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Khabibulin, Hall & Jones make this week's list of top plays!

Monday, 03.01.2011 / 8:00 AM / Plays of the Week
By edmontonoilers.com staff
Each week, edmontonoilers.com reviews all the top goals, saves, hits and fights and narrows it down to the final three. That means it's up to you, the fans, to decide which is the top play for the week.

The Oilers have yet to record on a win on this current homestand, but there were still plenty of spectacular plays to choose from as we look for another weekly champion. This week, Nikolai Khabibulin, Taylor Hall and Ryan Jones all go head-to-head in a battle for supremacy.

Last week, Devan Dubnyk's quick pad save emerged victorious with 37% of the votes over Ryan O'Marra's first career NHL goal (33%) and Ryan Whitney's second goal of the season (30%). Who will win this week? Watch the clips & vote!

Khabibulin's Breakaway Denial

One of the greatest rarities in today's game is watching a two-on-zero develop. That's exactly what happened against the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday night, but Edmonton's patient netminder was up to the task.

After Tom Gilbert and Kurtis Foster were caught pinching offensively, Nathan Gerbe came in alone on Khabibulin, along with teammate Thomas Vanek. Gerbe elected to keep the puck as he hoped Khabibulin would bite with the added Sabre distraction. The veteran goaltender out-waited Gerbe and made a fantastic pad save to keep the game tied at one.

WATCH THE CLIP

Hall Cashes In

Taylor Hall's team-leading 12th goal of the season happened to be one of the most important of the current homestand. Although it could be described as a simple tap-in, the events leading up to the play made this one of the week's most impressive plays.

After keeping the puck in at the blueline, defenceman Kurtis Foster attempted to throw a shot on goal. The initital chance was blocked, but was eventually picked up by Sam Gagner. The 21-year old centre curled to the outside, where he then found Hall searching for a soft spot on the opposite side. The pass connected and so, too, did Hall's redirect to the back of the cage.

WATCH THE CLIP

Jones Finishes the Play

Trailing 1-0 in the New Year's Day Battle of Alberta, the Oilers were in need of a second period spark. That happened courtesy of some brilliant passing and a smooth finish.

Dustin Penner collected the puck on the half boards, where he then dished to an offensively active Tom Gilbert. The reliable defenceman made a move to the inside and slid a perfectly placed backhanded pass onto the tape of Jones, who one-timed the puck to beat Miikka Kiprusoff. It was a tremendous display of vision and skill as the Oilers tied the game 1-1.

WATCH THE CLIP

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Author: edmontonoilers.com staff