Avs fall to Oilers, 8-2

Dec 5, 2013; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall (4) score the first goal of the game against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov (1) during the first period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Note: Prior to the game Thursday night, the Colorado Avalanche would scratch Cory Sarich, D, and Brad Malone, C as Nick Holden would start in Sarich’s place.

The Edmonton Oilers would catch a break early on in the first period, as one of their defenseman broke his stick and the Avs essentially had a 5-on-4 opportunity. The puck would be shot out by one of the Oilers and Taylor Hall would already be at Colorado’s blue-line. Hall would score on a one-on-one with goaltender Semyon Varlamov, putting the Oilers up early 1-0, he was assited by Philip Larsen.

Ryan Jones of the Oilers would be called for a penalty after holding forward Cody McLeod. The Avalanche would go on the power-play, but it necessarily hasn’t been a good thing for them. In their last four games, the Avalanche have been bad, going 0-9, 16th in the National Hockey League at 18.1% percent. The Oilers would pick up another penalty as the puck was lifted out of play by David Perron. The Avs would have a 5-on-3 for 1:14, and would not convert. This has been a problem with the Avalanche this season as they have had chances, but fail to bury the puck in the net.

Scary play for the Avalanche as defenseman Jan Hejda went in the boards hard with his right knee. He would not be able to return for the rest of the game; a huge loss for Colorado as they were left with five defenseman as Sarich was scratched before the game.  Nathan MacKinnon would have a breakaway opportunity with the defender draped on his back, but couldn’t bury the puck.

P.A. Parenteau would be called for slashing, a two-minute minor. Moments after, Marc-Andre Cliche would be called for interference on a bizarre call. The Oilers would have a 5-on-3 opportunity as the Avs continued to play poorly. On the 5-on-3 with ten seconds left, Taylor Hall would score his second goal of the game, putting the Oilers up 2-0.

The Oilers continued to play well as they came right back with another goal. They would score two power-play goals in a fifteen-second time period. Ales Hemsky would be the one with the goal, as he scored his sixth goal of the season on a backhand opportunity as the Oilers took a 3-0 lead after the first intermission.

The Colorado Avalanche would finally get on the board four-minutes and twenty-seconds into the period, as d-man Nick Holden scored his second goal of the season on a slap-shot. The Avalanche would keep putting the pressure on in the second, as Gabriel Landeskog took a slap-shot on net and was rebounded by P.A. Parenteau as he would follow-up with the goal, scoring his 8th goal of the season, assisted by Landy and Erik Johnson.

However, the Oilers would add another goal right after, as David Perron would make the perfect shot, scoring his 12th goal of the season. The Avalanche outscored the Oilers 2-1, and would need to keep up the pressure as they trailed the Oilers after two periods.

The third period would belong to the Oilers as they would add four unanswered, crushing Colorado. Taylor Hall would score his third goal later in the third giving him the hat-trick, the fourth of his career. The Avalanche would fall to the Oilers, 8-2 . The Avalanche don’t have time to dwell on the embarrasing loss as they face the Calgary Flames Friday night. Colorado out-shot the Oilers 35-28, but were in the penalty box far too much. Jan Hejda going down was a big blow to an already porous Avs defense. I expect the Avs to make some phone calls inquiring about defenseman if the injury to Hejda is serious.