Blackhawks celebrate first goal of the game

The Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 4-2 after defending an intial four goal lead.  Jonathan Toews scored the game's first goal which was assisted by Patrick Kane just 44 seconds into the opening frame.  The struggling Oilers have now lost 11 consecutive games and continue their winless streak for the month of January.  Without question, the Oilers were heavily outmatched during this game against the high-flying Blackhawks.

Oddly enough, the Oilers had just one power play during the entire game which occurred in the third period.  It was nullified just 2 seconds after the faceoff in the Blackhawks zone when Parick O'Sullivan was sent to the penalty box on a high-sticking call.  As the game was aired on TSN, Pierre Macguire did his level best to instill hope for Oilers fans next season.  At times during the game, the frustrated Oilers fans cheered sarcastically for their team.

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Rexall Place - The Oilers might be the laughing stock of the league, but the fans weren't laughing.

Jonathan Toews scored from the faceoff circle on a shot Deslauriers probably should have stopped just 44 seconds into the first period.  Patrick Kane assisted on the play itself.  The Blackhawk's first shotof the game opened the scoring while setting the tone for the rest of the game.  Pierre MacGuire noted that the Oilers were unable to make a line change to put the Oilers shut-down line of Moreau/Horcoff/Pisani  out as planned.  Instead, the Oilers top line with Souray and Gilbert were on the ice, so I'm not sure that the lack of line match was the issue in this case.

Cogliano and Pouliot look at least like two of the better Oilers during this period.  Pouliot's skill and finesse didn't seem to mesh well with JF Jacques and Stortini.  Cogliano used his speed to open space and set up a few potential scoring chances. However, nothing much developed from his plays.

Ethan Moreau was beat by Hossa one-on-ne which lead to scoring chance against the Oilers that Deslauriers stopped. It was a tough night for the Oilers captain playing against Kane and co.

Deslauriers mishandled the puck behind the net almost lead to a goal against during the opening frame.  Puck handling remain an ongoing problem for the Oiler's netminder.

For the Oilers, they were able to generate some momentum during the tail end of the period.  It started with the line consisting of O'Sullivan/Potulny/Nilsson inthe Hawks zone, then was followed up by the Oilers top line.  Cristobal Huet was not tested much though during this period as the Blackhawks dominated the puck possession.  The Blackhawks defensive corps including Brian Campbell made use of stretch passes which along with their strong forecheck kept pressure in the Oilers' zone for most of the period with the final shot total 11-6 during this period.

The Oilers struggles in this came continued into the second period where they reached a crescendo.  For much of the second stanza, the Oilers were unable to do much other than get the puck deep in Chicago's zone.  They were outshot 17-7 during this period alone.

Chicago Blackhawks made extensive use of stretch passes to put pressure on the Oilers.  On one play, Ducan Keith made one to Patrick Sharp which lead to a good scoring chance.

Oilers defenseman, Dennis Grebeshkov, had an absolutely brutal hockey game tonight.  For him, it must have been like a nightmare since it kept getting worse and worse.  Grebeshkov had two giveaways while trying to Cycle Like the Sedins by making passes between legs.  One was at the blueline in the offensive zone while the 2nd was in his own zone.

Patrick Kane was flying all night causing problems for the Oilers alleged 'shutdown line' with Horcoff, Morea, and Pisani.  Patrick Kane protected the puck while skating circles around Shawn Horcoff.  It seemed like Ethan Moreau failed to continue the coverage which left Kane wide open at the side of the net.  Kane passed to Troy Brower in front of the Oilers net for the easy goal. 

Lubomir Visnovsky who otherwise had a solid game, made a nasty  turnover to Marian Hossa who set up Parick Sharp at the back door.  Sharp took too ling to release the shot which made for an easier save by Deslauriers.

On one shift, the Oilers 'shutdown' line was hemmed in their zone completely unable to relieve the pressure.  The Chicago Blackhawks looked like they had a man advantage.  Finally, Sheldon Souray was able to get a stoppage in play by icing the puck.  The fans booed sarcastically after the ensuing whistle.

Dustin ByFUGLIen scored Hawks' 3rd goal - Putting the Fugly in Byfuglien

The Chicago Blackhawks scored their 3rd goal of the game with a deflection by Dustin Byfuglien.  Chris Versteeg passed the puck  back to Duncan Keith who shot from the point.  Dustin Byfuglien tipped in the shot. The shooting lane was wide-open from the point with poor coverage from Robert Nilsson.

Earlier in the game, Pierre MacGuire noted that the Oilers shutdown line is playing box plus one.  Moreau's lacksadaisical effort was weak link in that system.   The fans really started booing when Patrick Kane danced around the Oilers zone against this shutdown line.
With Shawn Horcoff getting a penalty against Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa scored on the ensuing power play.  Deslauriers made a few saves, but with sustained pressure he let his rebound in.  Marian Hossa had found the juicy rebound on the wide-open side of the net.

Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp created scoring chances all period for the Blackhawks.

Dustin Penner had one of the few scoring chances for the Oilers this period blazing down the left wing, but fired the puck wide of the net.

Late in the period, the Oilers shut down line created some pressure in the Blackhawks zone late in the period.  Moreau shot the puck through Huet's legs, but it lack momentum to cross the line.  Fernando Pisani dived behind Huet to bang the puck in.

Dennis Grebeshkov played a poor game which continued in the third period.  Sheldon Souray rifled pucks towards the net in the 2nd and 3rd periods, but was unable largely to get shots through on net.  Seemingly, he was either unable to find shooting lines or connect with an accurate shot on net.

With the Oilers down by a score of four to one, Ryan Potulny scored the 2nd goal for the Oilers following a turnover from Nicholas Hjalmarsson.  Patrick O'Sullivan assited on the play.

The Oilers had their first power play in the third period which ended 2 seconds after the ensuing faceoff.  Patrick O'Sullivan gave Hendry a high stick which sent himself to the penalty box.

Lubomir Visnovsky certainly doesn't have as hard of a shot of Sheldon Souray, but he seems far more effective at finding shooting lanes and not firing the puck wide of the net.  It's likely because he has better mobility along the blue line.

Late in the third period, Deslauriers made a good save on shot by Hossa from the slot.  Shortly after a turnover at the Oilers blueline lead to a rush the other direction with Penner dropping a pass to Cogliano.  Cogliano managed to pick a corner, but Huet made a good blocker save.  Overall, Deslauriers' play was not spectacular but with only the first goal likely being soft, he probably didn't alter the outcome of this game.

Grebeshkov gave away the puck on a nice sequence in the Blackhawks' zone by Horcoff's line to Patrick Kane.  Jonathan Toews redirected the puck over the net on the pass from Patrick Kane nearly scoring.  Kane and Toews provided full value for Oilers fans attending the game tonight.

With less than a minute left in the game, the Oilers pulled Deslauriers.  Christobal Huet robbed Dustin Penner on a shot from the backdoor with a diving save while the Oilers had the extra attacker.    The final shot total of 37-24 reflected the Blackhawks puck possession, territorial play in the Oielers' zone, and the Oilers general inability to find shooting lanes or create scoring chances.  Final score 4-2.

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