Stars double up Oilers 4-2

Fabian Brunnstrom tries to keep the puck away from Jean-Francois Jacques on February 19, 2009 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/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 J.F. Jacques, Jason Strudwick, Tom Gilbert, Dwayne Roloson & Craig MacTavish. Post-Game Podcast JF Jacques Tom Gilbert Jason Strudwick Dwayne Roloson Craig MacTavish Three Stars Fabian Brunnstrom, DAL - Goal + assist Steve Ott, DAL - Assist + four hits Ladislav Smid, EDM - Assist + seven hits Update With the loss, the Oilers fall to 29-25-4 and hold a one-point lead over Anaheim for eighth spot in the Western Conference. What's Next Edmonton returns home for a four-game homestand starting Saturday, February 21 vs. Calgary. Game time is 8:00pm MST.

by Jen Sharpe | edmontonoilers.com

Although goals by Liam Reddox and Shawn Horcoff helped the Oilers erase a 2-0 deficit early in the second period, the club couldn't match the Stars' two later goals and suffered a 4-2 loss in Dallas Thursday night.

FIRST PERIOD

The Oilers tested Marty Turco with two shots before the club was called for too many men and went on the defensive. The Stars excelled on their powerplay, but despite assuming a 4-2 shot lead, were unable to beat Dwayne Roloson.

The Oilers tied up the shot clock after the return of five-on-five, but the Stars would attain five shots -- and one goal -- shortly thereafter. Although Roloson blocked Fabian Brunnstrom's shot, Krystofer Barch planted himself in the crease and directed the rebound between the goalie's legs to give the home team a 1-0 lead.

Edmonton benefitted from their first powerplay following the goal but were unable to register a shot on Turco. Dallas took advantage of the missed opportunity by doubling their lead. In his first NHL game -- which also fell on his birthday -- Raymond Sawada beat Roloson with a shap-angle backhand to put the Stars up 2-0.

But the two-goal lead wouldn't last long. With help from Jean-Francois Jacques, who was playing in his first NHL game since an injury suffered in late October 2007, rookie Liam Reddox screened Turco and then nudged Jacques' shot across the line to get the Oilers on the board.

In the period's final two minutes, Ales Hemsky took a slashing minor and Theo Peckham earned a 10-minute misconduct for his behaviour following the play, but the Oilers made it a perfect two-for-two on the PK to stay within one heading into the second period.

SECOND PERIOD

With Hemsky back on the ice, the Oilers' top line wasted no time tying the game. Only 47 seconds into the middle frame, Sheldon Souray slapped the puck wide, but Shawn Horcoff caught it as it bounced behind the net and fired past Turco for the equalizer.

Unfortunately for the Oilers, hooking and roughing minors to Ethan Moreau put the club on a four-minute disadvantage. Midway through the first penalty, Brunnstrom converted Loui Eriksson's quick pass into a 3-2 Stars lead.

Two penalties to both sides kept penalty box doors swinging in the latter half of the period, but both goalies stood strong to prevent further scoring. As a result, the Stars carried their 3-2 lead and a 20-14 shot advantage into the final frame.

THIRD PERIOD

Roloson was forced to make two important saves early in the third while Turco saw little action at the opposite end of the ice. With just over 12 minutes left in regulation, Steve Ott and Mike Ribeiro set up Jere Lehtinen for a tip-in that would become his seventh goal of the season and Dallas' fourth of the game.

In the final five minutes, tempers flared on both sides when Ott plowed Tom Gilbert behind Roloson's net and the Oilers goalie reacted by pushing over the Star. A handful of players joined the scrum, and after lengthy assessment by the officials and an extra hooking penalty to Stephane Robidas shortly thereafter, the Oilers and Stars traded powerplays through to the end of regulation.

But the man-advantages failed to light either lamp and the Oilers suffered a 4-2 loss in Dallas Thursday night.