Game 50 review – Heartbreak against Big D

Dubnyk tries to make the save on Neal's game winner - Photo from John Ulan/The Canadian Press

Just like Wednesday night Oiler fans at Rexall Place last night thought that the home team might just pull out a win and end their losing streak, but it just wasn’t meant to be and the streak continues – the Oilers have now lost 10 straight games. By going winless in 10 the Oilers are now starting to creep into franchise record territory.

Despite the result last night the team did play really good hockey. The Oilers fell behind early on a point shot from Daley. It wasn’t an overpowering shot by any means, Dubnyk would probably like to have that one back.

Shortly after the first Dallas goal both Pisani and Horcoff were flagged for penalties at the same time resulting in a two minute long two man advantage for the visitors. The Oilers have the 29th ranked penalty kill in the NHL and with two of the teams better penalty killers in the box it seemed like a lock that Dallas would stretch their lead to two.

The Oilers came up big and killed off the two man advantage and then killed a stupid holding penalty by Gagner shortly after. It was another stupid penalty – this time a slash to the shin pads of a Dallas player by O’Sullivan – that proved to be too much for the Oiler penalty killers. Modano gets credit for the goal but Strudwick was the guy who deflected it in. It was a nice tip just too bad it was at the wrong end of the ice.

The shots at this point in the game were 14-2 in favour of the visitors and so far it looked as if the ice must be sloped towards the Edmonton end of the rink. But the Oilers battled back scoring a powerplay goal of their own from Potulny to cut the Dallas lead to a goal. After the Modano goal the Oilers really came on, outshooting the Stars 9-4 over the last seven and half minutes of the period.

Dallas restored the two goal lead in the second period on a goal from Benn. Coming out of the Oilers zone Chorney got caught between a pinching and falling back. That hesitation resulted in a two on one and Strudwick just could breakup the pass allowing Benn to score a pretty easy goal.

With time running out in the second, and just a few seconds after Visnovsky missed a wide open net Gagner scored on a beautiful pass from Gilbert. The play started with Penner who moved to the middle of the ice and then made a drop pass to Gilbert. Penner’s play opened up a ton of ice for Gilbert who was able to spot Gagner on the other side of the ice. Gagner didn’t waste the chance and ripped a one timer past Turco to again cut the Dallas lead to one.

Buoyed by the late goal from Gagner the Oilers took control of the game in the third period. They controlled the play and kept Dallas pinned in their end for what seemed like most of the period. But they just couldn’t get the puck past Turco. With the goalie pulled the Oilers finally were able to beat Turco but even then needed a lucky bounce to make it happen. Modano tried to control a rebound off a Gagner shot and accidentally kicked it into his own net.

Considering the period that the Oilers had played and the way things have been going for them over the last month it seemed fitting that they’d finally catch a break like that. It wasn’t meant to be though. Although the Oilers had tied the game up with just 1:09 left in the game they still couldn’t even get this one to overtime.

With a couple of veterans forwards on the ice – Horcoff and Moreau – the Oilers turned the puck over at the blue line. Strudwick was able to breakup the cross ice pass this time but lost his balance and played the puck back into the slot where Neal was waiting to slap it home. And just like that it was another heartbreaker for the Oilers. Hopefully the Oilers can draw something positive from a second consecutive good effort. If they keep playing games like that the streak will have to end soon.

Dubnyk looked good between the pipes for the Oilers again last night. The first goal was on the soft side but after that he was very solid and made a couple of really big saves that kept the Oilers in it and gave the the chance to tie the game up. Even though he still wasn’t able to nail down that first win he should be happy with how he played. Based on what I’ve seen over the past couple of weeks the Oilers should be giving him the lion’s share of the work for the next while.

The Oilers now have a few days off before hosting Chicago on Tuesday night. The Hawks have dominated the Oilers over the last couple of seasons so ending the losing streak that night will be a real challenge, stranger things have happened though.