Oilers add to Florida’s sudden woes, top Panthers 4-2

This game started off with emotions running high and the Oilers were able to capitalize on it. The Panthers weren’t able to.

The Panthers trailed 3-0 when the third period started and that’s when they made it a game.

Immediately after a face-off, Gudbranson and the six-foot Hendricks went toe-to-toe in an old-fashioned tilt.

Coincidentally, Gudbranson, who administered the beating to Hendricks on Monday, did not play past the second period due to an apparent back strain. Nevertheless, fans of this type of old-school hockey got what they were after Monday night. So a team that was unbeatable for about a month now suddenly can’t beat anyone.

ABOUT THE OILERS (18-23-5): Hall, who will be Edmonton’s lone representative at the All-Star Game, leads the team with 42 points but has managed just one (an assist) in his last six games. That’s the game right there, they get two or three and… we’re not exactly scoring a lot of goals right now, so that’s the game.

The Panthers, who had their seven-game home winning streak snapped, haven’t fared well on home ice against the Oilers.

Taylor Hall scored twice as Edmonton Oilers overcame Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League, but their 4-2 victory came at a cost.

After a 12-game win streak, the Panthers have now lost four straight.

“We know what we’re capable of”, Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad said.

“That’s what fighting does”, Hall said. The Flames do have four games in hand on the Oilers and play the Devils in New Jersey Tuesday night. They’re 0-2-1 since then, including a 4-1 loss at Tampa Bay. Edmonton scored on its first shot of the game. Perhaps energized by a brutal fight involving teammate Matt Hendricks, teammate Teddy Purcell stole the puck on a breakaway and quickly got the puck to Hall.

Talbot gave up the two quick ones to Smith and Howden early in the third, but settled back into a groove from there and denied two big Florida flurries in the final minutes.

A late Zack Smith goal for the Ottawa Senators forced overtime against the San Jose Sharks with the scores locked 3-3 at full-time, befoer Mika Zibanjejad won the shootout to seal a 21st win of the season for the Senators. “And it’s going to be a long-term injury”, McLellan said…. “I thought we had strong periods in the second and third and we responded well from the first and it was a good, team win”. Florida opened a four-game homestand, with Stanley Cup champion Chicago coming in next on Friday.