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BOX SCORE
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Tommy Salo is already paying dividends
for the Edmonton Oilers.
One day after signing a new contract, Salo made 20 saves for his
first shutout since March 13 and Janne Niinimaa scored the
game-winner early in the third period as the Edmonton Oilers beat
the Minnesota Wild 3-0 Friday night.
"It was nice for Tommy to get the shutout tonight," Oilers
coach Craig MacTavish said. "He was the one guy that really came
to play early, and kept us in it. They had some good opportunities,
but Tommy made some big saves.
"It wasn't a gimme shutout by any stretch."
Salo agreed Thursday to a three-year $10.4 million contract with
the Oilers, for which he has three career shutouts.
"It was a nice win for us," Salo said. "It was slow in the
first two periods, but in the third period, we scored big goals and
that was the difference.
"There was not too much to do. We played really solid defense
and that was the key."
The game was scoreless after two periods, but Niinimaa broke
through at 4:18 of the third. He one-timed a point shot that just
slid by the right pad of Wild goalie Jamie McLennan.
Ryan Smyth and Dan Cleary also scored for the Oilers, who have
won three straight.
Minnesota lost for the third time in four games.
"Every game, you want to keep it close so you give yourself a
chance to win," said Wild forward Jim Dowd, a former Oilers
player. "On the road, you go into the third period 0-0, that's
great, but we just have to keep our heads up and keep working."
Both teams started slow and managed just six shots each in the
opening period. Things didn't get much better in the second as
Minnesota had another six shots, while the Oilers managed just
three.
"Obviously, they're a very defensive hockey club and they play
well in their own zone," Smyth said. "They don't give up a lot of
scoring chances -- you can see that on the shot clock."
Minnesota assistant captain Scott Pellerin was ejected in the
first period for checking Oilers defenseman Igor Ulanov into the
boards from behind.
Pellerin was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct,
which carries the automatic ejection.
Doug Weight and Bill Guerin assisted on Smyth's goal. The trio
has combined for 44 points (18-26-44) in Edmonton's first 15 games.
Both teams were 0-for-5 on the power play.
"If we would be able to get some goals on the power play, we
would maybe play a little differently," Minnesota coach Jacques
Lemaire said. "Because we're not scoring that much on the power
play, and 5-on-5, then we have to be careful. That's the only way
we can stay in the games."
Game notes
Three members of the Oilers are on the All-Star ballot.
Salo, the winning goalie in last year's game, is on the ballot for
the World team. Weight and Guerin are listed on the North American
ballot. ... The expansion Wild fell to 2-8-3-0. ... Oilers forward
Ethan Moreau played his first game of the season after having
shoulder surgery.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
Edmonton Clubhouse
Oilers net goalie Salo to three-year, $10.4M extension
RECAPS
Buffalo 5
Montreal 4
Chicago 6
Detroit 1
Tampa Bay 4
NY Islanders 3
Colorado 5
Carolina 3
Edmonton 3
Minnesota 0
Dallas 2
Phoenix 2
Pittsburgh 4
Vancouver 2
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