by Sports Xchange

The Avalanche began the game with an 86.1 percent success rate killing penalties, the second-best mark in the NHL, but managed to kill just three of seven penalties while losing at home for the first time in seven games.

Colorado certainly will be working on special teams play before its next game, Wednesday night against Chicago at the United Center.

"We just didn't do a good job of killing penalties," Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said. "The difference in the game was special teams. We weren't good enough on the penalty kill, bottom line. They made some good plays, they found some seams and we just weren't sharp."

The Avalanche power play has been awful for a couple of weeks. Colorado went 0-for-4 against the Oilers and is in a 1-for-25 rut covering eight games.

"I think we have to start shooting the puck a little bit more," Sacco said. "We have to continue to try and get traffic to the net. When you're struggling, you have to keep it simple."

OILERS 5, AVALANCHE 3: Edmonton connected on four of seven power plays Sunday night at the Pepsi Center to hand the Avalanche its first loss in seven games at home. The Oilers took the lead for good when it scored on all three of its power plays in the first period.