Drew Miller makes game-winner to lift Detroit Red Wings over Edmonton Oilers 3-2 -NHL Update
It looked as if the contest between one of the most veteran teams in the league, Detroit, and one of the youngest, Edmonton, was heading into an overtime extension as both teams were tied with less than five minutes remaining in the third.
Drew Miller capitalised on a tipping opportunity when Nicklas Lidstrom let the puck fly on a powerful slap shot from midway ice, which was blocked by Edmonton’s veteran goalie, Nikolai Khabibulin, but Miller was present at the occasion and tipped it in for
the tie-breaker and taking the match, 3-2, out of the Oilers hands on Monday night, December 19, 2011, at the sold-out Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Daniel Cleary kicked off the scoring early in the opening period as he redirected a shot by Jakub Kindl, giving him the assist and taking his eighth goal of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season.
Detroit gave two straight power play opportunities and a 5-on-3 man advantage when Jonathan Ericsson and Ian White were booked nearly a minute apart for minor penalties, which the Oilers failed to capitalise on.
Ryan Jones came back for the Edmonton Oilers on an early breakaway opportunity with the puck and potting his 11th of the season through Jimmy Howard to level the match.
Jiri Hudler gave the lead once again to the visitors with less than six minutes remaining in the mid period but as Edmonton found themselves yet again with an added man advantage, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins attempted a goal of his own which Howard managed to block
but as the puck came back out, Jordan Eberle re-shot the rebound and equalised the contest heading into the final 20 minutes.
Edmonton managed to kill off an early third period penalty as Shawn Horcoff was booked for high-sticking while they failed to capitalise on a late Detroit penalty right after which Drew Miller made the game-winner.
Edmonton has now lost the past four matchups straight and are still looking for one which could be difficult to find as they go against the second place Minnesota Wild on Thursday while Detroit pays a visit to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday before completing
their three-game Canadian road trip.
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