The Associated Press
Matt Carlson
CHICAGO–The Edmonton Oilers haven’t gotten off to the start they wanted–and just about everyone expected.
Last night, they used sharp goaltending from Cam Talbot, a more energetic effort, and a late break to inch in the right direction.
Mark Letestu scored on a power play with 15.8 seconds left in overtime to give Edmonton a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks that snapped a four-game losing streak.
Letestu beat Anton Forsberg on the short side with a one-time shot from the left circle after taking a pass from Oscar Klefbom.
Edmonton’s 4-on-3 advantage was set up after Patrick Kane was called for hooking at 3:45.
“Our goaltender was solid and our power play got us the big goal,” Letestu said.
“[It’s] certainly nice to finally have a complete game like that and beat a team like this.”
The Oilers are 2-4 so far, after surging to 103 points and back into the playoffs last season.
During the four-game slide, Edmonton was outscored 19-8.
“We’re still digging the sand off our bodies. We’ve got to keep going,” stressed coach Todd McLellan.
Talbot made 30-straight saves after giving up a fluke goal to Kane on Chicago’s first shot.
“It wasn’t the way I wanted to start the game,” Talbot conceded. “I had to settle down mentally.
“I felt pretty comfortable out there.”
Edmonton’s Patrick Maroon scored late in the first period.
Connor McDavid had two assists for the Oilers, including setting up Maroon with a sensational spinning move and pinpoint backhand pass.
Forsberg, Chicago’s backup, stopped 40 shots in his second start this season, but the Blackhawks lost their second-straight and third in four games.
No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford got the night off following a 5-2 loss at St. Louis on Wednesday night.
Forsberg has hard-luck overtime losses in both of this starts. He faced 43 shots in a 4-3 defeat at Toronto on Oct. 9.
“He’s been excellent in both games,” said coach Joel Quenneville. “Got it to overtime.
“It would have been nice to get him a win tonight.”
Chicago failed to convert five power plays, including a 56-second 5-on-3 advantage.
“That was a chance to get a huge goal for us on the power play,” Quenneville noted.
“A lot of close looks but no finish.”
Elsewhere in the NHL, New Jersey beat Ottawa 5-4 (OT), Carolina edged Calgary 2-1, and Boston doubled Vancouver 6-3.
Tampa Bay blanked Columbus 2-0, the N.Y. Islanders nipped the N.Y. Rangers 4-3 (SO), Nashville shaded Philadelphia 1-0, St. Louis beat Colorado 4-3, and Dallas topped Arizona 5-4.
