Blue Jackets 3, Oilers 4
The Skinny: It was the Ales Hemsky show as the Oilers leading scorer completed a four-point night with the winning goal at 19:25 of the third period to send Edmonton to the all-star break on a three-game winning streak.
The Quote: “You’re always hoping it will go your way,” Hemsky said. “You never expect it will be like that, so I’m pretty happy. That’s why you play hockey. You want to be a factor every game.”
The Big Play: Hemsky took a pass from Dustin Penner, skated the puck into the offensive zone, cut into the slot and snapped a high shot past Columbus rookie Steve Mason for his second goal of the game and 14th of the season.
Hemsky Hot: Hemsky has six points — four goals and two assists — in two games since he returned from a concussion that kept him out of the lineup for 10 games.
Streaking: Manny Malhotra assisted on Marc Methot’s 2-2 goal for Columbus and has a career-high six-game points streak, while Edmonton’s Tom Gilbert picked up two assists and has six points in his last five games.
He’s a Workhorse: Mason made his 14th consecutive start in goal for the Blue Jackets. The 20-year-old stopper began the stretch Dec. 20 against Phoenix and he’s fashioned an 8-6 record in that span.
Nilsson Draws In: Robert Nilsson, out of the line-up for five straight games with a concussion suffered against San Jose on Jan. 9, returned to action on a line with Sam Gagner and Erik Cole.
The Next Game: The Oilers host the Buffalo Sabreson Tuesday at 7 p.m.
