EDMONTON, Alberta, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Todd Marchant scored with 3.6 seconds left in the second period and Tommy Salo made 36 saves as the Edmonton Oilers rallied Saturday night for a 1-1 tie with the Detroit Red Wings in an eagerly anticipated showdown with the defending Stanley Cup champions.
In a recent internet poll, Oilers' fans said a win over the Red Wings was preferred over a win over the archrival Calgary Flames. Edmonton added to Calgary's woes on Thursday but could not defeat Detroit, which is unbeaten in the last five meetings with the Oilers (3
2).
Brett Hull ended a goaltending duel between Salo and former Oiler Curtis Joseph with 1:49 to go in the second period. Hull carried down the left side and whipped a wrist shot over sliding defenseman Steve Staios into the top right corner of the net for his sixth goal of the season and second in eight games.
The Red Wings' lead lasted less than two minutes as Marchant barely beat the final buzzer at the end of the period.
Joseph got his glove on defenseman Janne Niinimaa's wrist shot from the left point but could not control the puck. Marchant beat teammate Shawn Horcoff to the rebound and backhanded it into the net for his fourth goal of the season and third in the last two games.
