October 6, 1996
Curtis Joseph stopped 35 shots, including 17 in the final
period, for his sixth career shutout and Dean McAmmond and Rem
Murray scored goals 93 seconds apart in the first-period as the
Edmonton Oilers blanked the Vancouver Canucks, 2-0.
Joseph made 10 saves in the first period and eight in the second
but was at his best in the third. He made six saves during a
Vancouver power play early in the period and stoned Pavel Bure
on a breakaway with 3:30 remaining.
"The key to the win was not letting them get many second shots,"
Joseph said. "We did an excellent job of clearing the puck and
keeping their scorers away from the front of the net. We have
to be happy with our start and now we will find out if we can
keep it going on the road."
It was Joseph's first shutout with the Oilers and his first
since February 20th, 1995 when he blanked Edmonton 5-0 as a
member of the St. Louis Blues.
"We wanted to put a lot of pressure on their defense and not
give up the long passes up the middle to their big gunners,"
Edmonton center Jesse Belanger said. "We are feeling pretty
good right now, but we have got to get ready for a couple of
tough games on the road this week."
McAmmond's second goal of the season, a power-play tally with
1:47 left in the first period, gave Joseph all the support he
would need. Jason Arnott held the puck in at the right point
and fired a waist-high shot on net that McAmmond deflected
between Corey Hirsch's pads for his second goal of the season.
"They got a couple of lucky bounces in the first period and
except for that couple of minutes I thought we outplayed them,"
said Vancouver defenseman Chris Joseph. "It goes to show you,
you have to be ready for every shift in this league and if you
are not, you can get burned in a hurry."
With 26 seconds left in the period, Murray tallied his second
goal of the season. Ryan Smyth got tied up at the blue line but
managed to bounce the puck off the right boards. Kelly
Buchberger swept the puck into the slot, where Murray, who
played the last four years at Michigan State, one-timed it over
Hirsch's shoulder for his second goal of the season.
"We talked a lot before the game about not letting their speed
guys get rolling and we only gave up one breakaway tonight,"
Oilers defenseman Bryan Marchment said. "Anytime you keep Bure
and Mogilny to zero points, you have done your job."
The Oilers have won their first two games this season while the
Canucks dropped to 1-1.
Jon's 3 stars:
1. Curtis Joseph
2. Bryan Marchment
3. Rem Murray
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