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
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