Oilers turn leafs to mulch
Edmonton Oilers (5) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (1)..........
The Oiles arrived in Toronto on a two game win streak, sitting on the outside of the playoff race looking in, hoping to put some distance between themselves and the Avalanche. The Leafs nursing a three game losing streak, their second longest this season.
The Oilers scored twice in thirty-eight seconds part way through the first on goals by Vernon Fiddler(1st) at 8:54 on a re-direct from Philip Larsen, then Brad Richards(10th) scored on the powerplay at 9:32, thanks to a great set up by Jason Pominville. The Leafs cut that lead in half on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' tenth of the year at 10:52 on a nice three way passing play with Troy Brouwer, Patric Hornqvist. Just over five and a half minutes later Edmonton re-gained their two goal lead on a Derick Brassard(7th) blast from the right face-off circle with assists going to Craig Smith and Marek Zidlicky at 16:32. The shots after one were even at 13-13.
The second period was scoreless thanks to a great display of goaltending by Oiler goalie Ilya Bryzgalov who stopped fifteen Leaf shots in the period. Shots after forty, 28-19 Leafs.
The third was scoreless until the Oil struck for two again, late in the period. Alex Chiasson(3rd) at 14:23 from Eric Brewer, Adam Cracknell pretty much put the game away, but just sixty-one seconds later Brooks Laich(5th) from Matt Hendricks and Brian Gionta at 15:24 added yet another dagger.
Leafs starter, Jonas Hiller was pulled after allowing three goals on eleven shots in sixteen minutes and thirty-two seconds of work. Rookie Mark Visentin came in and allowed two on fifteen shots for the remainder of regulation.
MOLSON'S THREE STARS:
1 - Ilya Bryzgalov (Edm)........... made 39 saves for his 13th win
2 - Brooks Laich (Edm)............ 1 goal, +1, 3 shots
3 - Alex Chiasson (Edm).......... 1 goal, +1, 1 shot
The Leafs are back at it on Monday as they visit the Philadelphia Flyers who stopped a three game slide of their own at the expense of the Canadiens on Saturday by a score of 4-0 and are led by Captain Ryan Getzlaf who has 31 pts in 25 games played.
The Oilers are right back at it on Sunday as they play host to the suddenly hot San Jose Sharks, winners of their last five straight, outscoring their opponents 20-10 in the process.
Reporting For The WCHL Network.......
Peter Puck
The Oiles arrived in Toronto on a two game win streak, sitting on the outside of the playoff race looking in, hoping to put some distance between themselves and the Avalanche. The Leafs nursing a three game losing streak, their second longest this season.
The Oilers scored twice in thirty-eight seconds part way through the first on goals by Vernon Fiddler(1st) at 8:54 on a re-direct from Philip Larsen, then Brad Richards(10th) scored on the powerplay at 9:32, thanks to a great set up by Jason Pominville. The Leafs cut that lead in half on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' tenth of the year at 10:52 on a nice three way passing play with Troy Brouwer, Patric Hornqvist. Just over five and a half minutes later Edmonton re-gained their two goal lead on a Derick Brassard(7th) blast from the right face-off circle with assists going to Craig Smith and Marek Zidlicky at 16:32. The shots after one were even at 13-13.
The second period was scoreless thanks to a great display of goaltending by Oiler goalie Ilya Bryzgalov who stopped fifteen Leaf shots in the period. Shots after forty, 28-19 Leafs.
The third was scoreless until the Oil struck for two again, late in the period. Alex Chiasson(3rd) at 14:23 from Eric Brewer, Adam Cracknell pretty much put the game away, but just sixty-one seconds later Brooks Laich(5th) from Matt Hendricks and Brian Gionta at 15:24 added yet another dagger.
Leafs starter, Jonas Hiller was pulled after allowing three goals on eleven shots in sixteen minutes and thirty-two seconds of work. Rookie Mark Visentin came in and allowed two on fifteen shots for the remainder of regulation.
MOLSON'S THREE STARS:
1 - Ilya Bryzgalov (Edm)........... made 39 saves for his 13th win
2 - Brooks Laich (Edm)............ 1 goal, +1, 3 shots
3 - Alex Chiasson (Edm).......... 1 goal, +1, 1 shot
The Leafs are back at it on Monday as they visit the Philadelphia Flyers who stopped a three game slide of their own at the expense of the Canadiens on Saturday by a score of 4-0 and are led by Captain Ryan Getzlaf who has 31 pts in 25 games played.
The Oilers are right back at it on Sunday as they play host to the suddenly hot San Jose Sharks, winners of their last five straight, outscoring their opponents 20-10 in the process.
Reporting For The WCHL Network.......
Peter Puck
