Oilers 4, Flames 2
edmontonoilers.com
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Game Day Centre
Post-Game Podcast
Three Stars
- Mathieu Garon, EDM
Stopped 37 of 39 shots as a surprise starter.
- Matthew Lombardi, CGY
Had an assist and created several chances all night.
- Shawn Horcoff, EDM
Edmonton's offensive leader with a pair of goals.
Update
- With the win, the Oilers moved within two points of Calgary and four points of seventh place in the Western Conference.
What's Next
- The Oilers have a few days to rest before they meet the Vancouver Canucks at GM Place on Wednesday night to wrap up this four-game road trip. That game is at 8:00 p.m. MST and can be seen on TSN.
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Shawn Horcoff's two third period goals enabled the Oilers to knock off the Flames, 4-2, in Saturday's Battle of Alberta at the Pengrowth Saddledome. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Edmonton.
Mathieu Garon got the start in goal tonight for Edmonton while Miikka Kiprusoff got the nod for the 17th straight game for Calgary.
Two minutes into the game,
Sam Gagner scored after centering the puck from the corner. It bounced in off a Flames player in front with Marty Reasoner providing traffic in the crease.
Calgary went on the power play several minutes later after Geoff Sanderson received two minutes for hooking.
On the ensuing power play, Garon made an unbelievable save coming across to rob Owen Nolan on a one-timer attempt after he received a nice cross-ice pass from Kristian Huselius. Garon even punched out Nolan's rebound attempt.
Through the first eight minutes, shots on goal were 7-1 for Calgary but Edmonton's lone shot went in.
With 6:20 to go in the first, Marcus Nilson was absolutely robbed on a backhand attempt by Garon as the Oilers netminder stretched his leg out to deny him of a sure goal while at the left side of the net.
With 3:49 left in the opening frame, Allan Rourke dropped the gloves with Eric Nystrom. Rourke got the better of Nystrom thanks to some late shots but both players got a rousing ovation from their respective benches.
Edmonton was pressing to make the score 2-0 as both Torres and Smid were buzzing deep in the Calgary zone. Kiprusoff made several big stops on each player.
The play then carried back up ice as Craig Conroy chipped the puck to Iginla along the side boards. The Flames captain then threw it across the slot to Alex Tanguay who chipped the puck just over the outstretched right pad of Garon.
Edmonton had a chance to take the lead late in the period when David Hale took a penalty and the Oilers took advantage.
With time ticking off the clock,
Andrew Cogliano found Robert Nilsson on the side boards. Nilsson one-timed a blast for his first of the season.
After one period, Calgary had a 12-10 edge in shots over Edmonton.
While shorthanded in the second period,
Andrew Cogliano created a turnover in the neutral zone and skated into the Calgary zone on a two-on-one with Torres. Cogliano elected to shoot and Kiprusoff had to be sharp in making the save.
Calgary almost tied the game seven minutes into the middle frame. Matthew Lombardi's shot beat Garon but not until the Flames centre bowled over the Oilers netminder. Lombardi received two minutes for goaltender interference on the play and the goal was waived off.
On the ensuing power play, Kiprusoff made an amazing save after Nilsson set up
Tom Gilbert with a great cross-ice pass. Gilbert tried to one-time it in but Kiprusoff came across to stop the puck.
Past the midway point of the period, Garon made several great saves during a scramble in front of the Oilers crease.
Penner and Rourke both had good chances to double the Edmonton lead late in th e second. First, Penner was sent in on a breakaway by Horcoff but lost control of the puck as he tried to deke out Kiprusoff.
Several minutes later, Rourke found himself on a two-on-one. He elected to shoot and it went just wide of the net.
After two periods, shots on goal were 29-22 for the Flames.
58 seconds into the third,
Ales Hemsky injured what looked like his wrist after a hit from behind by Flames defenceman Robyn Regehr.
On the power play that followed, Kiprusoff made a great glove save off a Jarret Stoll point shot to keep Calgary in the game.
Nilsson used his speed to almost break in alone on the Flames but was upended by Kristian Huselius, giving Edmonton a power play.
The Oilers capitalized once again with the man advantage. Penner's initial shot was blocked in front but Horcoff was right at the top of the crease where he banged home the rebound.
The Oilers were dominating the first half of the third, outshooting Calgary 8-1.
Edmonton's resolve was tested just past the 10 minute mark of the final frame as penalties to Stoll and Staios a minute apart gave Calgary a lengthy two-man advantage.
Calgary scored on the two-man power play to make it 3-2. Robyn Regehr blasted a shot from the left point that beat Garon through the five hole.
With six minutes left in the third, Dick Tarnstrom's point shot was tipped on its way to the net by
Shawn Horcoff. The shot was redirected past Kiprusoff to help the Oilers regain their two-goal lead.
NOTES: Kyle Brodziak played centre for the first time this season, between Geoff Sanderson and
Zack Stortini... Both of
Sam Gagner's goals this season have come in Calgary against Miikka Kiprusoff in the first period of the game... Tonight's game was Robert Nilsson's first in Calgary against the Flames. Nilsson's father Kent played for the Flames and Robert was born in here in 1985.
- photo by Jonathan Kozub edmontonoilers.com
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| Three star selections |
| 1st: |
MATHIEU GARON |
| 2nd: |
MATTHEW LOMBARDI |
| 3rd: |
SHAWN HORCOFF |
Winning Goaltender
Mathieu Garon
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Losing Goaltender
Miikka Kiprusoff
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