Hawks overcome Khabibulin, Oilers
By The ASSOCIATED PRES
CHICAGO – Nikolai Khabibulin excelled in his first game against his former Chicago teammates, but couldn't prevent the Edmonton Oilers from losing 4-3 to the Blackhawks on Wednesday night.
Mostly a high-priced disappointment during his four years in Chicago but a standout during last season's run to the Western Conference finals, Khabibulin made 34 saves to keep the Oilers in the game. He stopped Patrick Sharp on a penalty shot in the second period and breakaways by Kris Versteeg and Jonathan Toews in the third.
Khabibulin had little chance on the goals he allowed to Sharp, Versteeg, Jack Skille and Cam Barker.
The Hawks won in more conventional fashion two nights after rallying from a 5-0 deficit to beat Calgary — matching the biggest comeback in NHL history.
While the Blackhawks swarmed Khabibulin, Edmonton managed only 18 shots on Antii Niemi. The Hawks entered the game ranked second in the league in shots per game (37.4) and first in fewest shots allowed (21.8).
After Sharp and Andrew Cogliano traded goals in the first 2½ minutes, Skille scored on a rebound to put the Blackhawks up 2-1 at 13:15 of the first period.
It was only the fifth career goal and first since Oct. 11, 2008, for Skille, the Hawks' No. 1 draft choice in 2005. Already sent to the minors three times this season, Skille was just recalled Wednesday morning.
Cogliano made a bid to tie the game early in the second period but his shot hit the post. A few minutes later, Brian Campbell carried the puckbehind Edmonton's net and set up Versteeg alone in front to make it 3-1.
The Oilers pulled within a goal at 10:43 of the third when Dustin Penner's pass from behind the net hit Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson' skate and bounced past Niemi. Officials originally waved off the goal, thinking an Edmonton player had kicked it in, but correctly credited the Oilers with the goal after a video review.
With 2:42 to play and Sharp screening Khabibulin during a power play, Barker scored on a shot from the point.
Edmonton's Denis Grebeshkov completed the scoring with 48 seconds left on a power play with Khabibulin off for an extra attacker.
