Senators double up Oilers 4-2

Edmonton's Patrick O'Sullivan tries a wraparound attempt on Ottawa's Brian Elliott while teammate Anton Volchenkov tries to help defend the net in a game on March 5, 2009 at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/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 Sam Gagner, Patrick O'Sullivan, Ales Kotalik, and Craig MacTavish Post-Game Podcast Sam Gagner Patrick O'Sullivan Ales Kotalik Craig MacTavish Three Stars Jason Spezza, OTT - 1 goal + 1 assist Sam Gagner, EDM - 2 goals Mike Comrie, OTT - 1 goal + 1 assist Update With the loss, the Oilers fall into a tie with Dallas and Anaheim for eighth spot in the Western Conference. What's Next Edmonton continues their four-game road trip Saturday evening in Toronto. Game time is 5:00pm MST.

by Jen Sharpe | edmontonoilers.com

With a goal only 12 seconds into the game, Jason Spezza set the tone for the Senators and the Oilers were unable to answer. Sam Gagner produced two goals for Edmonton, while Dwayne Roloson made 22 saves in the 4-2 loss Thursday night.

As for Edmonton's newest acquisitions, Patrick O'Sullivan registered one shot and finished even in 15:45 on ice, while Ales Kotalik tallied two shots and finished -2 in 18:19.

FIRST PERIOD

The Senators wasted no time testing the visitors -- and the Oilers weren't prepared for the pop quiz. 12 seconds in, Jason Spezza caught a bounce, broke in on Dwayne Roloson, and backhanded the puck into the net to give the Senators a very early 1-0 lead.

At the three-minute mark, coincidental minors to Zack Stortini and Jarkko Ruutu triggered two minutes of four-on-four, but Roloson and his counterpart Brian Elliott each turned away their fourth shots to freeze the scoreclock.

The freeze would last through the rest of the period, with Ottawa holding a 14-9 shot lead over Edmonton heading into the middle frame.

SECOND PERIOD

After both clubs tallied a second-period attempt, a delayed penalty on Shawn Horcoff prompted the Senators to pull Elliott and put Mike Comrie on the ice. Comrie entered  the play, got the puck, and wristed it past Roloson's left side to put the Senators up 2-0.

Less than a minute after the goal, Sam Gagner was called for holding and Ottawa's powerplay unit made its debut. 1:25 into the man-advantage, Comrie set up Chris Campoli for a third Senators goal and 3-0 home lead.

Near the game's midway point, the Oilers mirrored the latest Sens goal to get back within two. After Comrie replaced Gagner in the penalty box, Gagner made an impact on the scoreboard by breaking in on Elliott and roofing the puck for a powerplay goal.

The Senators held on to their two-goal, eight-shot lead through to the end of the second period.

THIRD PERIOD

Edmonton broke 20 shots in the first half of the third, but Ottawa continued to stay at least five shots ahead. With eight minutes left on the clock, Roloson was faced with his 28th Sens shot and, for the fourth time, he was unable to stop it. From a sharp angle, Dany Heatley slapped the puck past the Oilers goalie to renew his club's three-goal cushion.

Two minutes after the goal, an interference penalty to Anton Volchenkov gave the Oilers their second powerplay. Early in the man-advantage, Gagner caught Elliott's crossbar and watched the puck fall back on the goal line. A lengthy video review proved that the puck didn't cross the line, and the young Oiler's second goal of the game remained elusive.

. . . until three minutes later, that is. With help from Steve Staios and Ladislav Smid, Gagner skated up the left wing, cut towards Elliott, and scored on the backhand to get the Oilers within two.

Unfortunately for Edmonton, a passionate final few minutes resulted in nothing but minor penalties and Ottawa held on for a 4-2 win Thursday night.