CENOVUS GAME STORY

Under the Scope: Oilers vs. Hurricanes

An in-depth look at Wednesday's 5-3 loss to Carolina

Wednesday, 07.12.2011 / 10:05 PM / Cenovus Game Story
By Travis Knee  - edmontonoilers.com


It was not the effort the Oilers were looking for following Saturday's loss to Calgary coupled with a three day break. The Oilers were outplayed from the start of tonight's game and walked away with their second straight 5-3 loss.

With the game tied 1-1 into the second period, the Hurricanes got three consecutive goals in the period to take control of the game. The Oilers will now turn their attention to Friday night as they try to get back in the win column.

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

Trailing 3-1 in the second period, the Oilers were on the powerplay with a chance to get themselves back into this game. Instead a sloppy play led to a short-handed goal by Hurricanes forward Chad Larose. That would put Carolina up 4-1 and they wouldn't look back.
54 The faceoff winning percentage for the Oilers overall in tonight's game. They would win 32 of 59 draws.
1 The first win in the NHL for Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller.
30 With his goal tonight, RNH became the fastest rookie in Oilers history to record 30 points. It took him just 28 games.
8 The number of shots Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner had tonight. The most of any player in the game.
 


Jeff Skinner
G A P +/- Shots
1 0 1 +1 8


Chad Larose
G A P +/- Shots
1 0 1 E 5



Andy Sutton
G A P +/- Shots
0 1 1 +2 0



 
HURRICANES
Cam Ward
SA SV GA TOI SV%
25 22 3 60:00 .880
OILERS
Devan Dubnyk
SA SV GA TOI SV%
33 28 5 57:51 .848



 
 HURRICANES
  Jamie Mcbain- D

23:07 - 1 PTS, E rating
OILERS
  Shawn Horcoff- C

21:43 - 0 PTS, -2 rating

In one of the few bright spots for the Oilers in tonight's game, Ben Eager would score his first goal as an Oiler. Eager would drive hard to the net and pick up a rebound; pulling the puck to his forehand, Eager kicked the puck to his stick and slid it past Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward.

Jeff Skinner showed why he is one of the best young players in the league tonight. With the Oilers ahead 1-0 midway through the first, Skinner burried his 12th goal of year. He would continue to create offence throughout the night for Carolina, helping them secure the win.

Despite getting outplayed in most aspects of tonight's game, the Oilers Andy Sutton went about having a solid game. He used his size well and added an assist while also having a +2 rating in a losing effort. The big man played a total of 18:23 on his way to being tonight's unsung hero.

Eric Belanger finally has his first goal as an Oiler. Belanger opened the scoring in the first when he went to the net and had his skate shovel the puck past Cam Ward. Originally given to Magnus Paajarvi, the goal was reviewed and credited to Belanger.
 


"We didn't have enough passion to play. We didn't have an emotional connection to the game. I'm pretty disappointed."

-- Oilers head coach Tom Renney on his team's effort against the Carolina Hurricanes.


Friday, December 9  vs. Colorado
  7:30pm MDT (TSN / 630 CHED)

The Oilers Will finish off a six-game homstand Friday night with a visit from the Colorado Avalanche. It will be the third meeting of the year between these two teams with both of the previous games being in Colorado. Each team has one win and the game can be seen live on TSN.


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