Edmonton - The Montreal Canadiens up-ended the Edmonton Oilers in a penalty-filled affair Tuesday night, earning their first win of the 2007-08 OTHL season.
With 13 power plays off of 85 minutes in penalties, you would think this would be a high scoring affair. Despite a combined 55 shots, 34 of which came from Montreal skaters, the game ended with a final score of 3-1 in favor of the visiting Canadiens.
Oilers goaltender Vesa Toskala held off a relentless Montreal attack led by newcomer Nikolai Zherdev for much of the game, holding the Canadiens to two goals on 25 shots after two periods of play. Penalties, however, kept the Edmonton offense from applying any pressure in the Montreal zone, having to kill off nine power-plays over the course of the game.
Zherdev, suiting up for the first time since being acquired from Phoenix, set the pace for Montreal's offense, leading the team with 8 shots on goal in 20 minute of icetime. The Ukranian forward finished the game with one goal, and an assist on Alexei Ponikarovsky's eventual game winner in the second frame.