos (Duchene, Wolski)

2nd Period:
EDM - Moreau (O'Marra, Visnovsky)

3rd Period:
EDM - Brule (Laich, Grebeshkov) PP
EDM - Tangradi (Hemsky, Visnovsky) PP


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Hiller
(Khabibulin)

Oilers subdue Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche vs Edmonton Oilers 0-3 (0-0, 0-3, 0-0)

The Oilers continued their home stand with a back-to-back matchup against divisional rivals Colorado, who were on the outside of the playoffs by 4 points when nine games remained. Edmonton opted to start struggling netminder Jonas Hiller, who had conceded 3 or more goals in all but one of his last six starts. Anton Krysanov and Nolan Yonkman were healthy scratches, while Patrick O'Sullivan was still listed as day-to-day with a groin strain.

An evenly matched first period saw Edmonton asmass the most shots during the first ten minutes, before the Avalanche got their share of the puck to level the shot charts on eight a piece, but neither team managed to break the deadlock.

Adolf Hitler once remarked: "What luck for rulers that men do not think." Matt Duchene reflected a much different light on leadership when he twice broke up odd man rushes on Budaj - and Colorado had presented a rare display of discipline that far. Sadly for the away fans, former Oiler Marc Andre Bergeron nullified their hard work by taking a double minor mid-way through the period. After struggling to find the net in the first half of the game, both Eric Tangradi and Dustin Penner beat Budaj during that 4 minute power play. The momentum swing allowed Edmonton to win battles they had previously lost and it led to Moore's goal two minutes before the intermission, when Axelsson fought Yandle off the puck - feeding Gagner who found Moore with an almost empty cage to shoot at.

The teams went back into the trenches in the third, and only the occasional bugle call led to a charge. Jonas Hiller, manning the defenses, kept the enemy attacks at bay throughout the final twenty and walked away with his first shutout of the year, and first ever as an Oiler.

Post game: "We kept patient when we had to. Pens and Gagner had big chances early, but were not distressed when they did not score initially. I think we're mentally stronger now than early in the year" said GM Kowalski, noting also that Edmonton was far from where he ultimately wanted them to be. Hillers 32 save shutout was built upon by strong games from Penner, Petry, Laich, Gagner and Hemsky.



Scoreboard
1st Period:
-
2nd Period:
EDM - Tangradi (Hemsky, Gagner) PP
EDM - Penner (Laich, Petry) PP
EDM - Moore (Gagner, Axelsson)

3rd Period:
-


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Hiller
(Khabibulin)

Oilers dispose of Canucks

Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers 3-6 (1-3, 1-1, 1-2)

The Canucks were 7-3-0 in their last ten and had already qualified for the playoffs sitting at the top of the Western Conference. Edmonton, with a mere ten games to go in the regular season were still fifth and had been so since the half way mark of the season. The teams were pursuing their 50th and 40th win respectively. Edmonton started Nikolai Khabibulin in net, but with O'Sullivan still injured they made no line changes.

There was no sense of entitlement from the visitors who worked dilligently straight from the opening face off. A label of quality for the home team was that they matched that intensity, which provided an entertaining period. Dustin Penner powered his way to some space in front of Luongo and tipped in a shot from Ales Hemsky, before delivering Brooks Laich with a gift of a pass on a power play mid-way through the period. But, as Oilers fans, management and players all know, leads are a problem to Edmonton. Ethan Moreau took a horrible major for clipping with six to go in the period and it catered to the hungry Canucks power play. Daniel Sedin scored a mere fifteen seconds in and Vancouver kept producing big chances, but Khabibulin's terrific positioning and reflexes kept Edmonton ahead. Following a rebound from Tangradi's shot, red-hot Gilbert Brule added to the Oilers' lead late on.

Norwegian flash, Mats Zucarello Aasen introduced himself to the NHL by scoring his first ever goal in the league - though in a most dirty way, picking up a rebound at the side of the net. Eric Tangradi's 4-2 marker was more stunning, in that he absolutely obliterated Burrows to gain possession, exhanged passes with Brule and Laich, before driving into the crease to tip home the two goal lead.

