[Sylvanfan]

LOST IN THE WILD
Wild unable to solve Broduer again

Martin Broduer continues to shine this postseason, and once again he lead the Edmonton Oilers to another victory. Today's win gives the Oilers the coveted 2-0 series lead over the Minnesota Wild as the two squads will switch venues for game 3. Broduer who was aquired in a block buster trade with the New York Rangers in late January got off to a rough start as an Oiler. But from March to present day, the man who many consider to be the best in the World has indeed lived up to that billing. Today Broduer turned aside 23 Wild shots in leading the Oilers to a 3-1 win. The game was a bit of a choppy affair with both teams lacking some early discipline, and a lot of clutching and grabbing both ways. The Oiler offence didn't exactly shine today, but it managed to get 3 goals past ex-teammate Tomas Vokun, and it proved to be enough.

Early on it seemed as it referee Chuck Blindman had it out for the Oilers. The team was assessed three minors and a bizarre head butting major in the first 10 minutes of the game and found itself two men short on three separate occasions. But Despite the penalty troubles the Oilers escaped the period unscathed thanks in large to Broduer who continued to frustrate Wild Captain Paul Kariya making three crucial saves off the Wild sniper. After a pep talk from coach Bobby Schmautz the Oilers settled down a bit and stayed out of the box to kick off the second period. But they discovered that Minnesota was going to trap and try to frustrate the hell out of them. But Tom Poti was able to take advantage of some miscommunication at the Wild bench which lead to a bad line change and threaded a perfect pass that sprang Vincent Lecavalier. Lecavalier let fly a wrist shot from just inside the hash marks that beat Vokun high to the glove hand to make it 1-0 Oilers. Later in the frame it was Radek Dvorak banging in a controversial marker to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead. After Gary Roberts tried to stuff home a Tom Poti rebound it appeared that Vokun had the puck trapped under his pads. In fact the puck was only half covered, and Dvorak was able to knock it loose and bang it home. Vokun lost it and protested theatrically to the referee, but the whistle never went, and the goal was allowed.

The Oilers did a nice job protecting their two goal lead for the first half of the period, but Daniel Sedin cut the lead in half with a powerplay marker at the 10:28 mark. After taking a gorgeous cross crease saucer pass from Paul Kariya all Sedin had to do was direct it into the gaping cage to get the Wild back in the game. But Shane Doan collected his 3rd of the series 3 minutes later to restore the Oilers two goal advantage. Doan and Huselius worked a give and go down low, and Doan found just enough open ice to rip a wrist shot past Vokun on the stick side. Despite Dave Scatchards best attempts to disrupt Oilers goalie Martin Broduers focus the Oiler tender was rock solid all night long and the difference in the contest. "It was a strange game for us. Da ref have it out for us early, but da guys led me see da shot and I was able to stop dem all. Eventually we get some chances, and score some goals." commented Broduer to the media after the match.

Oilers GM Sylvanfan offered up his thoughts "Well if you want to win 16 playoff games you're going to have to win a few ugly ones, and you'll need your goalie to help you get a few games you probably didn't deserve. Outside of Marty our efforts were so-so for the most part, but the guys managed to make something of the few chances we did get, and make it hold up. Marty's playing terrific right now, and guys like Doan and Lecavalier are looking like they're waking up. We needed this win because we sure as hell didn't want to go to St.Paul on Thursday with this thing 1-1 and see those fans. We'll try to work on a few things here and can hopefully pull out another win on Thursday,"