The Chicago Blackhawks (12-5, 27 pts) could not stop the offensive attack from the Edmonton Oilers (9-7, 20 pts), falling to a quick 5-1 deficit in the first period.
The Oilers rushed to a 1-0 lead as RW Ales Hemsky scored on an 18-foot wrister just 48 seconds into the game. A few minutes later, a hooking call on LW Ryan Smyth opened up a power play opportunity for Patrick Sharp who tied the game 1-1 on a goal assisted by Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith.
Ryan Smith and Ryan Jones both scored shortly thereafter, and with just 6 saves on 9 shots, Ray Emery got pulled in favor of Corey Crawford.
Crawford did not experience much more success, however. With less than eight minutes left in the period, Jordan Eberle shot the puck to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on a power play, leading another goal and a 2-0 Oilers lead. Just minutes later, Jordan Eberle zipped past the Hawks defenders and slipped the puck past Crawford on a 23-foot wrister for a 5-1 lead.
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