Oilers Cruise Past Blackhawks 4-1

[February 07, 2008]  EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Joni Pitkanen had a goal and an assist, and the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 Wednesday night for their second straight win.

Jarret Stoll, Dustin Penner and Ethan Moreau also scored for the Oilers, who moved within five points of eighth place in the Western Conference.

Patrick Sharp had the only goal for the Blackhawks, who have lost five in a row.

Edmonton brok a 1-1 tie 8 minutes into the middle period on the power play as Penner tipped Sam Gagner's shot over Chicago goalie Patrick Lalime's shoulder.

The Oilers extended the lead 34 seconds later as Moreau outmuscled Cameron Barker in front of the net and redirected Ladislav Smid's shot past Lalime. Pitkanen closed the scoring in the first minute of the third period as he skated to the top of the faceoff circle before sending a shot over Lalime's shoulder.

The Blackhawks took a 1-0 lead on the power play with just 43 seconds remaining in the first period as Sharp tipped Duncan Keith's point shot past Oilers goalie Mathieu Garon.

Edmonton tied the score on a power play of their own 2 minutes into the second as Ales Hemsky threaded a cross-ice pass back to Stoll at the point and he blasted a shot past Lalime.

The Oilers thought they had taken the lead 3 minutes later as a bad-angle shot by Tom Gilbert appeared to have gone in just as the net was knocked off its moorings. However a video review determined the puck actually hit Gagner and never crossed the goal line.

Notes: Oilers F Shawn Horcoff underwent shoulder surgery Wednesday morning and will miss the remainder of the season. ... Edmonton D Sheldon Souray took a trip to see a shoulder specialist in New Jersey to assess his shoulder and determine if he will return the lineup this season. ... Chicago F Martin Lapointe (bruised kidney) suited up for the first time in seven games. ... Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews took part in practice for the first time since his injury, and will likely return next week. ... Edmonton sent F Patrick Thoresen to Springfield of the AHL on a conditioning assignment. ... Pitkanen's assist on Penner's goal was the 100th of his career.

[Associated Press]

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