BOSTON PIZZA GAME PREVIEW
Saturday, 29 December 2007
FINAL OT
4 - 5
FINAL OT 1 2 3 OT T
Oilers 2 2 0 0 4
Wild 1 1 2 1 5
GOAL SCORERS

EDM:   J. Pitkanen (SHG, 01:23 - 1st) , A. Cogliano (15:45 - 1st) , F. Pisani (PPG, 04:40 - 2nd) , J. Stoll (SHG, 08:35 - 2nd)
MIN:   K. Johnsson (PPG, 17:53 - 1st) , B. Rolston (17:33 - 2nd) , M. Gaborik (04:44 - 3rd) , B. Burns (14:44 - 3rd) , P. Nummelin (PPG, 01:50 - OT)
GOALIES

EDM: D. Roloson (L)
 MIN: N. Backstrom (W)
Oilers-Wild Preview
EDMONTON OILERS (16-19-3) at
MINNESOTA WILD (21-14-2)

Start Time: 6:08 p.m. MST
Television: None (only available via NHL Centre Ice)
Radio: 630 CHED, Oilers Radio Network and online at edmontonoilers.com.
Game Notes | Edmonton/Minnesota Stats Comparison | Player Head-to-Head Statistics
The Edmonton Oilers open a four-game road trip tonight in Saint Paul, Minnesota with their fifth meeting of the season against the Minnesota Wild.

Edmonton comes into tonight's game having dropped each of their last three games in regulation time and winless in their last four. That followed up a stretch of three straight shootout wins.

In each of the last three losses, the team had the lead at some point in the game only to relinquish it late. A goal by Doug Weight with just over three minutes to go was the decision maker on Thursday night as Edmonton fell 2-1 to Anaheim.
Minnesota has had an up-and-down month of December. After winning four straight in the middle of the month, the Wild lost 4-1 to Detroit and 8-3 to Dallas before getting back on track with a 3-2 win in Phoenix on Thursday.

The Wild have enjoyed a lot of success against Edmonton recently. This season, they are 3-0-1 with the lone blemish being a 5-4 shootout defeat at Rexall Place. Overall, Minnesota had defeated Edmonton eight of the last nine times these two teams have met.
Just The Facts...

LINEUP UPDATE (1:51 PM): With Ethan Moreau coming into the lineup, Craig MacTavish debated between Zack Stortini and Geoff Sanderson on the fourth line to play alongside Robert Nilsson and Patrick Thoresen. It will be a game time decision.

OILERS TO WATCH: All eyes will be on Oilers captain Ethan Moreau, who makes his return to the lineup after being out for 113 games dating back to last season. Moreau will be on the left side with Andrew Cogliano at centre and Fernando Pisani on right wing... After missing several games due to strep throat, Dwayne Roloson returned as a backup on Thursday and gets the start in goal tonight for Edmonton. In his last two starts, he stopped 39 of 42 shots and all three players in the shootout to lead Edmonton to a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings and then stopped 35 of 36 in a shootout loss to Dallas on December 18... Shawn Horcoff has three goals and five points in four games this season against the Wild... Dustin Penner and Jarret Stoll both have three points in four games versus Minnesota this season.

WILD TO WATCH: The entire league was watching Marian Gaborik last week when he scored five goals and had six points in a game against the New York Rangers. It was the first five-goal game the NHL has seen since Sergei Fedorov accomplished the feat back in 1996... NIklas Backstrom has been an Oiler killer throughout his career. In seven career games, he has a 7-0-0 record with a 0.90 goals-against average versus Edmonton... Brian Rolston is tied for the league lead with five game-winning goals... Mark Parrish has four goals and one assist in his last three games versus the Oilers. He snapped a 15-game goalless drought Thursday in Phoenix... In four games, Eric Belanger has six points (all assists) against Edmonton.

ROSTER UPDATES: Edmonton – Ethan Moreau (ankle) is probable. Ales Hemsky (knee) is out. Matt Greene (ankle) is out. Raffi Torres (knee) is out; Minnesota – Derek Boogaard (back) is out. Mikko Koivu (leg) is out.

