Dubnyk earns first career shutout, Oilers win 4-0

Edmonton's Devan Dubnyk blocks the shot of Joel Ward of the Nashville Predators February 7, 2011 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

 

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PRE-GAME

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

PHOTOS

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VIDEO

Watch the highlights IN FOCUS: Post-game comments from Dubnyk, Horcoff, Vandermeer & Coach Renney THE OTHER SIDE: Post-game comments from Nashville's locker room, including Coach Barry Trotz

AUDIO

Devan Dubnyk Shawn Horcoff Jim Vandermeer Head Coach Tom Renney Audio Highlights

THREE STARS

Devan Dubnyk Ryan Jones Andrew Cogliano

UPDATE

With the victory, the Oilers' record now improves to 16-28-8 on the season.

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Under the Scope

WHAT'S NEXT

The Oilers return home to begin a six-game homestand, which starts Wednesday, Feb. 9 vs. Chicago. The game starts at 7:30pm MT and will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet West. Tickets are still available. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

Despite being out-shot by a 13-3 margin in the game's opening 10 minutes, Devan Dubnyk provided his team with a chance to improve as the night progressed. Andrew Cogliano's first period goal turned the tide, as the offensive showcase got underway. The Oilers would add an additional three markers in the final two periods, while Dubnyk was equal to the Predators' 37 shots, recording his first career NHL shutout in a 4-0 victory.

Under the Scope

FIRST PERIOD

The Predators attacked early in the game, testing Devan Dubnyk with 13 shots in the opening 10 minutes. The Oilers, by comparison, had only one on Pekka Rinne.

Near the 14-minute mark, Dustin Penner caught the puck and broke in on Rinne, but like his team's previous attempts, his backhand was met with a save.

Less than a minute later, Andrew Cogliano accomplished what Penner could not. Although Rinne stopped Jordan Eberle's initial attempt, the rebound landed on Cogliano's stick and was directed over the goalie's left pad, putting Edmonton up 1-0.

Despite trailing 16-6 on the shot clock, the Oilers 1-0 lead survived the first period.

SECOND PERIOD

Two minutes into the middle frame, Kurtis Foster earned the first two penalty minutes of the game for hooking Jerred Smithson. The Oilers were perfect on the penalty kill, however, and preserved their lead.

The visitors followed up the penalty-kill by narrowing the shot gap and benefiting from their own power-play near the eight-minute mark. That man-advantage, and a second for the Preds, passed without incident.

A lamp was lit when both teams returned to full strength. Shortly after posting their 10th shot of the period, Edmonton's Colin Fraser skated up the right wing and hit Ryan Jones with a crisp pass. Jones promptly fired the puck over a sprawling Rinne to make it 2-0 Oilers.

Another unsuccessful power-play for both teams capped the second period.

THIRD PERIOD

Nashville fired the first four shots of the third, but Edmonton was the first to make one count. Nearly five minutes into the frame, Jim Vandermeer and Jordan Eberle capitalized on a screen in front of Pekka Rinne. Vandermeer's elusive point blast was tipped by Eberle, extending the Oilers lead.

Two minutes later, Penner got the puck from Ales Hemsky, swept up the left wing, cut towards the net, and flipped it over Rinne, setting the score 4-0. The goal prompted a goaltending change for the Predators and Anders Lindback settled in between the pipes.

Following the goal, Oilers staff announced that Tom Gilbert was injured and would not return to the game.

With just under four minutes remaining in the final frame, Nashville continued to press in search of their first goal. Devan Dubnyk stayed strong between the pipes, making a number of saves before defenceman Jim Vandermeer was charged with a holding minor at 16:26.

The Predators' power play opportunity passed without incident, and Edmonton remained in front by the commanding 4-0 score.

With under a minute to play, rugged rearguard Theo Peckham put an emphatic stamp on the evening with some rough treatment of Predators forward Nick Spaling. After stepping up at the defensive blueline, Peckham made one final statement in a game that belonged to the visitors.

The final seconds elapsed with the Oilers emerging victorious, blanking the Predators 4-0 and celebrating Devan Dubnyk's first career NHL shutout.