Oilers find victory in Vancouver
Canadian Press
12/28/2003
VANCOUVER (CP) - The Edmonton Oilers are hoping this is a sign of things to come.
Tommy Salo made 31 saves for his first win in seven weeks and six different Oilers picked up goals in a 6-2 victory against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
The convincing win not only stopped their four-game winless skid but also a drought that saw the team muster just two goals in their previous three games.
``Hopefully this is the start of something,'' said coach Craig MacTavish. ``We need that type of game to get guys back and get guys back in a positive, confident frame of mind. It was getting to the point of ugliness here in terms of guys being uptight.''
Mike York, Jarret Stoll, Brad Isbister, Radek Dvorak, Ryan Smith and Ales Hemsky scored for the Oilers, who had won just twice in their previous 15 games.
Smith also notched an assist while Eric Brewer, Steve Staios and Cory Cross each picked up two helpers.
``It was nice for us to come from a break and get a win, especially against Vancouver,'' said Salo, whose last win came against Montreal on Nov. 4. ``We need everybody to win hockey games and everybody stepped up today. That's why we won this hockey game.''
Brad May picked up his first goal of the season for Vancouver (19-9-6-2), while Daniel Sedin scored for the first time in 10 games. Goaltender Alex Auld made 20 saves.
The Canucks gave up six goals for the first time this season during their most lopsided loss thus far.
Vancouver's specialty teams continued to struggle, with the power play going scoreless in six chances and giving up their third short-handed goal in three games. The Oilers (12-17-6-0) scored once in two chances.
``It was pretty clear and simple, they came in and outworked us,'' said captain Markus Naslund. ``We know what Edmonton is all about. We know they always come in and give a good effort. A few times lately I think you've seen signs of us getting into bad habits and thinking it's going to take care of itself and it's not. We have to play at a top level to beat teams.''
The Canucks, playing the second of back-to-back games, outshot Edmonton 33-26.
May opened the scoring 2:06 into the game when he tipped in Jiri Slegr's shot from the point.
That goal stood until 7:46 of the second frame when Edmonton tied it on York's short-handed goal. Todd Bertuzzi fanned on the puck behind his own net, allowing York to grab it and score on the wraparound.
A few minutes later, Salo made a great glove save off Daniel Sedin, who was set up in front by brother Henrik. But the twins teamed up again on the ensuing faceoff, with Daniel tapping in Henrik's rebound to make it 2-1.
``We were sloppy after that (goal),'' said Canucks coach Marc Crawford. ``We played a real sound first period, didn't give up many chances. In the second period, we gave up as many as we've given up in an entire game. We certainly don't want to play that type of sloppy brand of hockey.''
Edmonton would close out the period with two straight goals to take to take the lead. Stoll ended a 14-game scoring drought with a long, high shot that went over Auld's shoulder.
Then, with the two teams skating 4-on-4 and less than two minutes to go, an unguarded Isbister grabbed the puck a few feet in front of the net, skated around to his backhand and slid it along the ice and under Auld's pads.
Things got rough in the third period when the Oilers had the game well in hand. Officials called eight penalties in the final minute of action after two skirmishes broke out.
The Oilers, last in the Northwest division, will continue its bid to get back into the playoff race when they host Calgary on Sunday.
``We have to continue to build from here,'' said Isbister. ``We've had a tough time putting the puck in the net lately. Hopefully this will be a stepping stone for us to start playing better and getting some wins.''
Notes: Crawford said after the game that defenceman Sami Salo will miss the next few games after he was injured in Friday's 2-0 win over Calgary. Salo suffered a charley horse after a hit by Dennis Gauthier that resulted in a two-game suspension to the Flames defenceman for kneeing. ... Centre Matt Cooke played in his first game in a month for Vancouver after hurting his shoulder and suffering an infection in his elbow. ... Ethan Moreau returned to Edmonton's lineup after missing one game with a shoulder injury.
Cheers,
Aquaman