FAST FACTS: Minnesota is 5-2-0 in its last seven games despite being outshot by its opponent 265-158 in those games (37.8 to 22.6 per game)... Minnesota is 7-6-1 against the Northwest Division this season while Edmonton is 5-10-1... The Wild's most offensive period is by far the second. They have scored 40 goals while allowing 41 in the middle frame. In the first and third they have neither scored nor allowed more than 29... The Wild are 19-14-8 all-time against Edmonton but at home they are only 9-9-2... Edmonton's penalty killing has climbed to eighth best in the NHL at 84.9%.
The Answers

Pre-Game Audio... Friday's Video
  • Moreau, Pisani, Souray & MacTavish talk to the media about Moreau's expected return to the lineup on Saturday vs. the Wild. 700K 
  • Souray, Gilbert & MacTavish speak with the media following practice at Rexall Place on Friday. 700K
Friday's Audio
In Depth...


Chopping at the bit  - Oilers captain Ethan Moreau will play his first game wearing the 'C' on Saturday night in Minnesota against the Wild. After missing 113 games it's been a long road back but the addition of "Chopper" is one the Oilers will be glad to have. ...more
News Update...


Oilers activate Ethan Moreau from NHL Injured Reserve List  - The Edmonton Oilers have activated left winger Ethan Moreau from the NHL Injured Reserve List and the team’s captain will be in the lineup for Saturday’s (December 29th) game against the Minnesota Wild. ...more
More News
The Other Side
  • Tonight's Game Preview from Wild.com - Read tonight's preview including pre-game video (when available) at the Minnesota Wild official website. ...more
From the Fans
Odds and Ends
From the Wire

Solid goaltending and timely offense helped the Minnesota Wild regain their confidence after a lopsided loss. They look to build on that as they return to Xcel Energy Center to play the opener of a three-game homestand against the slumping Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

Niklas Backstrom made 46 saves as Minnesota (21-14-2) avoided a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory at Phoenix on Thursday. The Wild netted all their goals on the power play one night after being held scoreless in four man-advantage chances during an 8-3 road loss to Dallas.

"This was a very big game for us, and not just getting a win," said Backstrom, who halted a two-game slump of his own. "This was a chance to get our pride and identity back."

Backstrom's effort in the net held up thanks to goals from Eric Belanger, Mark Parrish and Brian Rolston. Brent Burns also provided two assists for the Wild, who have won five of their last seven games overall.

"Coming into this game, we did not have the best feeling," said Belanger, who added two assists for his fifth multipoint game. "That's the beauty of this game that you have a chance to bounce back, and we did that."

Minnesota looks to continue this success against the Oilers (16-19-3), whom the Wild are 3-0-1 against this season and have won eight of the last nine overall.

The Wild have won five straight over the Oilers in Minnesota, where they are 12-6-0 this season, and Backstrom has been key in each victory.

Backstrom is 3-0-0 versus the Oilers this season and defeated them 4-2 on Nov. 15 in the most recent meeting. He is 7-0-0 with three shutouts - all at home - and a 0.90 goals-against average lifetime against them.

The Wild hope Marian Gaborik can regain his scoring touch after going pointless in his last two games. He has only one assist in his last three games since his NHL record-tying five goals in a Dec. 20 win over the New York Rangers.

Gaborik could break out of the slump as he has 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points - his most against any team - in 38 games against Edmonton. He has at least a point in nine of the last 10 games versus Edmonton, totaling eight goals and seven assists in that stretch.

Gaborik had a goal and an assist, and Belanger assisted on all four goals in the Nov. 15 win over the Oilers.

Edmonton begins a four-game road trip looking to bounce back from a tough 2-1 home loss to Anaheim on Thursday, its fourth straight defeat. Marty Reasoner scored the lone goal for the Oilers, who matched a season high with their fourth consecutive loss.

Their slump - the longest since dropping six straight from March 24-April 5 - was preceded by a three-game winning run.

The Oilers, though, might welcome this trip after losing three straight at home and five of their last six there.

"It's the thing that is keeping us out of the mix right now," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said. "Our inability to have success at home."

Edmonton could be without right wing Ales Hemsky, who missed Thursday's contest with a knee injury. Hemsky, second on the team with 29 points, underwent an MRI and is day-to-day.




 
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