Post-Game: Game #29 Oilers 4 Avalanche 1

Scoring Summary
1st Period
EDM Sam Gagner 2 (PP) (Unassisted) 6:07

EDM Ben Eager 2 (Eric Belanger, Ryan Jones) 19:23

2nd Period
COL Jay McClement 5 (Daniel Winnik, Ryan O'Byrne) 3:29

EDM Jordan Eberle 11 (PP) (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jeff Petry) 10:36

EDM Sam Gagner 3 (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle) 19:57


3rd Period
None

Penalty Summary
1st Period
1:19 Edmonton cross checking - 2 min J. Petry drawn by J. McClement
5:16 Colorado interference - 2 min J. Hejda drawn by S. Horcoff
7:15 Colorado slashing - 2 min K. Quincey drawn by S. Horcoff

2nd Period
0:36 Edmonton holding - 2 min A. Lander drawn by B. Malone
5:31 Edmonton holding - 2 min T. Peckham drawn by B. Yip
7:29 Colorado interference - 2 min B. Yip drawn by T. Gilbert
9:58 Colorado slashing - 2 min K. Quincey drawn by R. Jones
14:24 Colorado high-sticking - 2 min S. O'Brien drawn by A. Hemsky

3rd Period
None

Shots On Goal - Oilers 35 Avalanche 29

Game Notes:
- This is the type of game the Oilers needed to get back to. The energy line of Eager-Belanger-Jones set the tone of high energy that allowed the kid line of Gagner-RNH-Eberle to make hay when things got back to hockey. Solid game for these two lines and they carried the Oilers to a victory tonight. It was the perfect recipe for a team playing in the 2nd half of a back to back set. The defense came around nicely tonight as well. There were few brain cramps but when the brain cramps happened, Khabibulin bailed them out. It's what good team do, keep brain cramps to a minimum, but when they do, everyone goes all in to make a play. The energy in tonight's game was night and day compared to the shenanigans that went on Wednesday night against the Hurricanes. All's well in Oilerland tonight, as a much needed win was needed in these parts, but it will interesting to see if this Oilers team shows up tomorrow night in Calgary. This win won't matter much unless they can get some points out of tomorrow night's game. A streak is in order for the Oilers to get some good mojo going. Only as good as your next game.

Player of the Game:
- Sam Gagner. This was likely Sam Gagner's best game of the year. He worked his backside off tonight winning his fair share of puck battles and being put with Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle, he has embraced a shooter's mentality with them, which is a good sign he is starting to round out as a hockey player. The true litmus test for this version of the kid line will be whether or not this line can handle a more physical team in Calgary and still produce some offense. The Oilers really had their will broken in the last game against the Flames. I'd say its time for a little payback.

Goat of the Game:
- Colten Teubert. Was tardy in covering his man on the post in the only goal of the game and went on an ill-advised line change that led to a 2 on nothing that led to Khabibulin making 2 great saves and the third bashed off the post. Teubert is likely has some rust on him after being a scratch for a few games. Just needs more awareness on the ice, to cut on those brain cramps that I had mentioned above.

Next Game - Saturday December 10, 2011 vs. Flames @ Calgary on CBC 8 PM MT.