The Oilers might have assumed that Burrows' rattled squash rendered him useless for the remainder of the game, but he proved them wrong by cleverly picking the puck off Gilbert and moving in alone to score. Momentum shifted drastically in favour of the away team, and the pressure gave the Sedins some extended time to work a 5-on-3 power play. Again it was shot blocking and the spectacular play of Khabibulin that kept the ship afloat, despite tendencies of mutiny from Falardeau and Moore who both drilled holes in the keel by taking additional penalties to extend the onslaught. The home fans were relieved and extatic to see their team kill off the penalties and almost instantly go up to score on the PP themselves. Visnovsky jumped into the play to score on a back-door play. The air left the baloon, humpty dumpty fell down and led by Eric Tangradi, all the king's horses and all the king's men ravaged the remains as they added yet another power play goal late on.

Post season: "I am tremendously satisfied with our offensive output, less so with our discipline, but we made up for it by playing our best 4-on-5 and 3-on-5 hockey of the season" said head coach Kevin Constantine of the win. The Oilers had apparently found the fountain of goals and bathed ferociously in it. Eric Tangradi was turning into a real force since being traded for the Hurricanes, with whom he tallied a mere 13 points in 52 games, while he had put up 17 in 19 games after transferring to Edmonton. Brule, Laich and Penner also kept their encouraging streaks going.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Penner (Hemsky, Gagner)
EDM - Laich (Penner, Petry) PP
VAN - D. Sedin (H. Sedin, Samuelsson) PP
EDM - Brule (Tangradi)

2nd Period:
VAN - Zuccarello Aasen (Bieksa, Pettinger)
EDM - Tangradi (Brule, Laich)

3rd Period:
VAN - Burrows (-)
EDM - Visnovsky (Babchuk, Gagner) PP
EDM - Tangradi (Visnovsky, Hemsky) PP


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Khabibulin
(Hiller)

Oilers bludgeon Jackets with horn of plenty

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Edmonton Oilers 6-7 SO (3-5, 2-0, 1-1, 0-0, 0-1 SO)

Edmonton had yet another sizeable win against the Wild to gain confidence from and the Blue Jackets were in similarly dire straits as the Wild, sitting at 13th in the West with 30-34-6. The Oilers made no lineupchanges save for allowing Jonas Hiller the start, resting number one goalie Khabibulin.

The viritual Stalin's organ of offense opened fire at 3:24 of the first period and bombarded the goaltenders on either side right up until the end of the period. The Oilers' power play was coasting early, being granted far too much ice to be considered healthy for the away team. Gilbert Brule finally got on the scoreboard again after being set up nicely by Penner in front of the net. He returned the favour on another man advantage four minutes after. Following Brule's second of the night, and seventh of the year, the teams lit the lamp five more times, finishing the period on a 5-3 note!

Columbus had evidently applied a torniquet to their bleeding and looked more composed in the second. Edmonton kept making risky rushes, hoping to increase the gap and blow the game away. Their tactic, and hopes, took a dent when Umberger closed the gap to one five minutes into the second. Fans were growing nervous and restless as the Blue Jackets gained more and more possession, increased their shots and when Brassard equalised just before the second intermission people in the stands were outright jaded with their team. Having allowed 5 goals in just 20 shots, Jonas Hiller was pulled in favour of Khabibulin during the break.

Edmonton would strike back quite quickly in the final frame, however, and Penner added his 27th on the season by deflecting Visnovsky's point shot by Craig Anderson. Khabibulin's presence did much to settle the Oilers into a more effective playing style, but Olli Jokinen could nonetheless put the visitors on equal terms to bring overtime to Rexall Place.

The teams looked fatigued in the overtime, save for a few attempts to carry the puck to the net, neither team mustered any noteworthy chances. Just before full time, Anton Babchuk took a skate to the hand and left the game. The shootout that ensued, brought two points to Edmonton who first missed, then netted three straight to overcome Anderson and the Blue Jackets.

Post game: "Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows" noted GM Kowalski, quoting David Wolf. "We have experience, but that was pure idealism out there. It was a complete disregard for defensive duty and the fans loved it, if not just for the result in the end. " Gilbert Brule's 4 points qualified as a career high. The technical switch of the top two lines introduced the first game in a while in which both lines contributed significantly.

Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Brule (Penner, Laich) PP
EDM - Penner (Brule, Laich) PP
EDM - Brule (Tangradi, Laich)
CBJ - Jokinen (Nash, Tyutin)
CBJ - Vermette (Callahan, Martinek) PP
EDM - Tangradi (Hemsky, Gagner) PP
CBJ - Nash (Jokinen, Voracek)
EDM - Falardeau (Babchuk, O'Marra)

2nd Period:
CBJ - Umberger (Callahan, Salei)
CBJ - Brassard (Paré, Martinek)

3rd Period:
EDM - Penner (Visnovsky, Brule) PP
CBJ - Jokinen (Voracek, Nash)


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
INJ - Anton Babchuk (OT) Cut hand, day-to-day

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Hiller
(Khabibulin)

Oilers plague the Wild once more

Minnesota Wild vs Edmonton Oilers 2-5 (1-3, 1-0, 0-2)

Due to a minor injury, Patrick O'Sullivan was out for this game and Gilbert Brule drew in in his place. Edmonton also made a technical change to their lineup in front of this game, listing Tangradi-Laich-Brule as their first line, making Penner-Gagner-Hemsky their second unit. Throughout the year, Minnesota had been the undefended yet wealthy chapel to Edmonton's pillaging raiders. This would prove to be another pirate attack.

The Oilers had barely come ashore before they struck gold bullion and gemstones. Ales Hemsky's marvellous stickhandling was an undeniable revelation as he swept by the defense to score on Harding. Another goal followed shortly thereafter, though Gagner's goal was uglier, scored from a broken play in front of the net. The Wild were running for the hills, and even when they had the fortune of going on the power play, Edmonton managed to pillage their fortunes with a short handed marker. Marco Sturm brought his team within two and thus provided some hope before the intermission.

Minnesota kept building on their play by keeping Edmonton to the outside for much of the second, though the home team was still the more offensively dominant of the two. Flashy forward Nik Zherdev was nonetheless the lone scorer of the middle frame, taking a nice wrist shot from in close that beat Khabibulin.

The Oilers scored early in the third and that appeared to deflate their opponents to the degree that the rest of the period became a comfortable event for fans and players alike. The recently composed third line centered by Andrew Cogliano got on the board and salted the numerous wounds of the visitors with a sweet tic-tac-toe play that Harding bitterly allowed despite getting a piece of the shot.

Post game: "Be careful that your victories don't carry the seed of future defeat" GM Kowalski quoted philosophically, noting that Edmonton, though controlling the game, allowed the Wild to bring it within a goal before the Oilers put the game away. "I don't necessarily think it's detrimental to us, but the tendency is certainly unnerving if we allow teams to come back when we are in such command." Nevertheless, the offensive power the Oilers harness against Minnesota has been a bright spot all year. Both Grebeshkov and Brule broke long scoreless streaks.

Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Hemsky (Gagner, Penner)
EDM - Gagner (Hemsky, Grebeshkov)
EDM - Moore (-) SH
MIN - Sturm (Bouchard, Havlat)

2nd Period:
MIN - Zherdev (Chistov, Hilbert)

3rd Period:
EDM - Laich (Tangradi, Brule)
EDM - Axelsson (Moore, Cogliano)


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Khabibulin
(Hiller)

Oilers outmatched by a better team

Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks 2-3 (2-1, 0-1, 0-1)

After a stretch of games against teams on the outside, looking in and the playoffs, the Oilers take on a sure-fire contender in the Anaheim Ducks. Their 42-18-9 record is second only to the Canucks in the West. Edmonton inserted starting netminder Khabibulin into the lineup, and Andrew Cogliano returned to the third line to push Brule out as a healthy scratch alongside Krysanov and Yonkman who have spent a number of games in the press box already. Despite their erratic record of late, the Oilers held on to fifth place in the West, three points ahead of sixth.

Edmonton took a surprising lead against the Ducks, who had not given up the first goal in nine games! O'Sullivan found his power play mojo with Penner and Laich - following a long cycling sequence they found space enough to light up backup Grahame. The joy was far from finite, however, as former Oilers blueliner Sheldon Souray sparked his and levelled the score not long after. Both teams had problems gaining the zone regularly, but O'Sullivan was able to score again before the intermission, once again set up by his in-form linemates Laich and Tangradi.

Spectators could not avoid observing the rather clear difference in style between the teams, the Ducks were by far the most aggressive and it paid off as a weak turnover by Petry turned into a Ryan breakaway on which he scored.

The Oilers retreated into their defensive zone motte and bailey without much success. The Ducks penetrated the exterior defenses in the totally asexual meaning of the word time and time again. As the siege was laid, the down low to blueline play was employed with relative succes, though Khabibulin and the defense blocked several attempts. Sheldon Souray's artillery was finally able to break through and it proved the game winner as Edmonton did not manage to cut loose and regain ground with eight minutes to go.

