CENOVUS GAME STORY

Under the Scope: Oilers vs. Blue Jackets

An in-depth look at Friday's 6-3 win over Columbus.

Friday, 02.12.2011 / 9:55 PM / Cenovus Game Story
By Travis Knee  - edmontonoilers.com



Trailing 2-1 heading into the third period, the Oilers got a Hat-trick from Ryan Jones to help lift the team to a 6-3 win Friday night. The win snapped a three-game winless streak for the Oil and gave them a much needed two points.

The Oilers came out flat to start the game and were outshot 21-7 in the first period. They were able to turn it around though and come out like a team that wanted the win in the third period.

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

With the Oilers trailing 2-1 early in the third period, hard-working forward Ryan Jones took a feed from Ryan Smyth and beat Curtis Sanford to tie the game. It was Jones 7th goal of the season and it turned the tide of this game helping the Oilers to a 6-3 win.
53 The faceoff winning percentage for the Oilers overall in tonight's game. They would win 35 of 66 draws.
1 The first NHL hat-trick for Oilers forward Ryan Jones.
5 The number of Oilers to have a multi-point game tonight against Columbus.
2 Oilers defencemen Ladislav Smid scored his second goal of the season tonight against Columbus, the team he scored his first ever goal against.
 


Ryan Jones
G A P +/- Shots
3 0 2 +3 3


Ryan Smyth
G A P +/- Shots
0 2 2 +2 4



Derek Dorsett
G A P +/- Shots
2 0 2 +2 3



 
BLUE JACKETS
Curtis Sanford
SA SV GA TOI SV%
33 28 5 59:09 .848
OILERS
Devan Dubnyk
SA SV GA TOI SV%
39 36 3 59:56 .923



 
 BLUE JACKETS
  Nikita Nikitin- D

24:22 - 0 PTS, +1 rating
OILERS
  Tom Gilbert- D

22:57 - 2 PTS, +1 rating

One thing that is already very clear to Oilers fans this season, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins knows how to pass the puck! The rookie sensation was at it again tonight, setting up Jordan Eberle for a beauty powerplay goal. With the game tied 0-0 early in the first, Nugent-Hopkins sent a slick saucer pass cross-seam to Eberle who made it 1-0.

• WATCH THE GOAL

Oilers forward Ryan Jones' role is to provide energy. He certainly did that and more tonight against the Blue Jackets. Jones would tie the game 2-2 in the third period with his 7th of the season. He would then score the eventual winner and add an empty-net goal to complete the hat-trick . The Oilers would go on to win the game 6-3.

The Oilers backup goaltender was great tonight, keeping his team close despite being peppered by shots in the first period. The Oilers allowed 21 shots against in the opening frame but Devan Dubnyk was sharp and gave his team a chance to come back and get the win.

Jordan Eberle enjoys playing the Columbus Blue Jackets. Despite adding another goal in tonight's game, It was against Columbus that Eberle had his first multi-goal NHL game. That came back on Dec. 16, 2010 when he had two goals in another 6-3 Oilers win.
 


"Go Play. If you're going to lose a game, do it trying to win."

-- Head Coach Tom Renney' s message to his team in the second intermission of Friday's game.


Saturday, December 3 vs. Calgary
  8:00pm MDT (CBC / 630 CHED)

The Battle of Alberta resumes tomorrow night when the Calgary Flames visit Rexall Place. It will be the second meeting between the two clubs this season with the Flames winning the first round 2-1. The game can be seen live on CBC as the second game on HNIC.


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