Detroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers - Recap - February 04, 2012 - By: Blair Tyler

Game notes. Bertuzzi utilised his 300th profession aim and then his 301st to pull the Wings back into their game Saturday night against the Oilers at Rexall Place, briefly even giving them a lead.

Gagner followed up on his eight-point game in Edmonton's 8-4 win over Chicago. He also scored in the shootout.

"They hardly got in our end in the third period," coach Mike Babcock stated. "We did a true great job clawing our way back. I thought our worst period was our second period. We did not have a lot power in the second period.

"I believed we had a pretty great 1st. The puck just went in our net."

That was a pretty scathing indictment of Ty Conklin, who gave up two goals on 4 shots and three on nine. This night was supposed to be the start of him showing he can be a trustworthy backup - starter Jimmy Howard is nursing a broken finger - but it didn't take place. Instead it was MacDonald, who only arrived in Edmonton at 7:30 p.m. Friday right after flying in from Grand Rapids, who looked at home in the net.

Babcock stated he hadn't decided who will start Monday at Phoenix, but it's challenging to think it won't be MacDonald. The Wings cannot afford to lose ground in the standings.

"We were good for two periods and then sat around and watched them play in the third," Oilers coach Tom Renney said. "That is really unsafe against 1 of the very best teams in the league. But we collected ourselves and played a lot more intelligent and showed some character."

Valtteri Filppula created it 2-1 on a shorthanded aim in the last minute of the 1st period. Drew Miller tied the game early in the third period, and Bertuzzi niftily forwarded the puck through Andy Sutton's legs ahead of scoring top shelf at 16:19 of the third period.

Eberle poked a loose puck behind MacDonald with 39 seconds to spare in regulation.

"I don't like to see the aim go in the way it does in the end," Babcock said. "It is a backside goal, you know it is going to go in that way, 6-on-5. We had our sticks on it and didn't get it out, regrettably."

Bertuzzi was the only 1 Wing to score in a shootout lineup that started with Pavel Datsyuk and segued through Jiri Hudler, Bertuzzi, Henrik Zetterberg, Filppula and Danny Cleary. MacDonald surrendered goals to Gagner and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Gagner got his second point of the night just ahead of the 6-minute mark of the initial. He put the puck on net, and it slipped beneath Conklin and went to Eberle, who scored his 21st of the seasons.

The Oilers scored twice on their first four shots, about as poor a start as Conklin could have delivered in his first game because becoming called upon to be the go-to guy while Jimmy Howard recovers from a broken finger. Conklin gave up a energy play aim to Gagner at 2:42 and a wrap-about aim to Eberle three minutes later.

Gagner had a direct result on two far more goals to close out the 1st period, one by each team.

About the Author

B Melton has long been writing a blog about hockey for years. Mr Melton is additionally interested in and writes on many environmental troubles, especially issues that impact the Detroit, MI area. Melton resides in the Detroit, MI area with his three felines. To read through more of Melton's publications take a look at Detroit Red Wings news.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Blair-Tyler/227031

Additional Articles From - Home | Recreation & sport | Hockey