The inconsistent Boston Bruins will try to get something
going today, when they host the Edmonton Oilers in this afternoon's battle at
TD Garden.
The Bruins are 5-5-1 on the year and have alternated losses and wins since
opening the year with a home setback against Washington. After earning a
shootout victory in Ottawa last Saturday, Boston was dealt a close loss
Thursday against visiting New Jersey.
Boston's recent loss to the Devils came in heart-breaking fashion, as Dainius
Zubrus scored the game-winning goal with 1:26 to play to lift New Jersey to
a 2-1 decision at the Garden.
Patrice Bergeron scored the only goal for the Bruins, who fell to 3-4-0 as the
host this season. Tim Thomas allowed two goals on 31 shots to take the loss
for Boston.
The Bruins are completing a brief two-game homestand today. Boston will visit
the New York Rangers on Sunday to start a two-game trip that also features a
stop in Detroit.
The Oilers hosted the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday and earned a dramatic
victory to put the brakes on a three-game losing streak. Patrick O'Sullivan
buried the game-winning shootout goal and Edmonton overcame blowing a four-
goal lead in regulation to post a wild 6-5 win over Detroit at Rexall Place.
After Nikolai Khabibulin turned back the first two Red Wings shooters,
O'Sullivan slammed a hard shot off the left post and back off the center
support bar to light the lamp. Khabibulin was then called upon one last time
and denied a Henrik Zetterberg offering to clinch the victory.
Khabibulin was burned for five goals, four over the final 27-plus minutes, on
45 shots during regulation and overtime. With the win, he tied Billy Smith for
20th on the NHL's all-time list with 305 career victories.
Ales Hemsky scored twice and added an assist for Edmonton, while Dustin Penner
had a four-point night with a goal and three helpers. Shawn Horcoff snapped a
seven-game pointless streak with a goal and two assists for the Oilers, who
brought a scoreless run of 141 minutes and 25 seconds into the game. That
drought evaporated 42 seconds in on Jean-Francois Jacques' second tally of the
season.
Edmonton had been shut out in back-to-back games and was riding a three-game
losing streak coming in.
"Well, they all count," Penner said. "We got the two points, we gave Detroit
one. [Khabibulin] kept us in the game and down the road, we've got to make
the games easier for him because he's been winning for us."
The Oilers could be without forward Mike Comrie and defenseman Lubomir
Visnovsky today, as both players are questionable with flu-like symptoms. This
comes just a few days after Oilers revealed that defenseman Ladislav Smid had
contracted H1N1, which is more commonly known as swine flu. However, Smid has
recovered and actually never missed a game due to the illness.
Edmonton is just 1-3-0 as the guest this year and is kicking off a two-game
swing today. The Oilers will visit the New York Islanders on Monday.
Boston has won seven straight over the Oilers and Edmonton hasn't beaten the
Bruins since October 17, 2000. The Oilers are also 0-4-1 with a tie in their
last six trips to Beantown.
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