Oilers top Coyotes 3-1, win third straight

Mikael Tellqvist #32 of the Phoenix Coyotes stops a shot from Robert Nilsson #12 of the Edmonton Oilers on February 16, 2009 at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/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 Watch the highlights Post-game comments from Theo Peckham, Ladislav Smid, and Craig MacTavish The Other Side: Gretzky & Coyotes Post-Game Post-Game Podcast Ladislav Smid Theo Peckham Craig MacTavish Three Stars Ales Hemsky, EDM - Goal & assist Dwayne Roloson, EDM - 28 saves Ed Jovanovski, PHX - Goal Update With the win, Edmonton improves to 29-23-4 and moves into a three-way tie with Vancouver and Columbus for sixth spot in the Western Conference. What's Next Edmonton continues their four-game road trip Tuesday night in San Jose. Game time is 8:30pm MST.

by Jen Sharpe | edmontonoilers.com

Powerplay goals by Ales Hemsky and Sheldon Souray, an empty netter for Shawn Horcoff, and 28 saves by Dwayne Roloson helped the Edmonton Oilers secure a 3-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes Monday night.

FIRST PERIOD

Both teams fired four shots each on goaltenders Dwayne Roloson and Mikael Tellqvist after six minutes of play. At that point, Edmonton's Sheldon Souray took a hooking penalty and Phoenix benefited from the game's first powerplay, but Roloson disappointed the home team and their fans by adding three more saves to his tally.

After breaking the 10-shot mark in the latter half of the period, the Coyotes soon saw the other side of a man-advantage when forward Daniel Winnik earned a holding penalty. Although Robert Nilsson embarked on a breakaway for the powerplay's best scoring opportunity, Tellqvist stopped the lone shot to maintain the scoreless game.

The Oilers tied up the shot clock after the powerplay, and both clubs stayed even through the rest of the frame. Despite the scoring chances, a handful of key saves from both goaltenders -- including a quick kick save from Roloson on Olli Jokinen's redirection -- kept the game's opening goal off the board.

SECOND PERIOD

Edmonton and Phoenix struggled to get the puck to the net in the first half of the second. At 10:28, rookie Oilers defenceman Theo Peckham took exception to Steven Goertzen's actions in the crease, and both players decided to drop their gloves for a fight behind Roloson's net. The duel resulted in fighting majors, an additional goaltender interference penalty to Goertzen, and Edmonton's second powerplay of the game.

The Oilers -- led by Nilsson -- excelled on the powerplay, but a pair of missed shots and a sturdy post combined to keep the visitors from taking the first lead of the game.

Although their first two powerplays passed without a goal, a third opportunity was the charm. With four minutes left in the frame and Ed Jovanovski serving a hooking penalty, Ales Hemsky snuck up on Tellqvist, caught the rebound off Dustin Penner's shot, and chipped it into the net to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead.

The Coyotes had a great chance to get back on even terms shortly after the goal when Nilsson and Ethan Moreau shared space in the penalty box for 1:25. But the Oilers' penalty killers stepped up to the challenge and protected their lead.

Unfortunately, the club couldn't match that performance in the period's final minute. With Moreau serving his second consecutive penalty, Jovanovski caught a piece of Joakim Lindstrom's slapshot and trickled it under Roloson to tie the game at one heading into the final frame.

THIRD PERIOD

Edmonton assumed a 23-19 shot lead early in the third, a lead they hoped to increase on their fouth powerplay. One minute into the man-advantage, Souray tallied the Oilers' 25th shot and, more importantly, their second goal. From the top of the slot, Souray wired his legendary slapshot past Tellqvist to renew his club's lead.

With eight minutes left in regulation, Dustin Penner offered the Coyotes their fourth powerplay by taking a tripping penalty. Although the home team matched the visitors' 27 shots on the man-advantage, Roloson smothered each attempt to prevent a second powerplay equalizer.

But Phoenix wasn't through with its powerplays: in the game's dying minutes, Tom Gilbert took a delay of game penalty for lifting the puck over the glass and the Coyotes took their chances by pulling Tellqvist for a six-on-four.

Last game, an identical situation resulted in a game-tying goal and extra time in Los Angeles, but Monday night in Phoenix, that was not the case. A long-distance empty netter for Shawn Horcoff sealed a 3-1 win for the Oilers, extending their winning streak to three games.