Nugent-Hopkins Scores 2 In Oilers' Win Over Wild
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice, Ryan Smyth had a goal and an assist, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 Friday.
Taylor Hall and Shawn Horcoff also scored for Edmonton, which won for the first time in 18 games in Minnesota dating to Jan. 6, 2007. The Oilers have won three of four overall, scoring a combined 20 goals in the trio of victories.
Devin Setoguchi and Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored for the Wild, who lost for the first time in six games. Minnesota entered the game with a league-best 29 points.
Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 30 shots to win for just the second time in six starts. His best save was sliding across the crease to make a right pad stop on Matt Cullen late in the second period.
Hall gave Edmonton a 3-2 lead at 15:39 of the second period, poking home a rebound of a shot by Tom Gilbert that Josh Harding didn't see lying near the right post. Hall has seven points in his last four games.
Horcoff gave the Oilers a little breathing room scoring on a one-timer from low in the right circle midway through the third period for a 4-2 cushion. Minnesota has won four games when trailing in the final period, and seven of its 13 wins have come when trailing or tied after two periods. This time there was no comeback.
Nugent-Hopkins added an empty-net goal for his 10th point in his past four games.
Smyth put Edmonton on the board at 5:15 of the opening period. Jordan Eberle spun around in the left circle to deke Andrew Falk, and sent a pass to Smyth who was being checked by Nate Prosser in the crease, but was able to poke the puck past Harding.
Nugent-Hopkins scored on a power play with 3:31 to play in the period, pushing the puck across the line during a goalmouth scramble, before Setoguchi countered during a two-man advantage in the period's final seconds, lifting a rebound past a downed Khabibulin to make it 2-1.
Bouchard stole the puck from Nugent-Hopkins at center ice and went in alone, beating Khabibulin 5-hole, to tie the game midway through the second period.
NOTES: It was Minnesota's first regulation loss in seven games against a division foe. The Wild are 13-4-2 against the Western Conference. ... Ray Whitney, Edmonton's best defenseman, returned to action after missing 11 games with a sprained knee. ... Minnesota has played at home the day after Thanksgiving every season of its existence, going 7-3-1. ... Edmonton LW Darcy Hordichuk played his 500th career game. ... The game was just the second sellout of the year for Minnesota, and the first since opening night.
Justin Falk Interview
Podcast
Brad Staubitz Interview
Podcast
Josh Harding Interview
Podcast
Mike Yeo Interview
Podcast
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
