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Hemsky, Pisani keep Oilers hot at home

Feb 29, 2008 - 6:31 AM By Chris O'Leary PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) - In a meeting between the two worst teams in the Western Conference, both clubs decided to throw defense out the window as the Edmonton Oilers topped the Los Angeles Kings, 5-4, on Thursday at Rexall Place.

Fernando Pisani scored the game-winning goal and Ales Hemsky had two tallies and an assist for the Oilers, who claimed their sixth straight home victory.

"I can't remember the last time we got five goals," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said. "It was like an '80s night tonight, the way the game was played. Chances on both ends - especially during the second period - it was whirlwind hockey, which is fine if you come out on the right side of it, which we did."

"The Oilers have played well at home," Kings coach Marc Crawford said. "It's great ice in Edmonton and a great fan base and it's always an energetic game. You have to compete to beat the Oilers; that's always been the case since I've been playing in the league and since I've been coaching in the league."

The win brings Edmonton (30-30-5, 65 points) to the .500 mark for the sixth time this season. Though they have made it to this point before, the Oilers haven't boasted a winning record since they were 2-1-0 on October 8.

After assisting on the first score and posting his 16th goal of the season for the Oilers' second tally, Hemsky broke a 3-3 deadlock when he received the puck in front of the Kings' net. With no one picking him up, Hemsky lined up and released a wrist shot past netminder Dan Cloutier with 3:08 remaining in the second period.

"It's nice to play a more offensive game," Hemsky said. "It was open with not a lot of hitting. It's good to play a game like that every now and then."

Pisani added some insurance, capping Edmonton's four-goal second session 68 seconds later to give the Oilers a two-goal cushion.

Veteran Geoff Sanderson wristed the puck in front of Los Angeles' net for a streaking Pisani, who tipped it past Cloutier for his ninth tally of the season and second in as many games.

"That was a crazy period," Pisani said. "There was a lot of open ice out there and it was fun to play in. It was one of those games where you could see Hemsky just winding it up and watching him fly. You love playing in those games, especially when you get the two points out of it."

"The second period reminded me of some of the games we used to play in when (Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe) was playing for the team," said Crawford, who played against the legendary Edmonton teams of the 1980s while he was with the Vancouver Canucks. "It was end-to-end chances and it was loose to say the least."

On the goal, Sanderson recorded his 700th career point.

Edmonton needed the tally as Dustin Brown capped a three-point contest with a shorthanded goal with 8:47 remaining in the third. The tally was his 28th of the season.

Brown rifled a shot over the shoulder of goaltender Mathieu Garon from the right side that deflected off the post and into the net.

"I heard the post, so obviously it was right in the net," Brown said. "(We were) shorthanded, I think it was a 1-on-2, so I just tried to get a shot."

Rookie Andrew Cogliano recorded his 11th goal of the season and Robert Nilsson added his eight tally for Edmonton.

Kyle Calder contributed two assists for the Kings, who have dropped two straight games.