Final
Penguins hope to find their offense against Oilers
Mar 13, 2011 - 2:23 PM (Sports Network) - The Penguins were unable to reward their fans on Saturday in the club's 200th straight home sellout. A better effort is likely today with the Oilers coming to town.Pittsburgh aims for a fourth straight victory over Edmonton in this afternoon's meeting at CONSOL Energy Center that closes out the Oilers' five- game road trip.
Playing in front of another full house on Saturday, the Penguins failed to get their offense going in a 3-0 setback to the Canadiens. It marked the first time in six games that Pittsburgh failed to notch a point as the club fell to 3-3-4 in its last 10 games.
"I don't think it was a very well executed game by us today," said Pittsburgh head coach Dan Bylsma. "We just didn't do anything right today and it cost us two points. They didn't have to work very hard out there."
Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled in the second period after allowing three goals on 12 shots, while Brent Johnson halted all eight shots faced in relief.
With the loss, the Pens fell five points back of the Flyers for first place in the Atlantic Division and is now just one up on the Lightning for the Eastern Conference's fourth spot.
A big rebound effort could be in store today as the Penguins hope to avoid their first loss to the Oilers since Jan. 10, 2006. Pittsburgh notched a 3-2 victory in the lone meeting last season at Edmonton and is 7-1 with two ties in the last 10 played in the Steel City.
Fleury could get the start again today after getting pulled on Saturday and is 3-2-0 with a 3.01 goals-against average in his career versus the Oilers. Johnson is 2-3-0 with a tie and 2.72 GAA against them.
The Oilers hope to pick up a second victory on their tough swing that has seen them take on some of the NHL's best. After beginning the road trip with a victory over struggling Colorado, Edmonton has been outscored 11-2 in losses to Philadelphia, Washington and Detroit, all first-place clubs.
Friday's game versus the Red Wings was the most competitive of the three, as the Oilers lost a 2-1 decision in overtime. Ryan Jones' first-period tally looked as if it would stand up, but Detroit tied the game with 24.8 seconds left in regulation on a shot that deflected off Andrew Cogliano's skate and in before Pavel Datsyuk won it with 42 seconds left in overtime for the Red Wings.
"That's a kick to lose the game that way," said Jones. "We battle the whole way and it's just unfortunate it didn't turn out the way we wanted."
Devan Dubnyk was solid between the pipes in defeat, making 42 saves, and head coach Tom Renney could stick with him tonight in net over Nikolai Khabibulin.
Dubnyk faced the Penguins for the first time in his career last season, yielding three goals on 31 shots in the loss, while Khabibulin is 7-7-1 with three ties and a 2.74 GAA in his career when facing the Penguins.
- EDMONTON: 1
PITTSBURGH: 5
Final
Mar 13 5:31 PM - Pittsburgh Power-Play Goal - Chris Kunitz (20), from James Neal at 16:11.
Oilers 1, Penguins 5 3rd - 3:49Mar 13 5:20 PM - Pittsburgh Goal - Zbynek Michalek (2), from Craig Adams at 7:52.
Oilers 1, Penguins 4 3rd - 12:08Mar 13 5:06 PM - EDMONTON: 0
PITTSBURGH: 3
End of 2nd
Mar 13 4:35 PM - EDMONTON: 0
PITTSBURGH: 1
End of 1st
Mar 13 3:42 PM - EDMONTON: 0
PITTSBURGH: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Mar 13 3:08 PM
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