O'Sullivan scores two PPG in 3-1 win over Leafs

Shawn Horcoff and J-F Jacques celebrate after Gilbert Brule's goal in the first period. (photo: Jimmy Jeong / EOHC)

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PRE-GAME

Preview Game Notes Head-to-Head Stats Comparison Game Program Video interviews Audio Interviews

PHOTOS

Click here for the photo gallery

VIDEO

Watch tonight's video highlights. Post-game video interviews with O'Sullivan, Jacques, Deslauriers, Brule and Quinn.

AUDIO

Gilbert Brule - 1st Intermission Pat Quinn Patrick O'Sullivan Jeff Deslauriers Gilbert Brule J-F Jacques Audio Highlights vs. Toronto

THREE STARS

Jeff Deslauriers, EDM - 27 saves for the win Patrick O'Sullivan, EDM - 2 PPG J-F Jacques, EDM - Assist + fight

UPDATE

With the win, the Oilers improve to 16-20-4 but remain 15th in the Western Conference with 36 points.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Oilers fly to Calgary immediately after tonight's game to get ready to the annual New Year's Eve Battle of Alberta vs. the Flames. The game starts at 7:00pm MST and will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet West.

Despite a late attack from the Maple Leafs that netted a goal and a handful of scoring chances, the Oilers persevered through 60 minutes to take a 3-1 win Wednesday night, their first victory in eight games.

Patrick O'Sullivan scored two powerplay goals, including the game-winner, Gilbert Brule got the first of the game, and Jeff Deslauriers stopped 27 shots for the win and first-star honours.

FIRST PERIOD

Jeff Deslauriers and his goaltending counterpart Vesa Toskala each faced four shots in the first 10 minutes, but the netminders matched shot with save to keep an early opener off the board.

The Leafs assumed a shot lead in the latter half of the period, but Deslauriers held down the fort in the home end. In the final minute, Lubomir Visnovsky and Jean-Francois Jacques got the puck to Gilbert Brule on the right wing, and from a sharp angle, the forward tucked the puck under Toskala's cross-bar to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead heading into the second period.

SECOND PERIOD

Edmonton overtook the shot-clock early in the middle frame, but a hooking minor to Robert Nilsson gave Toronto the edge to tie it up. The extra attempt didn't translate to an extra goal, however, and the Leafs continued to trail by one.

At 8:46, the powerplay tables turned and the Oilers doubled their lead. 1:19 into Jeff Finger's slashing minor, Patrick O'Sullivan released the puck from the corner and it deflected off defenceman Ian White's skate into the net. The lucky powerplay goal put the Oil up 2-0 on 13 shots.

The home team survived a pair of visiting scoring chances and helmet-flying collision involving Deslauriers to carry their two-goal cushion and 18-14 shot lead into the final frame.

THIRD PERIOD

Early in the third, White and O'Sullivan teamed up again for the third goal of the night. After being assigned a tripping penalty, White watched helplessly as O'Sullivan broke in on Toskala and dangled home his second powerplay goal of the night, putting the Oil up 3-0.

As the minutes wound down, the Leafs swarmed Deslauriers and assumed control of the shot clock, but their vigorous attempts to light the lamp were unsuccessful. With under seven minutes left, Toronto's frustrations boiled over and culminated in a fight between Jacques and Mike Komisarek.

Shortly after the fight, coincidental penalties to Ryan Potulny and Wayne Primeau opened up the ice. 13 seconds later, an additional hooking minor to Visnovsky gave the Leafs a four-on-three and the edge to score.

With a crowd of white jerseys in his crease, Deslauriers couldn't stop Phil Kessel from tapping home Toronto's first of the game at the 16-minute mark.

The goal broke the Leafs goose-egg but it couldn't break their opponents. The Oilers resisted a dangerous visiting attack in the final minutes and held on for a 3-1 win, their first in eight games.