Avalanche 3, Oilers 2

Ales Hemsky tries to complete an end-to-end rush against Avs goaltender Peter Budaj - photo by Andy Devlin Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club

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Game Day Centre Preview Game Notes Oilers TV Game Program Photo Gallery Click here for tonight's photos OILERS TV Watch video highlights of tonight's game. 700K Post-Game Comments from Staios, Horcoff, Pitkanen & MacTavish. 700K Post-Game Podcast Post-game comments from Staios, Horcoff, Pitkanen & MacTavish   Three Stars (As voted on right here at edmontonoilers.com) Ales Hemsky, EDM One goal, one assist on the night. Shawn Horcoff, EDM Also had a goal and an assist. Mathieu Garon, EDM Stopped 29 of 32 shots. What's Next Edmonton plays game five of their six-game homestand this Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. That game can be seen on Hockey Night in Canada starting at 8:00 p.m. MST. It is also Tickets for Troops night where a number of soliders and their families will be in attendance thanks to season seat and mini-pack holders who donated tickets.

The Edmonton Oilers came back to tie the Avalanche twice but couldn't do it a third time, losing 3-2 Thursday night at Rexall Place.

Colorado got on the board first when Brett Clark rang the puck around the boards in the Edmonton zone. The puck went in behind the net and around the boards where Ryan Smyth picked it up. Smyth then passed it to Karlis Skrastins in the slot who one-timed it through the five hole past Garon.

Edmonton went on its first power play of the night midway through the opening period. As the Oilers' top line was cycling deep in the Avalanche zone, Robert Nilsson was upended by Cody McCormick. However, the man advantage was cut short due to a hooking penalty by Gagner.

With six minutes to go in the period, Ales Hemsky skated end-to-end before cutting in front of the Avalanche goal to try and backhand the puck in. He was unsuccessful but held onto the puck, carrying it along the boards in the Colorado zone. He was pinned against the boards by Avs defenceman Kurt Sauer, drawing a holding call.

On the ensuing power play, Cogliano almost tied the game. He had the puck to the right side of Budaj but was at too much of an angle to find the open cage.

After the penalty expired, Colorado made a return trip to the box after Joe Sakic hooked Marty Reasoner along the side boards in the Avs zone.

It took the Oilers seven seconds on the power play this time to score and tie the game up. Horcoff took a pass from Hemsky and wristed it through Budaj to make it 1-1.

Each team had seven shots on goal after the first period.

With Colorado on the power play early in the second, Smyth almost scored to give the Avs the lead. He fanned on his one-timer from the right circle but it fooled Garon enough to sneak through his legs. The puck hit the post behind the Edmonton netminder, however.

FIve minutes into the period, Garon received two minutes for tripping. Sam Gagner served the penalty and at the end of the power play, Colorado scored before he could get back into the play.

Milan Hejduk tipped a point shot from John-Michael Liles to move the Avs in front by a goal once again but it was shortlived.

41 seconds later, Hemsky took an offering from Horcoff and blasted it short side past Budaj to tie the game at 2-2.

Colorado regainedthe lead midway through the second. Wojtek Wolski found Marek Svatos in the slot. Garon stopped the initial shot but the rebound was kicked towards the net by Svatos. After a video review, it was shown that he managed to get a stick on the puck before it crossed the line.

With 40 seconds left in the second, Raffi Torres squared off with Jeff Finger. Torres made quick work of the Avs defenceman, sending him to the ice in seconds. Both players were assessed two minutes for roughing.

Shots after two periods were 23-9 for Colorado as the Oilers were outshot 15-2 in the middle frame.

Cogliano almost tied the game early in the third. He tried to reach around Budaj from the top of the crease but couldn't quite extend himself enough to slide the puck in.

Budaj made a brilliant save several minutes later, coming across to glove down the puck. Moments after the stop, Edmonton went on the powerplay after Wyatt Smith took a penalty.

NOTES: Gilbert's tripping penalty in the first period was his first two penalty minutes of the season... Horcoff leads the Oilers in power play goals this season with four. Dustin Penner (2 PPG) is the only other Oiler with more than one.

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Shawn Horcoff reaches for the puck after rubbing out Colorado's Joe Sakic against the boards. - photo by Andy Devlin Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club