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Saturday, Apr. 1 10:00pm ET
Oilers regroup in overtime for win | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- The Edmonton Oilers are happy with a win, but disappointed with how they got it. Defenseman Tom Poti scored with 1:53 left in overtime as the Oilers overcame two late Phoenix goals to beat the Coyotes 4-3 Saturday night. "Right from the start, we played with a little grit," said Oilers forward Ryan Smyth. "It's a big thing to step out at this time of the season. Obviously, it's frustrating to give them a point." Phoenix nearly completed an amazing comeback, scoring twice with the extra attacker in the final minute of the third period to send the game into overtime. "The point was justly deserved on our part," Coyotes coach Bob Francis said. "I'm sure they don't see it that way." Forward Travis Green scored 36 seconds into the third period then scored his second of the game with only 39 seconds left in the period. Greg Adams tied it 28 seconds later when he lifted one past Tommy Salo. "We knew how important this game was with the people chasing us and the teams in front of us," said Edmonton's Doug Weight, who earned his 400th career assist. "We (would have) loved to have won 3-1 and wrapped it up, but sometimes the bounces go against you late in the game. "I was proud of the guys in overtime. We took it to them." The sixth-place Coyotes hold a one-point lead over Edmonton in the Western Conference playoff race. The Oilers would have caught Phoenix had they won in regulation. Ryan Smyth scored two goals for Edmonton, including one on a power play. Bill Guerin also scored for the Oilers. Smyth was reunited with former linemates Weight and Alex Selivanov, who assisted on both of his goals. At 3:38 of the first, Smyth redirected a Weight feed past Sean Burke to put Edmonton up 1-0. Guerin scored his first goal in 15 games when he lifted a backhander past Burke at 17:53 of the first. Oilers forward Boyd Devereaux stole the puck in the Phoenix zone, circled the net and set up Guerin's 23rd goal of the season. Devereaux later was taken off the ice on a stretcher after being run over by Phoenix forward Dallas Drake. The hit knocked Devereaux out and he was taken to a local hospital for precautionary measures. He was diagnosed with a concussion. "He was knocked out by the blow initially, and then he went down cold and hit the side of his head on the ice," said Dr. David Reid, the Oilers' team physician. "He was very fortunate his helmet was on and done up properly. "He's going to have a CAT scan tonight to make sure that everything is OK and then we'll get a neurologist to take a good look at him." Moments before the incident, Smyth put Edmonton up 3-0 when he streaked to the net and beat Burke to the glove side. Smyth leads the team with 28 goals. Salo made 28 saves to earn his career-best 26th win. | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Phoenix Clubhouse Edmonton Clubhouse AUDIO/VIDEO   Ryan Smyth deflects the Doug Weight pass into the net for the power-play goal.avi: 609 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Bill Guerin beats Sean Burke for the goal.avi: 498 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1   | |||||