Post game: "Symptomatic of our problems, we are not enough of an offensive threat and give up leads too easily" answered head coach Constantine on the question of how he saw the game. Experts were debating how one could go about getting the first line back in the puzzle, as Hemsky and Gagner especially had been absent for several games in a row. Luckily, the Oilers were able to keep it close again through the play of their second line.

Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - O'Sullivan (Penner, Laich) PP
ANA - Souray (Christensen)
EDM - O'Sullivan (Laich, Tangradi)

2nd Period:
ANA - Ryan (Koivu, Whitney)

3rd Period:
ANA - Souray (Koivu, Grahame)


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Khabibulin
(Hiller)

Oilers beheaded by Kings

Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings 2-5 (1-2, 0-0, 1-3)

The Oilers opted to go with the same lineup that beat the Coyotes in a shootout last game, starting Jonas Hiller for the third straight game. Los Angeles had gone subterranean for the year by losing 5 in a row, formally sinking into the ground as they were already last in the Conference. Their deadline moves included moving scorers like Frolov and Stoll.

The Kings lack of scoring threats was not glaring in the first, even though the Oilers took the early lead through Greg Moore. Powerful centreman and undeniable elite talent Anze Kopitar equalised the score, before former Oiler veteran Ryan Smyth put the Kings ahead late on.

Apart from a few unfruitful power plays, there was little in terms of offensive action in the second. Both teams attempted to establish a physical presence, something which the Kings arguably did best with 18 hits in the period.

The third period was the scene of a beheading, and Michal Handzus put the Oilers on the chopping block with his SH goal six minutes into the period. Even though the Oilers answered on the same power play, they were overrun by a berserker-gang of Kings players who smelled blood and sliced through Hiller twice after that.

Post game: "Hugely disappointing" started GM Kowalski, before elaborating that the lack of power play conversion, only 1 goal in 8 chances and poor physical presence allowed the Kings to find space were there should have been none. Brooks Laich scored his 21st goal of the year and had a strong performance, but the overall effort was not good enough to win.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Moore (Moreau, Falardeau)
LAK - Kopitar (Mikus, Brown)
LAK - Smyth (Brown, Jones)

2nd Period:
-

3rd Period:
LAK - Handzus (-) SH
EDM - Laich (O'Sullivan, Penner) PP
LAK - Möller (Mikus, Kopitar)
LAK - Purcell (Segal)


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Hiller
(Khabibulin)

Oilers domesticate Coyotes

Edmonton Oilers vs Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 SO (0-2, 2-0, 1-1, 0-0, 1-0 SO)

The Oilers had lost the last two games at Jobing.com arena and faced a team on the rise. Three points out of the playoffs, the Coyotes had won three in a row and had a 30-30-8 record. Edmonton enjoyed the return of scoring forward Patrick O'Sullivan who slotted in on the second line, while Gilbert Brule took the place of temporarily sidelined Andrew Cogliano on the third line. Jonas Hiller got another start.

The Oilers started well, made some nice chances from the rush and looked to assume command of the game. Shane Doan, however, rejected this idea and scored a quick duce to stun the Oilers who had spent most of the time in the Phoenix zone.

Edmonton kept having most of the possession, but Phoenix were not subjugated by any means as their counter attacks kept posing significant problems for Hiller. Ultimately though, the Oilers overcame Bryzgalov and Laich put away an easy goal after Tangradi had driven to the net and caused havoc for the defense. The same duo were involved in the game tying goal late in the second, but it was returning Patrick O'Sullivan who made this goal by humiliating former Oiler Lashoff before dishing the puck to an open Laich who made no mistake.

It was the same blood through the same vein in the third, the Oilers controlled play, but the 'Yotes created chances on quick rushes. Radim Vrbata finished off one of those counter attacks by ramming the puck by Hiller on a one-timer. The home fans were beginning to get comfortable with the idea of a win when Greg Moore managed to send the game to overtime just fifteen seconds before full time! Again, Laich and Tangradi were involved to give Edmonton the necessary offense to prevail.

