Blackhawks Snap Oiler Win Streak

Chicago Blackhawk defenseman Doug Wilson had quite a day Friday. And perhaps an even better night.

First, he was named one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman. Then, on Friday night, he scored the winning goal for the Blackhawks in their 4-3 playoff victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

“It has been a great day,” Wilson said after his goal with 1:59 left tied the best-of-seven Campbell Conference finals at 1-1. “We did a little bit of soul-searching, and I think we played the way we wanted to play tonight. It’s nice to be going back home with a split.”

The series resumes with Games 3 and 4 on Sunday and Tuesday nights in Chicago. It was the first time the Blackhawks had won a playoff game in Northlands Coliseum, where they were 0-6 going into Friday night’s game.

Wilson scored on a wrist shot from the left point. His goal followed a turnover by Esa Tikkanen to Denis Savard, who finished with a goal and two assists after complaining about being benched for a good portion of Game 1.

“Denis Savard is one of the best team players I’ve ever played with,” Wilson said. “He’s got as much character as anybody and he’s got an awful lot of pride.”

Tikkanen was the beneficiary of a turnover by Savard earlier in the third period, converting Jari Kurri’s rebound to tie the score, 3-3.

Troy Murray and Steve Thomas also scored for Chicago, and Glenn Anderson, Kurri and Tikkanen had goals for the Oilers, whose eight-game playoff winning streak was snapped two short of the NHL record.

Edmonton Coach John Muckler said he thought the Oilers would win the game after they came back to tie the score in the third period.

“After he (Tikkanen) got the goal in the third, we came on strong and had several good chances,” he said. “Standing behind the bench, I thought we would win.

“But we wound up making the mistake that lost the game.”

The Blackhawks started slowly but came on midway through the first period to get their forechecking game going. Murray shed Mark Messier’s check to convert Jeremy Roenick’s centering pass at 17:50.

The Blackhawks haven’t lost in all six playoff games in which they have scored first.

Savard made it 2-0 at 2:02 of the second period when he took Dirk Graham’s pass in the slot and beat Bill Ranford between the pads.

The Oilers, outshot 11-0 by the Blackhawks in a stretch of about seven minutes early in the period, scored with Anderson’s goal after a nice passing sequence with Messier.

It was Messier’s 113th career playoff assist, leaving him second only to former teammate Wayne Gretzky on the all-time NHL list.

Kurri’s goal was his 88th in playoff competition, leaving him one behind Gretzky on the all-time list.