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Hall, Oilers down Avalanche

Feb 1, 2012 - 6:38 AM Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - Taylor Hall's goal early in the third period proved to be the game-winner, as the Edmonton Oilers held off the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2.

Eric Belanger and Jordan Eberle also lit the lamp for the Oilers, who have won two of three since a three-game skid. Devan Dubnyk made 31 saves.

Peter Mueller and Gabriel Landeskog scored for the Avalanche, who have lost three in a row. Semyon Varlamov stopped 20-of-23 shots.

"It got better as the game went on; but I guess it was too little, too late," Landeskog said.

The Oilers drew first blood at the 4:59 mark of the first period. Eberle started to make his way around the net for a wraparound but stopped and changed directions. With Varlamov going the other way, Eberle snuck the puck inside the post.

Belanger's slapper from the top of the right circle with 2:23 left made it 2-0.

Colorado got on the board at the 1:16 mark of the middle stanza. Chuck Kobasew threw the puck on net from the bottom of the right circle and Mueller, positioned in front, redirected the disc past Dubnyk.

Hall put home a rebound at the 6:01 mark of the third to give Edmonton a 3-1 edge. Ales Hemsky's initial shot from inside the right circle was stopped by Varlamov.

"It was nice to get that one and hold on in the end. Nice to get the win," Hall said.

Landeskog put a backhander past Dubnyk at the 10:14 mark to make it a one-goal game.

But Dubnyk made 14 saves in the final period to preserve the victory.

Game Notes

Edmonton is 3-1 against Colorado this season. The Oilers are 5-0-2 in their past seven at home versus the Avs...Edmonton went 1-for-2 on the power play, while Colorado went 0-for-2 on the man advantage.