Potulny pulls through with late game-winner

Patrick O'Sullivan battles behind the net with the Flyers' Matt Carle (photo: Andy Devlin / Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club)

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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 the highlights Oilers post-game interviews with Ryan Potulny, Jeff Deslauriers, Sam Gagner, Alex Plante and head coach Pat Quinn. The Other Side: Michael Leighton, Ian Laperriere & Peter Laviolette

AUDIO

Audio Highlights Ryan Potulny Jeff Deslauriers Sam Gagner Alex Plante Pat Quinn

THREE STARS

Jeff Deslauriers, EDM - 33 saves for the shutout Michael Leighton, PHI - 26 saves Ryan Potulny, EDM - Game-winner with 16 seconds left

UPDATE

With the win, the Oilers improve to 18-31-6 and remain in 15th spot in the Western Conference with 42 points.

WHAT'S NEXT

Edmonton immediately embarks on a five-game road trip following tonight's game, starting Thursday, February 4 in Minnesota. The game starts at 6:00pm MST and will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet West.

It was a battle between goaltenders and penalty killers that extended 59:43 without a goal. But with only 16 seconds left on the clock and Philadelphia's Darroll Powe serving an interference penalty, former Flyer Ryan Potulny surprised goalie Michael Leighton to get the thrilling powerplay game-winner.

The 1-0 win was Edmonton's second in a row, a feat they haven't accomplished since mid-December. By staying perfect through 60 minutes, goalie Jeff Deslauriers got his second shutout and 11th win of the season.

FIRST PERIOD

The Oilers and Flyers were even in shots through the game's first five minutes, but at 7:28 Jason Strudwick took a tripping penalty and the visitors jumped ahead. But Deslauriers kept the lead to the shot-clock and not the score-clock, and both clubs continued to strive for the opening goal.

The Oilers soon caught up by peppering Leighton with a few shots, followed by a peppering of punches between Zack Stortini and Ian Laperriere. Midway through the fighting majors, Laperriere was joined by Mike Richards in the penalty box, but the Oilers couldn't capitalize on the man-advantage and the scoreless game continued.

Once back on the ice, Richards had an excellent chance to give the Flyers the lead but fanned on the open-net shot. The miss ensured Deslauriers and Leighton would stay perfect through 20 minutes, with 14 and 11 saves respectively.

SECOND PERIOD

Philly held a slim shot lead through the first half of the middle frame. Near the game's midway point, a hit by Darrol Powe on Lubomir Visnovsky resulted in an interference minor, but Leighton ensured a second scoreless powerplay for Edmonton.

Like in the first period, the Flyers quickly evened up the man-advantages when Dustin Penner served two minutes for slashing, but penalty killers continued to reign and opening goal stayed off the clock.

Near misses and a pinged post kept the excitement level high, but neither club could break the stalemate by the buzzer.

THIRD PERIOD

With the shot clock reading 26-21 in favour of Philly, the third period got underway. The Oilers and Flyers matched eachother in chances as the period progressed, but with less than five minutes left in regulation, a delay of game penalty to defenceman Alex Plante pushed the visitors over 30 attempts.

In the game's dying minutes, Powe took his second consecutive infraction to give the Oilers a final shot at a powerplay game-winner. The game seemed destined for overtime, but with only 16 seconds left on the clock and Leighton covering Sam Gagner, Ryan Potulny tapped a pass from his linemate past his former teammate to earn a thrilling 1-0 victory for Edmonton.