For most fans a 2-1-1 home stand is not a bad weeks work. But the Oilers fans would be forgiven if they felt a little cheated going into the game against the Canadiens feeling hard done by the Hockey gods.

The Oilers however went to work pounding on the Canadiens physically and on the scoreboard racing out to a 3-0 lead. But Montreal who had been hounded by the Vancouver Canucks a couple of nights earlier were not going to go easily. They worked their way through making another close finish as they brought it to 3-2 but that was as close as they got as the Oilers finally finished a game in the third period.

The Oilers two most snake bitten players Patrick O’Sullivan and JF Jacques finally got their first goals of the season. Mike Comrie opened the Oilers scoring with a beautiful top shelf goal after a tape to tape pass from Sam Gagner from the Oilers goal line.

However, as with every other game this season so far the Oilers gave way as the pressure turned up and seemed to fall back against the Canadiens onslaught.

Both goals came from players trying to do to much with the puck. The first goal by Brian Gionta was scored because Gilbert Brule was trying to carry the puck instead of making solid passes or dumping it while in the neutral zone. Gionta put heavy pressure on causing Brule to lose the puck.

The second goal came off a hard shot from Canadiens’ defenceman Roman Hamrlick. Shawn Horcoff, trying to be to cute with the puck, attempting to flip from the point back out to centre ice instead tip it into his own net.

With the score 3-2 the Canadiens came on but this time the Oilers stiffened up against the Canadiens and they never got more than a couple of more chances.

The Oilers generally continued to be agressive in forechecking and trying to push the play against the opposing defence. It was fairly well done again tonight as the Oilers knuckled down against the Canadiens and seemed to catch them off guard.

The Oilers have also improved their penalty killing as they seem much more aggressive against the opposing defence and forcing them to take bad shots. Something they did not do well for the first two games.

With Sheldon Souray out and Steve Staios back in Steve Strudwick continued to start for the Oilers. Souray is currently listed as day to day with a mild concussion.

The Oilers will now go on the road for two games taking on Ottawa Sunday night and Chicago on Tuesday.

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