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Zubov, Stars edge Oilers in shootout

Dec 19, 2007 - 7:07 AM By Chris O'Leary PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- Luck finally ran out for the Edmonton Oilers.

The NHL's reigning kings of the extra session, Edmonton fell to the Dallas Stars in a shootout, 21, on Tuesday at Rexall Place.

Sergei Zubov netted his first shootout goal of the season, while none of the Oilers were able to beat Dallas goaltender Marty Turco. Edmonton had posted 10 victories in its 11 shootouts entering Tuesday.

"Zubov found a way," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "He'd been going first for a long time and we decided to change that up today and it turned out our way."

This was the second time in eight days the Stars and Oilers were unable to settle things in regulation. Dallas posted a 5-4 overtime victory at home over Edmonton on December 10 and has won four straight in the series.

Dallas struck early on a Jeff Halpern goal at 3:21 of the first period. Mike Modano had control of the puck in the corner and found a wide open Halpern, who banged the puck into the open net with ease.

Edmonton tied the game with 1:38 left in the first on a power-play goal by Dustin Penner, his ninth tally of the season. Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said that he thought this was the best game Penner has had this season.

"He looked really sharp this morning (at practice)," he said. "He's been playing really well, but tonight I think was his best game. He showed the ability to skate and he was a physical presence, he got four or five real big hits. I thought he played exceptionally well. It's good to see."

Penner would liked to have shown a little more. He was stopped on a breakaway in the second period on a goal that would have extended the Oilers' win streak to a season-high four games.

"We shouldn't have gone to the shootout," Penner said. "There were a couple of chances I should have buried. A one-timer in the first, that breakaway (Turco) made a pretty good save on me."

"I'm not sure if he put it exactly where he wanted to," Turco said of Penner's attempt. "He told me later that I got lucky and I just gave him a wink, and moved on from there. There was a lot of big moments in the game and that was one of them."

The game was a statistical anomaly, with each squad topping the other for what they're known for. While the Stars became the first team this season to get the best of the Oilers twice in overtime, Edmonton outscored Dallas on the powerplay, where the Stars are ranked third in the NHL and Edmonton is 30th.