Roloson backstops Oilers to 4-1 win over Stars

Edmonton's Dustin Penner celebrates a second period goal against Dallas' sprawling Marty Turco at Rexall Place on January 3, 2009 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Matthew Manor/NHLI via Getty Images)

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GAME CENTRE

Pre-Game Info Preview Game Notes Head-to-Head Stats Comparison Video interviews Audio interviews Photo Gallery Click here for the photo gallery Post-Game Video Video Highlights Post-game comments from Robert Nilsson, Zack Stortini, Dustin Penner, Erik Cole, Dwayne Roloson & Craig MacTavish. THE OTHER SIDE - Post-game comments from Steve Ott and Stephane Robidas. Post-Game Podcast Erik Cole Robert Nilsson Zack Stortini Dustin Penner Dwayne Roloson Craig MacTavish Three Stars Erik Cole, EDM - game-opening goal Dwayne Roloson, EDM - 38 saves for 10th win of season Sheldon Souray, EDM - game-winning goal & assist Update With the win, the Oilers improve to 18-16-3 and move into a three-way tie with Minnesota and Colorado for ninth spot in the Western Conference. What's Next Edmonton continues their five-game homestand Monday night vs. the New York Islanders. Game time is 7:30pm MST.

by Jen Sharpe | edmontonoilers.com

Although the Dallas Stars dominated the shot-clock 39-19, Edmonton goalie Dwayne Roloson stopped all but one attempt to backstop the Oilers to a 4-1 win Saturday night. Sheldon Souray earned a goal and assist in the game, while Shawn Horcoff and Sam Gagner registered two assists each.

FIRST PERIOD

Three minutes into the game, Jason Strudwick and Krystofer Barch dropped their gloves near the penalty boxes. Strudwick controlled the lengthy battle and, like Barch, earned a fighting major for his involvement. Two minutes later, Shawn Horcoff took a hooking minor and a seat beside Strudwick, but the Oilers killed that infraction to continue the scoreless game.

Just as Strudwick wrapped up his five minutes, Dustin Penner and Landon Wilson sized eachother up and dropped their gloves between the benches. Penner quickly flipped Wilson on his back and put another pair of fighting majors on the clock. The Stars winger suffered an undisclosed injury in the fight and would not return to the game.

The fisticuffs ignited the Oilers offense. After coasting up the right wing, Erik Cole beat Marty Turco with an innocent-looking snap shot from just inside the blue line. Then 56 seconds later, Sheldon Souray closed in on the opposite wing and scored from the face-off circle to give Edmonton a 2-0 lead.

The Oilers' penalty box stayed occupied following the goals as Ladislav Smid and goalie Dwayne Roloson were called for roughing and slashing respectively. Although Dallas assumed a 6-4 shot lead on the powerplays, Roloson and his penalty killers kept the visitors off the scoreboard.

Late penalties to Edmonton's Gilbert Brule and Dallas' Jere Lehtinen ensured the second period would start with 54 seconds of four-on-four.

630 CHED's Dan Tencer talks to Dustin Penner.

SECOND PERIOD

The Stars crafted a 16-6 shot lead by the three-minute mark of the middle frame but were soon sent back on the penalty kill when Nicklas Grossman and Stephane Robidas earned back-to-back holding penalties.

Although the Oilers were unable to beat Turco in the first two minutes, Penner got the job done on the second powerplay. From the top of the slot, Souray released a slapshot that pinged off the post, but Penner was poised at the corner of the crease and redirected the rebound into the net. With an assist on the play, Horcoff registered his second helper of the game and 200th of his NHL career.

Penner was called for holding the stick later in the period, and though the Stars hit the 20-shot mark on the man-advantage, they were unable to get one past Roloson.

Until the final two minutes of the frame, that is. Centered in the slot, Dallas' James Neal got his stick on the puck and wristed it over Roloson to put the Stars on the board and down by two at 17:46.

In the period's dying seconds, Zack Stortini convinced Barch to drop his gloves for his second extended bout of the game. Both players earned fighting majors and 10-minute misconducts for the duel, giving them front-row seats for much of the third period.

Tencer talks to Sam Gagner in the 2nd Intermission

THIRD PERIOD

A shoving match between Ladislav Smid and Brian Sutherby in Roloson's crease resulted in coincidental roughing minors early in the third, but four-on-four play failed to result in additional scoring.

The visitors hit 30 shots vs. the home team's 15 by the eight-minute mark of the final frame, but Roloson resisted the swarming Stars to maintain his club's 3-1 lead.

At 12:38, Edmonton benefited from its fourth powerplay when Dallas' Trevor Daley was called for holding. Although the Oilers were unable to beat Turco on the man-advantage, the club got their goal only six seconds after Daley returned to the ice. After Robert Nilsson fed him with a perfect pass from behind the goal-line, Andrew Cogliano wired a wrist-shot top shelf to give the Oilers a three-goal cushion.

Despite tallying 39 shots by the final buzzer, the Stars were unable to close the gap and the Oilers killed their two-game losing skid with a 4-1 victory Saturday night.