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Tucker helps Avalanche topple Oilers

Nov 16, 2008 - 7:22 AM EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- Darcy Tucker scored with 11 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime and then tallied in the fifth round of the shootout to rally the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday in a battle of Northwest Division rivals.

Peter Budaj denied Shawn Horcoff with his right pad on the Oilers' final attempt to seal the win.

Former Oiler Ryan Smyth scored in regulation and Budaj finished with 33 saves as Colorado won its third in a row after dropping five straight games.

Rookie Liam Reddox netted his first NHL goal in his second career game, Robert Nilsson also tallied and Dwayne Roloson made 30 saves in his first start in 10 days for Edmonton, which competed in its second shootout in three games. On Monday, Ales Hemsky scored the only goal of the bonus session as the Oilers posted a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

With his team nursing a 2-1 lead with 37 seconds left, Horcoff denied an outlet pass just inside the offensive blue line and targeted the empty net. His wrist shot, however, caromed off the left skate of defenseman Brett Clark and went into the corner.

"It was a desperation play," Clark said. "I turned it over early in that shift and I knew he was coming. I know if I run at him, he puts it right in an empty net, so I just went back and played goal. Just desperation. I just happened to get a piece of it, turned the game (around) and got a penalty and scored."

"Holy smokes. It was a great play by Clarkie," Tucker said. "If (Horcoff) scores there, it's over, obviously."

Despite the outcome, Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish was not placing blame on Horcoff.

"He played well. He had a good, solid game. I don't pin the loss on him, that's for sure," MacTavish said. "It would have been nice if he had ended it 1-on-1 with Clark, but it's just one of those things. It's not as if he was casual and not trying to end it."

After a tripping penalty by captain Ethan Moreau just 12 seconds later, the Avalanche once again pulled their netminder to gain a 6-on-3 advantage as Fernando Pisani already was in the box for hooking. Tucker deflected a shot from the top of the slot past a thoroughly screened Roloson for his fourth goal of the season and third in the last four games.

"We got the play we wanted," Tucker said of the game-tying goal. "I don't know if it's one of those plays you draw up too much, but we got a good shot from the point, (Smyth had a) good screen (and it was a) good deflection goal."

"Obviously, you get a couple of calls," Colorado coach Tony Granato said. "We hung around, which was good, and most of the reason we hung around was because our goalie made the saves."

In the opposing locker room, Roloson tried to remain upbeat despite the defeat.

"It was unfortunate that they were able to get one late, especially because we played well in that game," Roloson said. "That was probably one of the best games we have played defensively all year."

Tucker then won it in the fifth round of the shootout, deking Roloson before wristing the puck between his pads.

"Trying to score any way possible," Tucker said. "I've shot in the shootout a few times over my career. I don't have a great percentage, but you just try to pride yourself on - when the game's on the line - trying to win it."

Recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Friday, Reddox's tally nearly served as the game-winner.

With the game tied at 1-1 just 7:25 into the second period, Pisani unleashed a shot that sailed wide of the net and caromed off the end boards. Reddox gained possession and alertly wristed the puck off Budaj's left arm and left pad before it trickled inside the right goalpost.

"It is unbelievable," Reddox said. "I was pretty zoned in. I saw it coming off the boards and just tried to lift it up. I can't even describe the feeling."

Nilsson opened the scoring 6:44 into the first period.

With his team on the power play, defenseman Tom Gilbert received a pass from Horcoff in the high slot. The blue-liner wristed the shot on the net, but the puck hit Nilsson, who deked Budaj to the ice before netting his third goal of the season.

Smyth leveled the contest 4 1/2 minutes later, gathering the rebound of Milan Hejduk's shot and jamming it past Roloson for his fifth tally of the campaign.