Oilers Score 3 First Period Goals, But Suffer Yet Another Loss

From what we saw early in the first period, it looked like the message Craig MacTavish gave the players earlier this week sunk in, as the Edmonton Oilers looked to turn their season around vs the Colorado Avalanche.

As the game went underway, the first goal was scored by Ian Lappierre who notched his first goal of the year at 3:46 that went in five hole on Dwayne Roloson.

But the Edmonton Oilers answered back, with a quick shift and deke by oilers rookie Andrew Cogliano zipped a pass across the crease to Kyle Brozdiak who put in his 3rd goal of the year.

Colorado regained momentum with Andrew Brunette firing a pass from behind the net in front to Tyler Arnason  to take the lead 2-1. Tyler Arnason contributes once again, who seems to gain most of his points against the Edmonton Oilers as he notched 11 points in 8 games last year against the Oilers.

Seconds later, the Oilers clawed their way back into the game with Shawn Horcoff finding Tom Gilbert in the right slot of the face off area who wrists one in off the post to tie the game at 2-2.

From what we've seen this season, the Oilers power play ranked 30th in the league got some offence going tonight, as Jarret Stoll fed a tape to tape pass to right winger Ales Hemsky who danced in through the blue-line and put a shot past Avalanche goaltender Petr Budaj glove side.

The Edmonton Oilers managed to notch 3 first period goals and lead 3-2 going into the second period. As the second period began, the Colorado Avalanche regained momentum , outshooting the Oilers 9-1 in the first half of the period, but were unable to tie up the game.

In the third period, Ian Lapperriere notched his 2nd goal of the night and season by finishing off a pass from Tyler Arnason. With the game tied at 3-3, the game went back and forth as the Oilers and Avalanche traded many chances with both goalies, Dwayne Roloson and Petr Budaj turning away plenty of key chances in front.

Unable to get a result in regulation, the game was sent into overtime in which it still could not be determined.

From what seemed to be a good thing going for the Edmonton Oilers, 3-0 in shootouts this year, the game was headed to a shootout. The Oilers decided to send out the 18-year old Sam Gagner who played a key role along with Andrew Cogliano early in the season in place of the inconsistency the Oilers were receiving from the Veteran forwards. Gagner shootout efficiency 2-2 in the NHL, shot first where he decided to go backhand that was saved by Petr Budaj

Colorado's first shooter was Woltek Wolski who is 4-7 lifetime in shootouts, was able to out deke Roloson and send the puck into the empty cage.

Oilers then sent out Ales Hemsky, who has won 2 out of the 3 previous shootout victories for the Oilers, went in on Petr Budaj let the puck rip far side but missed the net.

With Colorado up 1-0 in the shootout, Ryan Smyth went low left side on Roloson in which Roloson made a kick save to keep it at 1-0 for Colorado.

The Oilers who are desperate for a goal to keep the shootout going, send Raffi Torres in which he goes in and put the puck in with ease past Petr Budaj.

To give Colorado the go ahead goal, Marek Svatos skated in with speed on Roloson and puts it low glove side. Marty Reasoner unable to beat Petr Budaj gives Colorado their 10th victory of the year and they slide into a tie with the Minnesota Wild for 1st place in the North West Division.

The Edmonton Oilers were able to squeeze 1 point from tonight's game, but obviously they are unsatisfied with tonight's result.

Next up on the 3rd stop of the Oilers road trip, the Oilers will get a few days of rest before they play another key division game and edition of the Battle of Alberta verses the Calgary Flames.