Oilers come back from 4-0 deficit but fall 5-4

Edmonton's Taylor Chorney and Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg chase down the puck Tuesday, March 30 at Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wings pulled out a 5-4 win. (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 tonight's video highlights. Oilers post-game comments from Andrew Cogliano, Mike Comrie, Tom Gilbert, Jeff Deslauriers & head coach Pat Quinn. The Other Side: Red Wings post-game comments from Brad Stuart, Drew Miller & head coach Mike Babcock

AUDIO

Pat Quinn Jeff Deslauriers Tom Gilbert Mike Comrie Andrew Cogliano Audio Highlights

THREE STARS

Tom Gilbert, EDM - 2 goals, including late equalizer Johan Franzen, DET - 1g + 1a Jeff Deslauriers, EDM - 39 saves

UPDATE

With the loss, the Oilers drop to 24-45-7 and remain in 15th spot in the Western Conference with 55 points.

WHAT'S NEXT

Edmonton continues their four-game road trip Friday, April 2 in Dallas. The game starts at 6:30pm MDT and will be broadcast live on Molson Canadian Oilers Pay Per View. Click here for more information.

The Detroit Red Wings raced out to a 4-0 lead on Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena but the Oilers battled back to tie the game at 4-4 in the third period. Brad Stuart scored with 1:08 left to seal the victory for the home side, however. 

FIRST PERIOD

Facing the prospect of going winless vs. Edmonton this season, Detroit surged out of the gate at Joe Louis Arena. With a 4-2 shot lead, the Red Wings took a lead where it counts when Andreas Lilja caught a piece of centerman Valtteri Filppula's floater. Although Jeff Deslauriers caught a piece with his left shoulder, it wasn't enough to deflect the puck wide and the Wings got the first goal at 6:38.

The Oilers kept pace with the Wings following the goal, eventually testing Jimmy Howard with five shots, but with seven minutes left on the clock, the home team got control and held it. At 14:22, a slick play from Tomas Holmstrom to Johan Franzen to Niklas Kronwall got the best of the Oilers and Deslauriers, netting a 2-0 Wings lead.

Two minutes later, Franzen came within inches of making it 3-0, but stops by Deslauriers and his left post kept the puck out of the net.

The Oilers carried the play to the opposite end of the ice, but with less than three minutes left on the clock, the team was attacked again, this time unintentionally. While skating along the boards, forward Dustin Penner took the puck below the right eye and headed to the locker room. Oilers staff later confirmed that he would not return to the game.

Without their biggest skater, the Oilers were unable to prevent a third Wings goal in the period's final minute. The Drew Miller marker ensued Detroit would start the middle frame up 3-0 and 16-7 on the shot clock.

SECOND PERIOD

The Oilers registered a pair of attempts early in the second period, and their efforts were assisted by a crosschecking penalty to Brad Stuart drawn by Mike Comrie. Edmonton fired a few more shots on Howard early in the powerplay before the Wings regrouped and killed the penalty.

At 12:33, the powerplay tables turned when Andrew Cogliano was called for high-sticking. Although Detroit hit 25 shots on the man-advantages, Deslauriers stood on his head and flew across the crease to ensure they couldn't tally a fourth goal.

After making a spectacular glove save seconds into even-strength play, Deslauriers received little reprieve as the Red Wings went back on the powerplay. 1:19 into Cogliano's second penalty of the period, Holmstrom set up Franzen for a quick shot that fooled Deslauriers and set the score 4-0.

But the Oilers soon got that one back and then another. Only four seconds into an interference minor to Filppula, Tom Gilbert wired the puck through traffic to get the Oilers back within three. Then 56 seconds after that, Comrie cut in on Howard, faked a slapper, and instead slipped the puck five-hole to set the score 4-2.

Although the Oilers landed the last blow of the frame, the Red Wings were completely dominant, adding 19 shots to take a 36-15 shot lead.

THIRD PERIOD

Early in the final frame, Zack Stortini scored on a wraparound attempt to make it a 4-3 game. The goal had to be reviewed but it was ultimately ruled that it crossed the goal line. The puck went off the pads of Jimmy Howard and across the line. 

After being outplayed for a good portion of the first 40 minutes, the Oilers really started taking the play to the Red Wings in the third. The Red Wings had 20 shots in the middle frame but none in the third through the first 10 minutes.

10:30 into the final frame, Andrew Cogliano scooped up a loose puck behind the Red Wings net and fed Gilbert at the right faceoff circle. Gilbert rifled it past Howard to complete the comeback, 4-4.

Even after tying the game, the Oilers continued to go on the attack. Gilbert Brule nearly put Edmonton in front on a quick wrister from the left circle several minutes later.

With 1:08 remaining in regulation time, the Red Wings looked to have regained their lead when Pavel Datsyuk fired the puck on goal on a wrist shot from the left point. Brad Stuart batted it down but his stick looked to be above the crossbar.

After video review, it was ruled to be a good goal.

In the dying seconds, Brule was chopped down by Lidstrom. By the time the Red Wings gained possession there were 10 seconds to play on the clock. The Oilers were given a limited chance to tie the game with six skaters on four. They were unable to convert.