Oilers fall to Red Wings, lose Pisani
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 | 1:28 AM ET
CBC Sports
Edmonton forward Fernando Pisani grabs his leg in the third period after crashing into the boards Monday night in Detroit. (Paul Sancya/Associated Press)The Edmonton Oilers lost more than a hockey game on Monday night.
Goaltender Ty Conklin helped beat his old team after making 21 saves to earn his fifth career shutout and lead the Red Wings to a 4-0 win against the struggling Oilers in Detroit.
But Edmonton's night worsened with the news that Fernando Pisani suffered a broken ankle.
The Edmonton winger was battling for the puck with Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom when he crashed into the boards feet first in the third period.
An X-ray following the game revealed the break, and coach Craig MacTavish expects Pisani to be sidelined for at least a month.
"His ankle is broken, and he's out for a long time," said MacTavish.
Jiri Hudler and Niklas Kronwall each had a goal and an assist, while Mikael Samuelsson and Johan Franzen added the other markers for the Stanley Cup champions.
Conklin, who was part of Edmonton's march to the Stanley Cup final in 2006, had his most productive period in the first after turning aside nine Edmonton shots.
"Got a win Friday [3-2 in Florida]. Got to see my wife and the baby [son Nash], and now the shutout. Been a good three days," said a boastful Conklin.
It was his first shutout as a Red Wing.
"It's nice to get that first one here to get rid of the butterflies early," said Conklin.
Dwayne Roloson made 37 saves for Edmonton in the loss.
Easily the most potent power play in the NHL, Detroit got on the board with the man advantage at 6:11 in the first on Kronwall's second goal of the year.
"I thought we played well tonight," said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock. "We didn't give up much. We looked good on special teams.
Detroit took the play to Edmonton in the first, outshooting the Oilers 16-9.
"It's sad … when we're down just 1-0 after the first period. We should be able to build off of that," said Edmonton centre Shawn Horcoff.
Detroit added two more in the second to take a commanding three-goal lead.
Samuelsson tipped in Brett Lebda's pass out of the corner just three minutes into the period.
Hudler then put Detroit in front 3-0 at 14:18 as his attempted pass from the circle deflected off the leg of Edmonton defenceman Sheldon Souray and behind Roloson.
"The difference was the second period. We have five or six red zone chances where it's just us and the goalie, and we don't hit the net," said MacTavish. "And then Samuelsson scores for them to make it 2-0. And then they get another goal, and the game was over."
Franzen added his ninth goal with 9:56 remaining in the third, scoring for the fourth straight game.
"I got a good start coming back from injury," said Franzen, who missed five games with a knee injury. "I've been scoring every game. That helps the legs feel lighter, because I'm not 100 per cent yet skating-wise."
Edmonton forward Dustin Penner was a healthy scratch for the second consecutive contest.
Penner has come under fire from coach Craig MacTavish, who has criticized the winger for a lack of competitive play.
With files from the Associated Press
