CENOVUS GAME STORY

Under the Scope: Oilers vs. Flames

An in-depth look at Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Flames

Saturday, 26.03.2011 / 9:10 PM / Cenovus Game Story
By Karmela Arocena  - edmontonoilers.com



With the Oilers on a current eight-game losing streak, the team came into Saturday's Battle of Alberta hoping to come away with their first win since Mar. 5.  With the Flames battling for a playoff spot, Edmonton was also hoping to play spoiler and deny their provincial rivals of a valuable two points.

The first period saw a lot of odd bounces and passes for both teams, but the Oilers were able to end the period with a 1-0 lead after a goal by Magnus Paajarvi.  In the second, the Flames scored on their second powerplay of the night to tie the game 1-1, but Teemy Hartikainen restored the Oilers' lead just x:xx later with his first NHL goal.  Colin Fraser added another goal, this time shorthanded, late in the middle frame, making it 3-1 heading into the second intermission.

The Oilers scored again when Ryan Jones potted a goal just 3:31 into the start of the third period.  But after that, the Flames answered with three unanswered goals to tie the game and force overtime.  Little happened with the extra time, and the two teams went to a shootout.

Oilers rookie Jordan Eberle shot first, but was stymied by Miikka Kiprusoff.  Alex Tanguay was the Flames' first shooter, and was able to get the puck past Devan Dubnyk.  Ryan Jones attempt missed the net, but Dubnyk answered back by stopping Rene Bourque.  With Teemu Hartikainen failing to score in the Oilers' final attempt, the Flames were able to pull off the comeback win, by a score of 5-4.

Devan Dubnyk was between the pipes tonight, and stopped 27 of the 31 shots he faced through 65:00 minutes of play.  In the shootout, he stopped one of two shooters.


All you need to know and more as we go Under the Scope:

Game Recap | Oilers This Week  | Post-Game Interviews |  Highlights  |  Post-Game Audio


Ryan Jones scored just 3:31 into the third period, making it 4-1, making it seem that the Oilers were in prime position to end their eight-game winless streak.  However, the Flames didn't give up and scored three unanswered goals to tie it.  That goal to tie it 4-4 came with just 1:55 left in regulation from former Oiler Steve Staios, and definitely gave the Flames the momentum they needed to eventually win the contest 5-4 in the shootout.
54 Edmonton mustered a 54% success rate in the faceoff circle tonight. Rookie Chris VandeVelde had the best efficiency rate on the Oilers, winning 15 draws and losing 7, ending with a 68% rate.
9 With Teemu Hartikainen scoring his first NHL goal in tonight's game, he becomes the ninth player this season to score their first NHL goal with the Oilers.
8 The Oilers have eight shorthanded goals on the season after Colin Fraser scored his third goal of the season shorthanded.
38 The hit counter was off the chart for the home team tonight.  Edmonton recorded an amazing 38 hits tonight, twice as many as the Flames 19.


Teemu Hartikainen
G A P +/- Shots
1 0 1 +1 3


Jarome Iginla
G A P +/- Shots
2 1 3 -2 2


Magnus Paajarvi
G A P +/- Shots
1 0 1 E 6



FLAMES
Miikka Kiprusoff
SA SV GA TOI SV%
21 17 4 65:00 .810
OILERS
Devan Dubnyk
SA SV GA TOI SV%
31 27 4 65:00 .871



FLAMES
Jay Bouwmeester - D

29:53 - 0P, -1 rating
OILERS
Tom Gilbert - D

26:03 - 0P, +2 rating


At 9:41 of the first, Devan Dubnyk made a spectacular play that could be the save of the year for the Oilers.  At 9:41 of the first period, Dubnyk absolutely robbed Olli Jokinen of a sure goal after he received a pass from Alex Tanguay.  Dubnyk was able to go from post-to-post, diving to make the save where Jokinen had an open net shot.


Magnus Paajarvi continues to show that he is a valuable player for the Oilers, and a great player to have.  The Swedish forward was third star tonight and played 19:22 minutes, even after leaving for part of the game to get some medical attention.  He opened the scoring at 15:24 of the first period, and also registered the most shots on goal for the team with 6.


Chris VandeVelde is proving to be a valuable player since being called up from the Oklahoma City Barons.  The first year forward has only played a handful of NHL games, but he is posting impressive faceoff numbers, tonight posting a 68% success rate in the faceoff dot, the best of the Oilers tonight.  Not only that, but in 17:25 of ice time in tonight's game, he was a +1.


Theo Peckham didn't waste anytime to get physical in tonight's Battle of Alberta.  At 3:31 in the first period, Peckham laid down a thunderous hit on Flames forward Lance Bouma, sending him to the ice as the crowd at Rexall cheered on the bruising defenceman's hit.  It was one of the five hits Peckham laid down on the night.


With Fraser scoring a shorthanded goal late in the second period, it marked the first time the Oilers' forward had scored in 50 games.  His last goal came during a game in New Jersey on Nov. 12, where he netted two goals.
 

"Of course I feel great, I got my first goal.  I feel mad, we lost the game. It was a tough game and we all played so well together, the whole group.  It's tough to say my feelings right now. It's happy and it's mad."

- Teemu Hartikainen on the bittersweet feeling of tonight's game after scoring his first NHL goal, but losing the contest


Tuesday, March 29 vs. Los Angeles
  7:30pm MDT (TSN / 630 CHED)

The Oilers finish up a short, two-game homestand Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Kings.  The game marks the return of Dustin Penner to Edmonton after being traded on Feb. 28.  The game is also Rod Phillips' final time calling a game.