CENOVUS GAME STORY

Under the Scope: Oilers vs. Devils

An in-depth look at Edmonton's 2-1 overtime loss to New Jersey Wednesday night.

Wednesday, 11.01.2012 / 9:08 PM / Cenovus Game Story
By Travis Knee  - edmontonoilers.com


The Oilers returned home to Rexall Place for the first time in a few weeks. The result was not what the fans were hoping for as they fell 2-1 to the New Jersey Devils. The loss was the fourth in a row for an Oilers team that is struggling to find ways to win hockey games.

Trailing 1-0 in the third period, the Oilers looked to grab some momentum when Ales Hemsky tied the game on the power-play. Unfortunately Corey Potter took a penalty in the final minute of regulation and the Devils scored on the power-play in overtime to take the two points.


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

After the Oilers battled back to tie the game 1-1 in the third period, New Jersey would get a power-play with time running out in regulation. Starting the overtime 4-on-3 gave the Devils the small window they needed when Patrik Elias found Zach Parise in the slot for the winning goal.
51 The faceoff winning percentage for the Oilers overall in tonight's game. They won 25 of 49 draws.
5 The number of power-play chances the Oilers had in tonight's game. They scored one goal but also allowed one shorthanded.
3 The number points the Oilers have managed over their last 8 games (1 win, 1 OT loss).
13:53 The amount of ice-time for Magnus Paajarvi in his first game back from OKC. He had no points with a -1 rating.
 


Taylor Hall
G A P +/- Shots
0 1 1 E 5


Ilya Kovalchuk
G A P +/- Shots
1 1 2 +1 6



Zach Parise
G A P +/- Shots
1 0 1 E 5



 
DEVILS
Johan Hedberg
SA SV GA TOI SV%
23 22 1 60:58 .957
OILERS
Nikolai Khabibulin
SA SV GA TOI SV%
25 23 2 61:06 .920



 
 DEVILS
  Bryce Salvador- D

25:56 - 0 PTS, +1 rating
OILERS
  Jeff Petry- D

23:42 - 0 PTS, -1 rating

With the Oilers on the power-play in the second period, it was the Devils that drew first blood in this one. Jeff Petry had his shot blocked from the point by Ilya Kovalchuk who then broke in all alone to score the games first goal. Fighting off a backchecking Petry, Kovalchuk would snap one top-shelf to beat Khabibulin.

WATCH THE GOAL

The Devils Zach Parise was easily one of the better players on the ice in tonight's game. He used his speed to get in hard on the forecheck and really looked like a player who wanted the win. He was rewarded for his effort when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

Devils goaltender Johan Hedberg was not overly busy in tonight's game, but was effective when called upon. After the Devils allowed 6 goals on 14 shots the other night in Calgary, Hedberg was able to stop 22 of 23 shots he faced for the 2-1 win.

Suffering from injuries, the Oilers called up forward Milan Kytnar from the ECHL for tonight's game. Milan played a total of 5:31 and recorded his first ever shot on goal in the NHL.
 


"You're not going to do cartwheels when you get a point. You're here to get two"

-- Oilers head coach Tom Renney on the team's result tonight against the Devils.


Friday, January 13  vs. Anaheim
  7:30pm MDT (SNET / 630 CHED)

The Oilers will play their second of a three-game homestand Friday night when they welcome Corey Perry and the Anaheim Ducks to Rexall Place. It will be the first meeting of the year between these two teams and can be seen live on Sportsnet West.
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