Chicago: The combination of being shut out the last two games and an opponent that looked like imposters rather than the NHL’s top team for part of the game allowed the Edmonton Oilers to roll to a 6-5 win over the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday at United Center.
Edmonton came into yesterday’ game having been shut out and outscored 9-0 in its last two games, suffering a 3-0 defeat at Detroit and 6-0 at Nashville. But led by a pair of goals by Sam Gagner, the Oilers looked like world-beaters on Chicago’s home ice.
The Oilers improved to 9-11-5 with the win, while the Blackhawks suffered only their second loss in regulation time this season, dropping to a 21-2-3.
Elsewhere, the Canadiens closed out their season-long five-game roadtrip with a 5-2 victory over the Panthers to remain atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Montreal (17-5-4) struck quickly on center David Desharnais’ eighth goal of the season just 1:46 into the game.
Defenceman Alexei Emelin handled the puck behind the Montreal net and found Desharnais, who skated into the Florida (7-13-6) zone. His slap shot beat Jacob Markstrom’s glove side. Right winger Brendan Gallagher also earned an assist.
In another game, the Penguins played without star center Evgeni Malkin, but Chris Kunitz and Sidney Crobsy picked up the slack, each enjoying a five-point night as Pittsburgh manhandled the New York Islanders 6-1.
Kunitz finished with three goals and two assists, and Crosby added five assists. Crosby has recorded at least one assist in eight straight games, one shy of his career high.
REUTERS
