CENOVUS GAME STORY

Under the Scope: Oilers vs. Stars

An in-depth look at Edmonton's 3-1 loss to Dallas on Friday night.

Friday, 02.03.2012 / 10:20 PM / Cenovus Game Story
By Travis Knee  - edmontonoilers.com


The Oilers came out on the wrong side of a defensive battle tonight, falling 3-1 to the Dallas Stars. Edmonton was able to keep their opposition to only 15 shots on goal but could not generate enough offence themselves. 

After pulling the goalie late in the third, Stars forward Michael Ryder quickly scored into the empty-net making it 3-0. On the Oilers 20th shot, Sam Gagner got them on the board but it was too little too late.


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

A defensive battle was broken at 8:35 of the second period when Stars forward Radek Dvorak won a battle in front of the net and knocked one past Nikolai Khabibulin. The Stars gave the Oilers little room the rest of the way, going on to win 3-1.
50 The faceoff winning percentage for the Oilers overall in tonight's game. They won 27 of 54 draws.
1 The amount of goals the Oilers have been able to score in each of the three games against Dallas this season. 4-1, 4-1, and 3-1 losses.
8 With the win tonight, the Stars were able to hold on to that 8th and final playoff spot in the West for now.
 


Kari Lehtonen
SA SV GA TOI SV%
20 19 1 60:00 .950


Jamie Benn
G A P +/- Shots
0 1 1 +1 0



Jeff Petry
G A P +/- Shots
0 0 0 +1 1



 
STARS
Kari Lehtonen
SA SV GA TOI SV%
20 19 1 60:00 .950
OILERS
Nikolai Khabibulin
SA SV GA TOI SV%
14 12 2 59:30 .857



 
 STARS
  Alex Goligoski- D

22:08 - 0 PTS, E rating
OILERS
  Jeff Petry- D

23:54 - 0 PTS, +1 rating

With time running out in the game and the Oilers down 3-0, Sam Gagner would score a beauty with just 30 seconds remaining. Ales Hemsky would carry the puck into the attacking zone and feed a cross-ice pass to Sam. Gagner would make no mistake, putting the one-time slap shot top corner.

WATCH THE GOAL

Although not really busy, Stars netminder Kari Lehtonen made the key saves when he had to for the win. With the Stars in the thick of the race for the final playoff spot in the West, Lehtonen had to keep his focus sharp in stopping 19 of 20 shots he faced.

Jeff Petry continues to develop for the Edmonton Oilers. Petry would lead all Oilers in ice-time, playing 23:54 while having a +1 rating in the losing effort. Petry continues to log big minutes and play a key role on the Oilers backend.

Tonight's low shot total is nothing new for these two teams. It was actually in a game between the Stars and Oilers back in 1999 that the franchise record for fewest shots in a period by both teams was set. The total was five; Dallas having three and Edmonton two.


"We made two poor net plays and that was the difference in the game. I'm frustrated."

-- Tom Renney on tonight's mistakes against the Stars.


Monday, March 5  vs. Anaheim
  8:00pm MST (SNET-W / 630 CHED)

The Oilers will head south following tonight's game for a game against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night. It will be the second game of the season between the two clubs with the Ducks handing Edmonton a lopsided 5-0 defeat on Rexall ice. The game can be seen live on Sportsnet West.