Oilers Grease Sharks, move on to round 2!
The injury bug bit the Edmonton Oilers hard in game 4 and made things look pretty grim heading into game 5. But there can always be a silver lining and the Oilers were able to find the best one they could with Mike Cammalleri and Willy Mitchel out of the lineup. With some additional salary cap relief the Oilers went to the system to bring up Tyler Arnason, Jaroslav Hlinka, Lawrence Nycholat, and Jocelyn Thibault for today's game.
As fate would have it three of these players were able to make a positive impact for the Oilers who beat the Sharks 3-0 to close out their Howe Conference semi final in 5 games.
Roberto Luongo who has been the CPHL's top player thus far in the playoffs was sensational in turning aside all 36 shots directed his way. The Sharks knew their season was on the line and pressed furiously in the third period with 15 shots but Luongo turned them all away to ensure he lives to fight another day.
Patrick Sharp scored the game winner 7:05 into the first period after he knocked home a rebound on Christian Ehrhoff's shot. Tyler Arnason and Lawrence Nycholat tallied second period goals which stood up.
Arnason, Thibault and Hlinka all ended up in the AHL at the end of the season after the Oilers had to make a call to try and salvage their roster for next season. But given the chance to come up and help the big team they were able to contribute in a key game.
GM Sylvanfan offers the following. "It's a great win for our guys who really had to gut one out today against a great team. For us to knock off the CPHL's top two teams has been a real team accomplishment. We've been using 11 forwards and all 6 defenceman and today we let everyone play a part and they steepped up and did the job. Luongo's been absolutely huge for us in net and the guys in front of him have found a way to get him the wins. But it really has been a team thing not just 11 guys carrying the entire load. We're pretty happy right now and want to enjoy this for a day or two before we have to get back to business. These guys deserve it."
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"Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
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