NHL | GM Hull again making moves for Dallas Stars
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Ales Hemsky scored the only goal in a shootout and Mathieu Garon came up big in goal to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 1-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.
Garon made 29 saves through overtime and stopped all three in the shootout to get the best of Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, who matched him until the very end.
Garon stopped Bryon Ritchie’s deke, pokechecked Brendan Morrison and got a piece of Ryan Kesler’s move to the backhand in the shootout. At the other end, Luongo stopped Sam Gagner’s deke and watched as Raffi Torres fanned completely from the slot, but Hemsky made a strong move to his backhand and lifted the puck quickly and sharply over the sprawled goalie.
It was the first time the Oilers won consecutive games since the first two of the season, and Garon was the story in both. He made 37 saves in a 4-2 win in Calgary on Saturday and was rewarded with consecutive starts for the first time since joining the Oilers this summer.
Garon responded with another strong effort against the Canucks.
Edmonton was outshot 16-5 in the first period and 23-10 through 40 minutes, but Garon made great saves on a deflection by Alexandre Burrows and against Brad Isbister on a rebound late in the first period.
The win snapped a handful of streaks for both clubs. It was Edmonton’s first over the Canucks in eight games dating to Dec. 4, 2006, including the first two games of this season. It also was Vancouver’s first loss within the Northwest Division this season.
Luongo made 19 saves in regulation and overtime for the Canucks, who had a season-high three-game winning streak snapped and fell to 2-7 at home this season.
Both goalies got early breaks.
Edmonton’s Dick Tarnstrom hit the post 30 seconds in, and defenseman Willie Mitchell swept a puck off the goal line behind Luongo after Hemsky’s one-timer from the blue line trickled through his pads less than 8 minutes later.
Garon also got some help from the post when Morrison ripped a shot over his shoulder less than 3 minutes into the game, with the puck caroming back out and off his goal mask before being cleared. Ryan Kesler also hit the seam of the post and cross bar behind him again with 10 seconds left in the second period.
Canucks left winger Jeff Cowan is ready to return after missing 11 games with a hip injury, but with forward Taylor Pyatt playing through flu symptoms, there wasn’t a place in the lineup for him.
Notes
• A local investor group trying to buy the Nashville Predators canceled a news conference after city officials denied they had reached an agreement on changes to the team’s arena lease. Earlier in the day, the group said it was set to make an announcement after weeks of negotiations with city officials about changes the potential buyers say are necessary to complete the $193 million deal and keep the team in Nashville.
• Forward Jamie Langenbrunner was in New Jersey’s lineup for the first time this season after surgery to repair a sports hernia and scored a goal on the game’s opening shift.