Edmonton, AB – Ales Hemsky scored one of four power-play goals as the Edmonton Oilers rolled to a 4-1 win at Rexall Place over a Colorado Avalanche team that played without its captain.
Jordan Eberle, Shawn Horcoff and 2012 No. 1 overall pick Nail Yakupov also lit the lamp for the Oilers, who entered the game having not led at any point this season. Devan Dubnyk stopped 37 Colorado shots, including a whopping 23 in the third period.
"We didn't play the last period like we wanted, but we got the win and it certainly felt good to play with a lead," Horcoff said.
PA Parenteau scored the lone goal for the Avalanche, who got 23 saves from Semyon Varlamov.
Colorado has been outscored 12-3 in dropping all three road games this season. The penalty kill has been especially dreadful on the road, surrendering nine goals on 19 of its opponent's power-play opportunities.
Gabriel Landeskog missed the first game of his career Monday due to head and leg injuries. The reigning Calder Trophy winner was hurt Saturday when he absorbed a check by Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart in Colorado's 4-0 setback at San Jose.
The Oilers struck twice late in the first period.
Hemsky scored with one second remaining in Jamie McGinn's holding minor. Sam Gagner let a slap shot go from the left point and Teemu Hartikainen took several whacks at the rebound before Hemsky pushed it past Varlamov at the 15:23 mark.
Eberle found the back of the net with 1:55 remaining.
"We want to play hard between the whistles, we want to be hard in the trenches, but we have to stay out of the box," said Colorado head coach Joe Sacco.
Horcoff was credited with the third Edmonton tally. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins fed Taylor Hall for a redirection that went in off Horcoff's skate at 9:40 of the middle frame.
Parenteau put the Avalanche on the board at 7:43 of the third, but Yakupov iced the win with an empty-net goal with 33 seconds remaining.
Game Notes
Hall and Gagner each had two assists ... Colorado was 0-for-3 on the power play ... The Oilers and Avs split six meetings in 2011-12.
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