Moreau, Penner lift Oilers over Wild 4-1

Edmonton's Dustin Penner celebrates after scoring the opening goal only 1:33 into Monday night's game vs. Minnesota. The Oilers went on to beat the Wild 4-1. (Photo by 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 Ethan Moreau, Dustin Penner, Ryan Whitney, Ryan Potulny, Devan Dubnyk & Pat Quinn after the win The Other Side: Kyle Brodziak, Andrew Brunette, Nate Prosser & head coach Todd Richards

AUDIO

Audio Highlights Ethan Moreau Dustin Penner Ryan Whitney Ryan Potulny Devan Dubnyk Pat Quinn

THREE STARS

Ethan Moreau, EDM - 2 goals, including shorthanded game-winner Devan Dubnyk, EDM - 25 saves for 3rd NHL win Dustin Penner, EDM - 2 goals

UPDATE

With the win, the Oilers improve to 25-46-8.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Oilers host their last home game of the season Wednesday, April 7 vs. Colorado. The game starts at 7:30pm MDT and will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet West. PURCHASE TICKETS

Dustin Penner and Ethan Moreau teamed up to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead over the Wild early in Monday night's game, and the same duo -- albeit in reverse order -- capped a 4-1 win at Rexall Place.

Shawn Horcoff, Ryan Potulny, and Tom Gilbert each posted two helpers in the game, while rookie goalie Devan Dubnyk finished with 25 saves and his third career NHL win.

FIRST PERIOD

The Oilers wasted no time taking advantage of home-ice advantage. Only 93 seconds into the game, Penner caught a lightning-quick pass from blueliner Taylor Chorney and snapped it past Niklas Backstrom to give Edmonton a 1-0 lead.

Five minutes later, the game got feisty near the Oilers bench. After levelling James Sheppard with a heavy hit, Dean Arsene was jumped by John Scott and dropped his gloves for a quick fight. Scott took an extra instigator and 10-minute misconduct for his actions, but the Oil couldn't double their lead on the powerplay.

They did, however, accomplish the feat shorthanded. Only 33 seconds into Jason Strudwick's tripping minor, Moreau snagged the puck, embarked on a two-on-one, and slipped the puck through Backstrom's legs to make it 2-0 Oilers.

Minnesota used the rest of their powerplay plus a few minutes after to even up the shot clock, but Dubnyk protected his club's lead. After 20 minutes, the Wild were up 13 shots to 9 but trailed 2-0.

SECOND PERIOD

Like the Oilers in the first, the Wild pounced in the second. 12 seconds after puck drop, Andrew Brunette surprised Dubnyk with a quick snapshot that slipped under the crossbar and got the visitors back within one.

The Oilers and Wild traded attempts as the period progressed. Perhaps the best scoring opportunity belonged to Patrick O'Sullivan at 12:40, but after the puck ricocheted off the right post and Backstrom's back, the goalie spun around to smother it before it crossed the line.

Edmonton ended up out-shooting Minnesota 8-7 in the frame but was down 20-17 after 40 full minutes.

THIRD PERIOD

The Oilers added one shot to their tally before subtracting one skater when Arsene took a tripping minor. Edmonton showcased some serious shot-blocking and aggressive penalty-killing to keep the puck away from Dubnyk and then applied steady pressure during a powerplay of their own shortly thereafter.

The effort paid off with 5:41 left in regulation. After cutting from the corner to Backstrom's crease and forcing the puck on the goalie, Moreau kept his eyes on the rebound and tapped it back across the line for his second goal of the game and a 3-1 Oilers lead.

Edmonton evened the shots at 26 after the goal and were then drew a double high-sticking minor from Nate Prosser. Only six seconds into the four-minute powerplay, Penner joined Moreau in the two-goal club to make it 4-1 Oilers. With assists on the play, Potulny and Gilbert joined Horcoff in the two-assist category.

Edmonton eventually cracked 30 shots and held on to their three-goal lead to secure two points vs. Minnesota.