Nugent-Hopkins scores 2 to lead Oilers past Flames

[March 17, 2012]  EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored a pair of goals and the Edmonton Oilers ended the Calgary Flames' five-game winning streak with a 3-1 victory Friday night.

Jordan Eberle had a goal and two assists for the Oilers, who won their second in a row.

Mark Giordano had the lone goal for the Flames, who remained in a tie for ninth place in the Western Conference with San Jose, a point behind eighth-place Colorado.

The game got off to a scary start as Oilers star Taylor Hall lost his balance and took a hard shot to the head from Flames defenseman Cory Sarich along the boards. Hall looked woozy as he was helped off the ice to the dressing room and did not return to the game.

The Flames came close to scoring 5 minutes into the game as Alex Tanguay slid a puck underneath Edmonton's Devan Dubnyk. The puck travelled along the goal line before hitting the post and being swiped away.

The Oilers took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period as Eberle made a backhand pass to Nugent-Hopkins, who sent a wrist shot past Calgary's Leland Irving for his 17th goal.

Edmonton took a two-goal lead with five minutes to play in the opening period as Eberle came out from the boards and sipped a shot into the top corner for his 31st.

Calgary had another good chance to cut into the lead when Tanguay got loose for a breakaway 8 minutes into the second, but he rang his shot off the post.

The Flames finally caught a big break with 8 minutes to play in the second as a point shot by Giordano hit a pair of Oilers on the way to the net, giving Dubnyk no chance on the play.

Edmonton restored its two-goal advantage midway through the third as the rebound from Ryan Jones' shot came to Nugent-Hopkins in front, and he slid his second goal of the game into a wide-open net.

NOTES: It was the sixth and final meeting between the provincial rivals. Calgary won the first four games before the Oilers finally earned a 6-1 victory in their last meeting in Calgary on Feb. 21. Before that win Edmonton was 1-13-3 against the Flames. ... Edmonton hasn't had much success at home against the Flames, coming into the game with losses in four straight at Rexall Place and nine of its past 12 at home in the series. ... Calgary captain Jarome Iginla entered with 34 goals and 81 points in 87 career games vs. Edmonton. ... AHL call-up Teemu Hartikainen drew into the Edmonton lineup with Ben Eager out with a sore back. ... The Oilers opted to sit out F Linus Omark and go with seven defensemen for the game... The Flames were without D T.J. Brodie (upper body), D Chris Butler (leg), F Tim Jackman (upper body), F Michael Cammalleri (upper body) F Mikael Backlund (arm). Lee Stempniak (ankle) and Lance Bouma (upper body) were also out, but have been skating and could be back soon.

[Associated Press]

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