The New Jersey Devils hadn't won in Edmonton since Halloween in 1995.
After tonight's loss, the Devils will have to wait to break that streak.
The Edmonton Oilers scored two goals to blank the Devils, 2-0, tonight at Rexall Place.
After a quiet first period, Oilers' forward Gilbert Brule struck at 1:23 of the second period to break the scoreless tie. Devils 'goalie Martin Brodeur went behind the net to play the puck. It took a bad hop off the boards and came to Oilers' forward Andrew Cogliano. Cogliano pushed the puck past Devils' defenseman Anssi Salmela on the side boards, and it rolled to Oilers' forward Patrick O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan sent a quick pass to Brule in front, and Brule one-timed the puck past Brodeur for his 14th goal of the season.
The Oilers outshot the Devils, 16-9, in the second period.
Devils' center Dean McAmmond left the game with an injury 6:43 into the second period. McAmmond was driven in to the boards by the Devils' bench by Oilers forward Zach Stortini. McAmmond immediately clutched his arm and came off the ice. He went down the tunnel and into the visitor's dressing room.
The Devils released no news on the severity of the injury. McAmmond did not return to the game.
Marc Pouliot extended the lead to two at 8:28 of the third period. Oilers' forward Sam Gagner began the play in the neutral zone, taking the loose puck and passing it ahead to Robert Nilsson. Nillson deked around Devils’ defenseman Colin White and drove to the slot. As he fell to the ice, he passed to an open Pouliot in the slot. Pouliot sent the puck to the top of the net for his fourth goal of the season.
Pouliot's goal came right after a great breakaway save by Oilers' goalie Jeff Deslauriers. Devil's left-winger Ilya Kovalchuk split two defenders in the neutral zone, grabbing a loose puck and heading in alone on Deslauriers. Kovalchuk attempted to put the shot through Deslauriers' legs, but the goalie closed his pads and made the save.
Deslauriers finished with 22 saves in the win. Brodeur finished with 33 saves in the loss.
The Devils finish their road trip with a 1-4-0 record. They've only won six of their last 20 games (6-12-2). The loss drops the Devils five points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Atlantic Division lead. The team plays Wednesday night against the Rangers at the Prudential Center.
Game Notes
Devils' "enforcer" Andrew Peters, playing in his first game since the Olympic break, received a game misconduct at 9:25 of the third period. Peters and Ryan Whitney drew matching roughing penalties, but Peters continued to talk and taunt Whitney. The refs gave him the game misconduct, ending his night...Edmonton remains one of three teams Brodeur has never shut out...Oilers' goalie Deslauriers defeated the Devils for the second time in his career. He previously defeated them on November 9, 2008.
Photo Credit: John Ulan, The Canadian Press/AP Photo
