Teams combine for 70 shots
OTTAWA (AP) -- The Edmonton Oilers were happy to take a hard-earned
point out of a game that saw plenty of momentum shifts.
Ethan Moreau and Fernando Pisani scored 2:30 apart in the second period
and Edmonton overcame a two-goal deficit to earn a 3-3 tie with the
Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.
The teams combined for 70 shots, including seven in overtime when the
Oilers held a 5-2 edge. Ottawa outshot Edmonton 16-9 in the second, and
the Oilers had an 11-6 advantage in the third.
"I wish more games were like that -- that's a good product out there,"
Moreau said. "Obviously, I think both coaches would like the defense to
tighten up a little bit, but it was entertaining."
Senators defenseman Wade Redden hit the post in overtime after Oilers
goalie Tommy Salo stopped a shot by Radek Bonk.
"It was a great game," Senators forward Bryan Smolinski said. "It
wasn't a great start that we had, but we battled back and I think
that's a great sign. When you don't play your best game and you still
have a chance to win, obviously things might not be going your way but
you're battling."
Brad Isbister also scored for Edmonton, which extended its unbeaten
streak to four (2-0-2). The Oilers are 1-0-1 on a six-game trip after
losing their first three road games this season.
Trailing 3-1, Moreau scored his fourth of the season at 15:31 on a shot
from the right edge of the crease. Pisani tied it when he scored for
the second straight game, putting in a loose puck in the crease at
18:01.
"I thought we battled pretty hard," Pisani said. "We got down early but
we got some pucks to the net and guys going to the net, so we did a lot
of good things out there."
Marian Hossa had his second two-goal game of the season, and Peter
Schaefer scored a short-handed goal for Ottawa, winless in four games
(0-2-2).
"We're not all on the same page," Hossa said. "It's still early in the
season. There's no reason to panic. It's just 11 games."
Senators backup goalie Martin Prusek made 33 saves in his second start
of the season.
Ottawa lost two players to injury in the first period. Todd White
didn't return after aggravating a left shoulder injury that has already
cost him three games. Defenseman Karl Rachunek also didn't play after
injuring his back.
Isbister scored his second of the season 3:26 in, coming out from
behind the net to put the puck past Prusek.
Hossa tied it at 16:21 as he forechecked and chased down Salo's
clearing attempt off the left-side boards and fired a shot into the net
before the Oilers goalie could scramble back.
"He came in fast on me," Salo said. "I don't know what I was trying to
do there. I tried to put it in the corner, and I just put it right on
his stick."
Both teams had excellent chances in the second before Hossa scored the
go-ahead goal midway through the period.
Oilers left wing Ryan Smith put a backhander off the crossbar with
Prusek down early in the second after he was left alone in front.
Salo made a glove save to rob Hossa on a breakaway at 5:54. Salo made
another fine glove grab to prevent a goal 9:43 in on Bryan Smolinski's
shot from the edge of the crease.
Hossa scored his second of the game -- seventh of the season -- at
10:18 of the second to put Ottawa up 2-1.
Schaefer scored for the second straight game two minutes later, beating
Salo with a shot inside the left post on a breakaway for Ottawa's first
short-handed goal of the season.
"There were a lot of momentum changes in the hockey game," Oilers coach
Craig MacTavish said. "It was two pretty skilled teams playing at a
high tempo."
Game notes
Oilers F Georges Laraque was a healthy scratch for a second straight
game. ... Senators F Antoine Vermette was assigned to Binghamton of the
AHL earlier in the day. Vermette, Ottawa's second-round pick in the
2000 draft, had one assist in nine games. ... Prusek hadn't played
since a 4-3 loss in Los Angeles on Oct. 15.