Shorties fall short; Oilers edged 3-2 by Ducks

Edmonton's Shawn Horcoff battles for position Wednesday, February 10 in Anaheim. The Ducks went on to win 3-2. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

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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 Ethan Moreau, Ryan Potulny & Pat Quinn after the loss

AUDIO

Audio Highlights Ethan Moreau Ryan Potulny Pat Quinn

THREE STARS

Jonas Hiller, ANA - 37 saves Bobby Ryan, ANA - 2 goals + 4 shots Ethan Moreau, EDM - shorthanded goal + assist

UPDATE

With the loss, the Oilers drop to 18-35-6 and remain in 15th spot in the Western Conference with 42 points.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Oilers conclude their five-game road trip Thursday, February 11 in Los Angeles. The game starts at 8:30pm MST and will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet West.

After surrendering the first goal, the Oilers stole the show in Anaheim by dominating the shot clock and tallying two shorthanded markers -- one short of the franchise record -- in the second period. But the Ducks responded with a powerplay goal and then go-ahead goal in the third, holding on for a 3-2 win Wednesday night.

Captain Ethan Moreau set up Ryan Potulny for Edmonton's first shortie and then added one of his own, while Anaheim's Bobby Ryan scored the Ducks first two goals. Goalies Jeff Deslauriers and Jonas Hiller finished with 27 and 37 saves respectively.

FIRST PERIOD

After the morning skate, Oilers Associate Coach Tom Renney emphasized that the team needed a strong start in Anaheim, and his club did just that. Five minutes in, Edmonton had tested Hiller with six shots while Anaheim had managed only one on Deslauriers.

At 7:45, a hooking minor to Potulny helped the Ducks add another attempt, but Deslauriers turned it away to keep an opening powerplay marker off the board.

Three minutes after the penalty ended, Jean-Francois Jacques and George Parros dropped their gloves in the Oilers' zone. The even tilt resulted in fighting majors to both players and a bloody gash to Jacques' brow, which would keep him in the medical room and off the ice until early in the third period.

With Parros watching from the sidelines, the Ducks flocked to Deslauriers. After emerging from behind the net, Corey Perry fed Ryan out front, who tapped the puck into the net for the first goal of the game.

Despite being outshot 17-10, Anaheim held on to its 1-0 lead through 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD

Early in the middle frame, consecutive Ducks penalties gave the Oilers their first two powerplays, including a five-on-three for 1:31, but the visitors managed only one shot which Hiller matched with a save.

At the five-minute mark, the powerplay tables turned when Steve Staios took a tripping minor, but the advantage didn't have the expected effect. Following an impressive solo effort by penalty killer Moreau deep in the Ducks zone, Potulny received the puck and tucked it inside Hiller's left post to get Edmonton's second shorthanded goal of the season and tie the game at one.

The penalties kept coming, and so did the outstanding special teams efforts. As Ladislav Smid sat out another penalty, Moreau concluded a partial shorthanded breakaway with his team's second shortie of the game. The two shorthanded goals came within one of the Oilers franchise record.

But just over a minute later, the Ducks cut short the celebration and the Smid penalty when Ryan beat Deslauriers on the powerplay for his second goal of the game.

The Oilers hit 31 shots before the end of the period, while the Ducks sat six shy at 25.

THIRD PERIOD

Anaheim got its sixth powerplay early in the final frame, but the team waited until five-on-five to renew its lead. Poised in front of Deslauriers, Todd Marchant tipped James Wisniewski's slapshot into the net, making it 3-2 Ducks.

The home team followed the visitors into the 30-shot category as the period progressed, but the white jerseys stayed up a few thanks in part to a late powerplay, their fourth of the game.

The Oilers pulled Deslauriers in the final minute, but six skaters couldn't forced extra time and the Ducks held on for a 3-2 win.