Ducks clip Oilers 3-2

Edmonton's Dustin Penner and Ales Hemsky battle with an Anaheim Duck Sunday, Jan. 16 at Honda Center. The Ducks won the game 3-2. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

 

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PRE-GAME

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

PHOTOS

Cick here to view the photo gallery

VIDEO

Watch the highlights Petry stacks the pads Omark sets up Gagner Post-game reaction from Gagner, Paajarvi & Coach Renney following the loss

AUDIO

Audio Highlights Sam Gagner Magnus Paajarvi Head Coach Tom Renney

THREE STARS

Teemu Selanne, ANA Saku Koivu, ANA Sam Gagner, EDM

UPDATE

With the loss, the Oilers record falls to 14-23-7.

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Under the Scope

WHAT'S NEXT

Tonight's game concluded a five-game road trip for the Oilers. The club returns to Edmonton and prepares to face the Minnesota Wild Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 7:30pm MT. The game will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet West. Tickets are still available. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

After finding themselves down 3-0 to the Ducks late in the second period, linemates Magnus Paajarvi and Sam Gagner scored two quick goals to get the Oilers back within striking distance. A game-ending power-play couldn't seal the deal, however, and Edmonton suffered a 3-2 loss in Anaheim Sunday night.

Under the Scope

FIRST PERIOD

The Oil and Ducks battled evenly through the first eight minutes before Steve MacIntyre was called for high-sticking. Late in the man-advantage, Toni Lydman wired the puck to Luca Sbisa, who one-timed it past Nikolai Khabibulin for the opening goal.

The Ducks assumed a considerable shot lead following the goal, and on their 12th attempt, found another marker. Although Khabibulin stopped Lubomir Visnovsky's initial slapshot, Teemu Selanne promptly pulled the rebound out of the goalie's reach and tapped it across the line.

The goal sealed first-period scoring, ensuring Edmonton would start the middle frame trailing 2-0 and 12-4 on the shot clock.

SECOND PERIOD

Consecutive Ducks penalties gave the Oilers two man-advantages in the first half of the second period. The visitors added four shots to their tally but Curtis McElhinney turned them all away to preserve his club's two-goal lead.

The Oilers continued to press after the penalties expired. With 8:24 remaining on the clock, McElhinney dropped to make a save and sliced the underside of his chin on a teammate's skate blade. It was an injury that could have been much worse but still required treatment; after seeking a medical assessment on the bench, he retired to the dressing room and was replaced by Jonas Hiller between the pipes.

With a fresh goalie behind them, the Ducks flocked to the other end of the ice. After making a pair of big saves, Khabibulin was caught out of position, leaving a gaping net. Rookie defenceman Jeff Petry came to the rescue, sliding across the goal line to intercept an attempt from Saku Koivu.

On the following whistle, stitched-up McElhinney returned to the game.

At 16:30, a holding minor to Taylor Chorney put the Oilers back on the penalty-kill. One minute into the man-advantage, Selanne deflected Visnovsky's point shot into the net, giving both players two points and the Ducks three goals.

But the Oilers quickly got that one -- and another -- back. Perfectly poised to receive Sam Gagner's rebound, Magnus Paajarvi fooled McElhinney with a quick wrist-shot to get Edmonton on the board and back within two.

26 seconds later, the same line crafted a second goal. Thanks to a bang-on pass from Linus Omark, Gagner sunk a one-timer to make it a one-goal game heading into the final frame.

THIRD PERIOD

Edmonton continued its fast pace early in the third, eventually assuming control of the shot clock. Anaheim soon got back on top, however, thanks to a double high-sticking minor to Theo Peckham. Oilers penalty killers proficiently passed the test and stayed within striking distance.

The opportunity to tie it up presented itself in the final minutes of regulation. With 20 seconds remaining in a penalty to Lydman, Andreas Lilja was called for boarding and the Oilers pulled Khabibulin, creating a brief six-on-three and more lengthy six-on-four.

Despite swarming dangerously in the offensive zone, the extra skaters were unable to score an equalizer and the Oilers closed their five-game road trip with a 3-2 loss.