OILERS DROP FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON

Tomas Holmstrom tips a shot that was stopped by Dwayne Roloson. - photo by Gregory Shamus Getty Images

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Photo Gallery Tonight's Photo Gallery Post-Game Podcast Assistant coach Billy Moores Three Stars Mikael Samuelsson, DET Scored a goal and had an assist. Andrew Cogliano, EDM Scored his first career NHL goal. Chris Chelios, DET His first goal of the season after not scoring all of last year. What's Next Edmonton continues their road trip with a visit to Minnesota on Wednesday. Game time is 6:00 p.m. MDT.

Andrew Cogliano scored his first career NHL goal but it wasn't enough as the Edmonton Oilers dropped a 4-2 decision to the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena Monday night.

The first two penalties of the game went to the Oilers. the first penalty was assessed to Joni Pitkanen and several minutes later Steve Staios was sent off for tripping.

Just as the penalty expired, Mikael Samuelsson took the puck behind the Edmonton net before coming in front and backhanded it through the legs of a surprised Roloson to put the Red Wings in front 1-0.

Midway through the first, Edmonton had its first opportunity on the power play but were unable to generate much before Dustin Penner was sent off for interference 52 seconds into the man advantage.

Three minutes later, Chris Chelios scored to give the Red Wings a 2-0 lead. Chelios pinched in deep to pick up a rebound which Roloson also stopped but with the Oilers netminder out of position, Chelios put the third shot up and over him to score his first of the season.

Edmonton bounced right back, however. Right off the faceoff, the Oilers struck for their first of the night to close the gap to one goal. 19 seconds after the Chelios marker, Ales Hemsky found Shawn Horcoff in the slot and he fired it past Hasek to make it 2-1.

After one period, shots on goal were 14-5 in favour of Detroit.

Detroit got off to a fast start in the second period. Pavel Datsyuk had a chance early in the period as he got in behind the Oilers defence and fired a shot on Roloson. Staios had to take a penalty on the play to try and tie up Datsyuk.

Seconds into the man advantage and 27 seconds into the period, Tomas Holmstrom put in a rebound while stationed in front of the net to extend the Detroit lead to 3-1.

Just past the midway point of the period, Jiri Hudler deflected a wobbly point shot from Chelios. The puck snuck past Roloson but rang off the right post behind the Oilers goaltender.

Cogliano and Nilsson almost teamed up for Edmonton's second goal late in the period. Nilsson made a nice move at the blueline before dropping the puck to Cogliano. He then made a quick deke around Samuelsson before driving towards the Detroit net. His wrist shot from the slot was rifled just wide of Hasek.

With seconds left in the middle frame, the duo teamed up again and this time they didn't miss. Nilsson made a great fake shot play then dropped the puck to Pitkanen. The Finnish defenceman then took the puck deep into the Detroit zone, found Cogliano streaking in on the right wing side and put the puck right on his tape. Cogliano made no mistake, firing it in for his first career NHL goal.

Shots after two were 23-12 for Detroit.

Coach MacTavish started to juggle his lines late in the second and in the third. He put Cogliano on a line with Torres and Nilsson while putting Stoll with Gagner and Pouliot. It paid off with Edmonton's second goal and the Cogliano-Torres-Nilsson unit was dangerous in the third as well.

Torres was set up on a nice play by Nilsson about five minutes into the third. He had two great chances from the slot but Hasek came up with a couple of big saves to keep his team in the lead.

Edmonton continued to put on the pressure as the game went on. Horcoff almost got a hold of a loose puck in the crease with Hasek out of the play but the Wings were able to clear it. out of harm's way.

Kris Draper added an empty netter to make the final 4-2.

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Shawn Horcoff scores a first period goal on Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek. - photo by Dave Reginek Detroit Red Wings