Second Period Goals Lead Oilers over Wings

The Edmonton Oilers scored three times in the second period and it was all they needed to defeat the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2, and take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference Quarterfinal series.

Fernando Pisani, Ryan Smyth and Shawn Horcoff each scored in the highest-scoring period of the series.

Pisani’s goal came 5:16 into the period when he deflected a shot from the left circle by Chris Pronger between the pads of Detroit goalie Manny Legace.

Smyth scored on a power play just 3:18 later when a shot by Jarret Stoll bounced off his shin pad and into the net.

Horcoff gave Edmonton a three goal lead with 7:24 remaining in the period. Jason Smith threw the puck at the net and Horcoff knocked it down with his leg, then batted away at it. He knocked his own rebound past Legace.

The Red Wings finally got on the board with 1:21 remaining in the second, when Brendan Shanahan picked up the puck and skated in all alone on Edmonton’s Dwayne Roloson, beating him to his left.

Detroit would not score again until the closing seconds of the third period.

With Legace on the bench for an extra attacker, the puck came free from the left wing boards and came out to the slot, where Henrik Zetterberg spun around and slapped a shot into the net.

Roloson stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced while Legace made only 16 saves on 19 shots.

Detroit was held scoreless on six power play chances but allowed one goal on four Edmonton power plays.

The Red Wings will try to avoid elimination on Monday in Edmonton, at a time still to be determined. Should the Wings win then, the series will move back to Detroit for a deciding Game Seven on Wednesday.

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Detroit captain Steve Yzerman and backup goalie Chris Osgood sat out for the second game in a row.