The Edmonton Oilers won a shootout 5-4 on Friday to send the Chicago Blackhawks spiraling to their fifth successive defeat.
Patrick O’Sullivan and Ales Kotalik both scored in the shootout session as the Oilers won for the third straight time and moved into sole possession of seventh place in the Western Conference.
Dwayne Roloson made 39 saves in his franchise-record 27th successive start for Edmonton, who improved to 35-27-9 and are within one point of sixth place with 12 games remaining.
PHOTO: AP
The veteran netminder made two critical saves on shots by Chicago’s Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in the shootout to preserve the victory.
“He’s a warrior,” Oilers coach Craig MacTavish told reporters. “I thought he was good. He had a great save in the shootout that was one of the keys to the game. There were a lot of keys to this game. It was a battle.”
The Blackhawks (37-22-11) are in the midst of a season-worst tailspin but did earn a point to tie the Vancouver Canucks for fourth in the West.
Chicago battled through a contest that saw them tie the game four times before surrendering.
Martin Havlat’s 22nd goal of the year knotted the game at 4-4 at 7:23 in the third period. Havlat also added an assist.
Dustin Penner recorded a goal and an assist for Edmonton, who got scores out of Andrew Cogliano, Ethan Moreau and Sam Gagner. Gagner put the Oilers on top 4-3 with 1:41 left in the second period.
Nick Khabibulin had 27 saves for the Blackhawks, who used scores from Dave Bolland, Adam Burish and Cam Barker in a hard-fought loss.
“We got their best and we responded really well especially after a back-to-back games,” Moreau said. “It was a good template for what we have to do for the rest of the year.”
BLUES 3, FLAMES 2
At Calgary, Canada, Andy McDonald and Jay McClement scored in a 51-second span midway through the third period as St Louis beat the home team.
T.J. Oshie also scored to help St Louis jump into ninth place in the Western Conference, two points behind Nashville for the final playoff spot.
Mike Cammalleri and Dustin Boyd scored for Calgary.
DEVILS 4, WILD 0
In Newark, New Jersey, Martin Brodeur shined in his first appearance since breaking the NHL goalies victory record, leading New Jersey over Minnesota for his 101st shutout, just two behind Terry Sawchuck’s mark.
Brodeur made 35 saves, Patrik Elias scored twice — giving him 30 for the season — and Brian Gionta and Johnny Oduya added goals to help the Devils extend their team-record home winning streak to 11.
In other games it was:
• Red Wings 6, Thrashers 3
• Penguins 4, Kings 1
• Flyers 6, Sabres 4
• Hurricanes 5, Islanders 4
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
RSS