[Sylvanfan]

RADEK-AL DEBUT
Oilers notch 5th win in last 6 and extend point streak to 6

The Oilers endured another cross continent flight, and came out flying as newly aquired Radek Dvorak wasted no time establishing himself as an Oiler by scoring 57 seconds into the game on an early Oiler powerplay. Dvorak playing his first game as an Oiler deflected a Jay Bouwmeester shot past Felix Potvin. The Lightning nodded the score at the 3:34 mark when Mike Johnson beat Jane Hurme with a wrister in the slot. The goals continued to come fast and furious though, as Scott Hannan put the Oilers up just 7 seconds later. Hannans shot from just over the centre red line handcuffed Felix Potvin "Tommy Salo" style and bounced over the cat and into the net. Just 35 seconds later a red hot J.P. Dumont intercepted a careless cross ice pass by Kiril Safronov and walked in alone beating a slow old looking Cat the the glove side. The Lightning did manage to strike one more time in the first as Bryan Smolinski tallied a powerplay marker making it 5 goals in the first 12:57 of the game.

The Oilers took control of the game in the second period as they managed three unanswered goals to take a commanding 6-2 lead. The first was Marian Hossa's 6th of the season and 4th in his last 3 games at the 3:31 mark when the slick Slovak finished off a nice passing play that involved Brian Leetch and Vincent LeCalvalier. 4 minutes and 8 seconds later Jason Spezza got off the schnide when he scored his 1st of the season. After the Lightning yanked Potvin, the Oilers struck replacement John Grahame just 29 seconds later when Lecalvalier took the puck behind the net from Hurme and rushed up the ice looking like Jean Bellivue and fed a perfect pass to Alex Frolov who beat the cold Lightning tender high blocker for his 6th of the season.

From that point on the Oilers put in in cruise control, possibly looking ahead to tommorrow's contest with the Hawks. The Lightning did manage an ealry third period goal by Brian Smolinski, but were thwarted on two power play chances and the game finished up 6-3.

Radek Dvorak was named first Star of the game with a goal, and two helpers giving him 17 points on the season. Lecavalier picked up two more assists giving him 4 in his two games as an Oiler. Jani Hurme picked up his second win in as many games for the Oilers turning aside 19 shots in a relatively stress free night for the Finnish net minder. Next up for the Oilers is a game against the struggling Hawks. GM Sylvanfan cautioned that it would be a difficult game because the Hawks are well overdue for a win. "Teams on long downslides are know to pull huge upsets to end the slide and tommorrow is no different. We need to ensure that the team is well prepared as we've already given away enough points this season. Despite what the records might suggest there are no easy games in this league."