Post Game: Game #56 Maple Leafs 4 Oilers 3 (OT)

Scoring Summary
1st Period
TOR Joffrey Lupul 23 (Phil Kessel, Keith Aulie) 0:40

TOR Matthew Lombardi 7 (Cody Franson) 1:38

EDM Ben Eager 7 (Lennart Petrell) 2:32


2nd Period
EDM Taylor Hall 20 (Sam Gagner, Andy Sutton) 8:15


3rd Period
TOR Jake Gardiner 3 (PP) (Clarke MacArthur, Cody Franson) 6:46

EDM Jordan Eberle 25 (Assists: Ryan Whitney 8) 15:56


OT Period
TOR Tim Connolly 8 (Joffrey Lupul) 1:39

Penalty Summary
1st Period
4:49 Toronto fighting - 5 min M. Brown drawn by B. Eager
4:49 Edmonton fighting - 5 min B. Eager drawn by M. Brown
15:58 Edmonton interference with goaltender - 2 min M. Paajarvi drawn by J. Reimer

2nd Period
None


3rd Period
6:36 Edmonton puck over glass - 2 min R. Jones
10:06 Edmonton tripping - 2 min A. Sutton drawn by C. MacArthur
11:08 Toronto hooking - 2 min J. Lupul drawn by R. Whitney
17:54 Toronto hooking - 2 min D. Boyce drawn by T. Hall

OT Period
None

Shots On Goal - Oilers 32 Maple Leafs 26

Game Notes:
- Tough loss. The Oilers came out real slow, offered up 2 quick goals and played catch up all night. The Oilers battled hard after the Leafs made it 2-0. Inspired play from the 4th line really brought the energy level back to the Oilers. It was then the game turned into a chippy track meet. Lots of skating, lots of hitting, plenty of battle for the puck. As a fan, it was an entertaining game to watch. Over the past few years, I have heard the Oilers' youth being blamed for misguided losses when it was the vets mailing games in. Tonight, youth is to be heralded for the comeback, but ultimately blamed for the loss. Magnus Paajarvi was leading a 3 on 1 in OT looking for the winner. Passed it back to Whitney who attempted a one timer, but had his stick lifted by Phaneuf that led a 2 on 1 going the other way and the eventual game winner. Right there showed the lack of confidence to make a play from Paajarvi, something he has been plagued with all year. Tough play and tough luck, not much more can be said. All that being said, Paajarvi just needs to keep playing and not to forget to keep skating. His game is within his legs and he cannot forget that.

Player of the Game:
- Ben Eager. He pulled this game out of the gutter when it looked like it was going to be a long night at Rexall. A quick reply early in the first period followed up by pummelling Mike Brown in a fight, then it was game on for the Oilers. That's what a 4th line energy player is supposed to bring and he brought it.

Goat of the Game:
- Magnus Paajarvi. A tough play from a player whose game has really come around. As mentioned above he's a player that you want having the puck on a rush because you want him to use his speed to back off defenders, but when he doesn't use his speed it makes himslef and his linemates much easier to defend. Just a tough play all around, a play that ultimately lost the Oilers the game after fighting back valiantly. A tough lesson to take.

Next Game - Friday February 17, 2012 vs. Avalanche @ Rexall Place on Sportsnet West 7:30 PM MT.