PDO
11-19-05, 5:00 PM
Weird game for the late night game... anyway:
The Edmonton Oilers (11-9-1) play the second game of a three-game homestand tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks (8-11-0). Edmonton is coming off a thrilling 6-5 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings Thursday and look to make up some ground in the Northwest Division. A win tonight would put the Oilers one point out of first in the division.
The Blackhawks have shown some improved play of late. They have won four of their last five games on the heels of a four-game losing streak. Included in their winning stretch was a 3-1 victory over the Oilers this past Sunday and a win last night in Calgary, snapping the Flames' eight-game winning streak.
Chicago is starting out on a lengthy road trip that will test its mettle in the Western Conference playoff race. With games in Calgary last night and in Edmonton tonight, the remainder of the trip takes the club through Vancouver, Los Angeles and Anaheim.
OILERS TO WATCH: Fernando Pisani had goals in four of six games on the team's recent seven-game road trip. He seems to be finding his touch around the net... Ales Hemsky has been hot and cold for the Oilers but seems to be heating up again. He had three goals and seven assists in five games earlier this month but followed that up with no points in four games. However, he controlled the play Monday in Colorado with a pair of assists and had four points Thursday against Detroit... Goaltender Michael Morrison could get his second career NHL start tonight. He won in his debut on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche, making 31 saves... Ryan Smyth has enjoyed a resurgence this season with the Oilers. With 11 goals and 9 assists through 15 games, he was on pace to shatter his career highs in goals, assists and points. Smyth is on pace to score 48 goals, 43 assists and 91 points through the first quarter of the season provided he played all the rest of his games and scored at his current clip. He ranks right up there with Jarome Iginla and Markus Naslund near the top of the Western Conference in goals scored despite playing five less games due to injury.
BLACKHAWKS TO WATCH: Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin has struggled this season with the Blackhawks. In 16 appearances, he has a 6-10-0 record with a 3.54 GAA. His counterpart Craig Anderson hasn't fared any better at 1-1-0 with a 5.15 GAA... Despite their mediocre record, Chicago has some good young players in its lineup. Rookie defenceman Brent Seabrook has three goals and 11 points in 18 games this season and is tied for the team lead with a +3 rating... Pavel Vorobiev is among league rookie scoring leaders with 15 points in 18 games is only a -1... Rene Bourque of Lac La Biche is a former St. Albert Saint (AJHL) and has three goals and six points in 17 games in his inaugural NHL season.
ROSTER UPDATES: Edmonton: D Igor Ulanov (broken toe) is out. D Cory Cross (sprained MCL) is doubtful. G Ty Conklin (groin) is out; Chicago: Tuomo Ruutu (back) is out. Eric Daze (back) is out.
FAST FACTS: Edmonton's success seems to hinge on the play of Ales Hemsky. The winger has gotten a point in all but two of the Oilers' victories this season and has only one assist in the team's 10 losses... Chris Pronger has played 25 or more minutes in all but two games this season... Shawn Horcoff has only one goal for the Oilers since October 8 - a span of 16 games - but he has 16 assists in that time frame and is tied with Hemsky for the team scoring lead.. The Blackhawks have a record of 75-3-16-5 in their last 99 games when they lead after two periods... The Blackhawks have never missed a shootout opportunity going three-for-three in their lone shootout October 14 at Colorado.
LAST MEETING: The Chicago Blackhawks raced out to a 3-0 first-period lead this past Sunday and held on to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1. Scoring for Chicago was Mark Bell with a pair and Duncan Keith. Fernando Pisani got the lone Oilers goal in the second period. Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 26 shots for the win while Markkanen turned aside 16 of 19 in the loss.
I'm expecting a blowout.. Chicago played last night, won last night, is at the end of the roadtrip and the Oilers are 4-2-1 at home, including beating the likes of Detroit, Vancouver and Colorado.
The Edmonton Oilers (11-9-1) play the second game of a three-game homestand tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks (8-11-0). Edmonton is coming off a thrilling 6-5 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings Thursday and look to make up some ground in the Northwest Division. A win tonight would put the Oilers one point out of first in the division.
The Blackhawks have shown some improved play of late. They have won four of their last five games on the heels of a four-game losing streak. Included in their winning stretch was a 3-1 victory over the Oilers this past Sunday and a win last night in Calgary, snapping the Flames' eight-game winning streak.
Chicago is starting out on a lengthy road trip that will test its mettle in the Western Conference playoff race. With games in Calgary last night and in Edmonton tonight, the remainder of the trip takes the club through Vancouver, Los Angeles and Anaheim.
OILERS TO WATCH: Fernando Pisani had goals in four of six games on the team's recent seven-game road trip. He seems to be finding his touch around the net... Ales Hemsky has been hot and cold for the Oilers but seems to be heating up again. He had three goals and seven assists in five games earlier this month but followed that up with no points in four games. However, he controlled the play Monday in Colorado with a pair of assists and had four points Thursday against Detroit... Goaltender Michael Morrison could get his second career NHL start tonight. He won in his debut on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche, making 31 saves... Ryan Smyth has enjoyed a resurgence this season with the Oilers. With 11 goals and 9 assists through 15 games, he was on pace to shatter his career highs in goals, assists and points. Smyth is on pace to score 48 goals, 43 assists and 91 points through the first quarter of the season provided he played all the rest of his games and scored at his current clip. He ranks right up there with Jarome Iginla and Markus Naslund near the top of the Western Conference in goals scored despite playing five less games due to injury.
BLACKHAWKS TO WATCH: Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin has struggled this season with the Blackhawks. In 16 appearances, he has a 6-10-0 record with a 3.54 GAA. His counterpart Craig Anderson hasn't fared any better at 1-1-0 with a 5.15 GAA... Despite their mediocre record, Chicago has some good young players in its lineup. Rookie defenceman Brent Seabrook has three goals and 11 points in 18 games this season and is tied for the team lead with a +3 rating... Pavel Vorobiev is among league rookie scoring leaders with 15 points in 18 games is only a -1... Rene Bourque of Lac La Biche is a former St. Albert Saint (AJHL) and has three goals and six points in 17 games in his inaugural NHL season.
ROSTER UPDATES: Edmonton: D Igor Ulanov (broken toe) is out. D Cory Cross (sprained MCL) is doubtful. G Ty Conklin (groin) is out; Chicago: Tuomo Ruutu (back) is out. Eric Daze (back) is out.
FAST FACTS: Edmonton's success seems to hinge on the play of Ales Hemsky. The winger has gotten a point in all but two of the Oilers' victories this season and has only one assist in the team's 10 losses... Chris Pronger has played 25 or more minutes in all but two games this season... Shawn Horcoff has only one goal for the Oilers since October 8 - a span of 16 games - but he has 16 assists in that time frame and is tied with Hemsky for the team scoring lead.. The Blackhawks have a record of 75-3-16-5 in their last 99 games when they lead after two periods... The Blackhawks have never missed a shootout opportunity going three-for-three in their lone shootout October 14 at Colorado.
LAST MEETING: The Chicago Blackhawks raced out to a 3-0 first-period lead this past Sunday and held on to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1. Scoring for Chicago was Mark Bell with a pair and Duncan Keith. Fernando Pisani got the lone Oilers goal in the second period. Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 26 shots for the win while Markkanen turned aside 16 of 19 in the loss.
I'm expecting a blowout.. Chicago played last night, won last night, is at the end of the roadtrip and the Oilers are 4-2-1 at home, including beating the likes of Detroit, Vancouver and Colorado.