Blackhawks' lead gone in 14 seconds

They were coming off one of their most energetic games of the season, a shootout win at Atlanta on Saturday night.

They got huge efforts, and 2 goals each, from two of their biggest stars, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, in the decision over the Thrashers.

And as they hit the United Center ice Sunday night, the Blackhawks also had another standout player, Marian Hossa, back from an upper-body injury that sidelined the winger for five games.

All the pieces were in place, seemingly, but it turned out to be more of the same old slop for the Hawks, who lost to the lowly Oilers at home for the second time in 10 days.

“It just seems a little bit more puzzling each time out at home here,” goalie Corey Crawford said. “We've got to win the close ones, especially when (Edmonton) came into our building the last time and beat us. We wanted to get some revenge back on them and we were right where we wanted. It just turned the other way.

“It's frustrating. We played a solid game, controlled most of the tempo. I don't know how to explain that.”

Most of Crawford's teammates were in similar straits, and the Hawks' 4-6 record at the UC this season is particularly disturbing.

“I think there's a lot of parity, but losing two games to these guys (Oilers) in our own building is not a good thing,” defenseman Brian Campbell said. “Losing two games to any team in your own building, in a matter of what, two weeks, it's unacceptable.

“I don't know if it's something that we think's going to be easy for our hockey team. Nothing comes easy in this league, no matter if you're at home or on the road. It's never easy for us. We're not just able to lay our sticks out there and win hockey games. You've got to work hard to earn points in this league and right now we're not working hard enough.”

Hossa, who was well received at the start of the game and wound up playing 21:33 in his first game since Oct. 27, couldn't prevent the Oilers from scoring twice in a span of 14 seconds early in the third period to seal another staggering victory.

“It's unacceptable to lose the game in one minute,” Hossa said. “We played a pretty solid defensive game up to the third period. As a championship team, we have to respond there. It's unacceptable.

“Tonight, we played a tight defensive game. It doesn't have to be pretty. It wasn't pretty, but we had a 1-0 lead and lost the hockey game. It's definitely not acceptable.”

Before Edmonton's Kurtis Foster and Sam Gagner slipped back-to-back shots past Crawford, it looked like Fernando Pisani's goal midway through the first period was going to hold up.

“We need to be better here,” Pisani said. “There's just no way around that. We definitely have to be better at home. We have a great building, great fans. It's not the way you want to come into your building. You want to make sure teams are nervous and scared coming into this building.”

Oilers 2, Blackhawks 1

<p>Three stars:</p>

<p>1. Nikolai Khabibulin, Oilers: Made 26 saves, including huge back-to-back stops on Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane late in the third period.</p>

<p>2. Sam Gagner, Oilers: Slipped past Corey Crawford in the third period and scored the game-winner off a pass from Dustin Penner.</p>

<p>3. Jack Skille, Hawks: Played with the most energy for the home team and made a nice assist on Fernando Pisani's goal.</p>

<p>Did you know? Edmonton has only 2 wins on the road this season, and they are both at the United Center. Since December of last season, the Oilers are 4-23-3 away from home.</p>