Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Post-Game: Game #6 Oilers 2 Coyotes 1 (OT)

1ST PERIOD
EDM Petrell 1 (Smyth, Gagner) 4:51

2ND PERIOD
NO SCORING

3RD PERIOD
PHX N.Johnson 2 (Moss, Vrbata) 19:49

OT
EDM Yakupov 4 (Hall, Hemsky) 3:52 PP

Edmonton
Devan Dubnyk 27/28

Phoenix
Chad Johnson 19/21

Game Notes:
- What a bizarre game. For 59 minutes this game looked like is was being played in the frozen tundra of Commonwealth Stadium. Not a lot of flow, not many chances. As a coach, this game was played perfectly. The Oilers battle level was high and they gave the Coyotes very little in terms of time and space. And when the Coyotes did have time and space, Dubnyk was there to make the saves. What's more impressive is that the Oilers essentially beat the Coyotes at their own game, which for Oilers fans should be the best news they could have out of this game. All I can say about this win, is that it was ugly, but I'd rather win ugly than lose pretty. It's time for the Oilers to build on this win and go for 3 in a row in San Jose. In recent history, the Oilers have always had a tough time winning in Phoenix against a team that clogs up the neutral zone. So the fact they played patient and ultimately outwaited the Coyotes is a big time sign that things are looking up.

Player Of The Game:
Devan Dubnyk G - It's easy to give POTGs to goalies when the team wins, but in this case its a no brainer. The Oilers played with a 1-0 for 55 minutes of the game. A lot of that was sound positioning, some was a high battle level at the moment of impact, and the rest was Devan Dubnyk. The Oilers played well tonight, it may not have looked like it but they did. Back to back solid starts for Dubnyk. Will they let him go back to back and play in his 6th straight tomorrow night in San Jose? I know I would. He's in the zone and you gotta ride the hot hand.

Goat Of The Game:
Sam Gagner C - For the 2nd game in a row, its tough to pick the POTG. Sam Gagner gets it for taking a questionable penalty, and by questionable I mean it could have easily gone to the Phoenix player as he and Gagner were fighting for ice chasing a puck. Gagner's penalty lead to the tying goal by the Coyotes with 19 seconds left in the 3rd period. But in all honesty, everyone played a role and battled hard tonight. 2nd game in a row with no passengers in it.

Next Game - vs. Sharks @ San Jose 8:30 PM MT on Sportsnet West

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