Oilers fall 5-2 after third-period surge by Avalanche

Taylor Hall #4 of the Edmonton Oilers takes a shot against goaltender Semyon Varlamov #1 of the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on November 26, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ladislav Smid scored his first goal since December 5, 2009 and Ryan Jones had two points, including his sixth goal of the year but it wasn't enough as four third period goals by the Colorado Avalanche propelled the home team to a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Denver on Saturday night.

FIRST PERIOD

The Oilers got on the board first 2:59 into the game. Ryan Jones made a nice play at the blueline to chip the puck to Sam Gagner who skated in on a partial breakaway. Gagner tried to deke around Varlamov but the Avalanche netminder stayed with him.

However, Varlamov did put himself out of position as a result. Gagner kept with the puck as he skated behind the Avalanche net and moved it out from to Ladislav Smid who blasted it into the yawning cage.

The goal was Smid's first since December 5, 2009 against Dallas.

Colorado got the goal back less than two minutes later. Matt Duchene moved the puck to Chuck Kobasew who skated in alone. Dubnyk denied Kobasew but McClement swooped in to put home the rebound and make it 1-1.

On the Avalanche goal sequence, Taylor Hall was hit hard by Avs defenceman Ryan Wilson. He left the game favouring his left arm but returned several minutes later.

Dubnyk made a great stop off Chuck Kobasew after a laser from the high slot by the Avs winger but the Oilers goaltender was able to snag it out of the air.

Kyle Quincey cross-checked Hall with 2:20 to go in the first. It seemed to re-injure the Oilers winger. Quincey received two minutes for his efforts.

After one period, shots on goal were 14 to 11 for the Oilers.

SECOND PERIOD

Magnus Paajarvi skated out to start the period with Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff as Taylor Hall was not on the bench.

Ryan Jones gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead after he and Eric Belanger broke in on a two-on-one. Belanger fired it on net and Jones was right there for the rebound, scoring his sixth of the season.

Edmonton had some chances as the second period progressed, increasing their edge on the shot clock to 23 to 14 -- 9 to 3 in the period.

However, Colorado started picking up some momentum and carried the play in the Oilers zone for several shifts as the second period was winding down. Jones took a hooking penalty with 1:23 to go in the middle frame to give the Avs their first opportunity of the night. They were unable to generate a power play goal but did complete the period on a 4-0 run on the shot clock.

The teams went into the second intermission with the Oilers holding a 2-1 lead. Shots on goal were 23 to 18 Edmonton.

THIRD PERIOD

Matt Duchene took a penalty early in the period to put the Oilers on the power play seeking the insurance marker. On the ensuing man advantage, Nugent-Hopkins came close  on a few occasions as he buzzed around the Colorado net looking for a loose puck but Edmonton was unable to score.

Shortly after the penalty expired, Whitney held up Kobasew on a partial break for the Avs forward, getting two minutes as a result. Just over a minute into that power play, Jeff Petry was sent off for slashing to give Colorado a two-man advantage.

With 40 seconds to go in the Petry penalty, Shane O'Brien teed up a shot from the blueline that ricocheted off the Oilers defenders on its way to the net before beating Dubnyk.

Playing his first career NHL game, Stefan Elliott scored to give the Avs a 3-2 lead. His shot from the blueline beat a screened Dubnyk for his first career NHL goal.

The Avs made it 4-2 on a slap shot by Jan Hejda with 3:40 to play in the period.