The overtime period provided to resolution, in spite of a full two minute power play for the Oilers - on which Bryzgalov proved himself once again and gave himself and his team a chance to win in a shootout. That was not to be, however, as both Tangradi and O'Sullivan beat Bryzgalov, but only Prucha managed to score for Phoenix.

Post game: The Oilers were carried by their second line, now featuring sniper O'Sullivan along strong forwards Tangradi and Laich. The almost complete absence of threat from the Hemsky-Gagner-Penner line was eclipsed by fine performances by the bottom 2 lines and a superb one from the second line. Jonas Hiller, although shakey on a couple of the goals, were able to turn away the shots at the key moments, allowing the win.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
PHX - Doan (Lashoff, Pyatt)
PHX - Doan (Lombardi, Pyatt)

2nd Period:
EDM - Laich (Tangradi, O'Sullivan)
EDM - Laich (O'Sullivan, Tangradi)

3rd Period:
PHX - Vrbata (Stuart, Bissonnette)
EDM - Moore (Laich, Tangradi)



Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Hiller
(Khabibulin)

Oilers shut out by Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes vs Edmonton Oilers 2-0 (0-0, 0-0, 2-0)

Edmonton took on the struggling Hurricanes making just one line change, putting Jonas Hiller in net to start the game. Carolina were six points outside the playoff cut in the Eastern Conference with a 30-34-4 record.

There was an almost uncanny difference in the matchup between these two teams compared to the Battle of Alberta that took place two nights ago - this being a far more open, action-filled tilt. Jussi Jokinen and Sergei Samsonov's speed created trouble for the home team throughout the first, but clever linematching allowed Visnovsky and Babchuk to contain the threat following a few dangerous shifts. Andrew Cogliano went down with an injury late in the period and could not return.

In the tooth-and-nail fight that developed in the second, both Hiller and Ward kept their teams in the game with admirable performances. The edge-of-the-seat game effectively silenced the crowd who were too busy biting their nails to make any signifcant noise but sounds of anticipation and dismay as one shot after another was turned away at both ends.

The game was finally graced with a goal when former Oilers hero Bill Guerin scored within a minute of the third period opening face off. Guerin added to that on a power play three minutes later and the Oilers looked stunned, having followed their opponents so closely in two periods they now looked to be left behind. Despite a few great chances for Hemsky and Penner late on, Cam Ward completed his mission and left Edmonton with a shut out.

Post game: "We should be able to win games like this, but Cam Ward was absolutely tremendous" said an impressed Edmonton GM of the loss. Eric Tangradi had a great game, as did Penner, but the Oilers again lacked that little extra to bust open a game that they could have taken.

Scoreboard
1st Period:
-
2nd Period:
-
3rd Period:
CAR - Guerin (Ruutu, Gorges)
CAR - Guerin (Staal, Pitkänen) PP

Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
INJ - Andrew Cogliano (bruised ankle, out a few days)

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Hiller
(Khabibulin)

Oilers burned by Flames

Calgary Flames vs Edmonton Oilers 2-1 (2-1, 0-0, 0-0)

Despite having an impressive 42-19-4 record the Flames were not on top of the Northwest Division, but remained a point behind powerhouses Vancouver, though Calgary had a comfortable 11 point gap to their Alberta rivals. The Oilers, who were brimming with confidence, made no changes to the lineup that decimated the Wild two nights ago.

With both teams held up in their ramparts at the start, the game started somewhat tentatively. Ethan Moreau was able to breach the fortification, however, and scored a fine goal from in close to open the fight. Checking liner Garth Murray equalled Moreau's goal eight minutes later, taking the puck well from a Nagy pass and squeezed the shot by Khabibulin. Jarome Iginla then quickly added to his strong season totals by netting a power play goal with a slap shot from the top of the circle.

Neither team had the offensive prowess to circumvent each other's defenses during the final two periods. The shots were too often taken from low percentage angles, more hopeful than realistically dangerous releases. Calgary's penalty kill limited the Oilers passing lanes in marvellous fashion, overcoming eight full minor penalties. The impatient home fans were clearly distraught with the lack of conversion on the man advantage. Nonetheless, it was the kind of game one comes to expect between these teams - close, intense and not necessarily the most entertaining hockey, though it is always entertaining as such.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Moreau (Falardeau, O'Marra)
CGY - G. Murray (Nagy, Moss)
CGY - Iginla (Langkow, Bourque) PP

2nd Period:
-
3rd Period:
-


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

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

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Khabibulin
(Hiller)