BOSTON PIZZA GAME PREVIEW
Monday, 17 November 2008
FINAL
0 - 4
FINAL 1 2 3 T
Oilers 0 0 0 0
Red Wings 1 2 1 4
GOAL SCORERS

DET:   N. Kronwall (PPG, 06:11 - 1st) , M. Samuelsson (03:00 - 2nd) , J. Hudler (14:18 - 2nd) , J. Franzen (10:04 - 3rd)
GOALIES

EDM: D. Roloson (L)
 DET: T. Conklin (W)
Oilers arrive in the Motor City for a Monday match-up

EDMONTON OILERS (8-7-2) at
DETROIT RED WINGS (11-2-3)

Start Time: 5:38 p.m. MST
Television: Sportsnet (HD)
Radio: 630 CHED, Oilers Radio Network and online at edmontonoilers.com.

Today's Game Notes 
Oilers forward Robert Nilsson scores on Red Wings netminder Chris Osgood during a game last season. (photo by Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club)
by Nick Conrad | edmontonoilers.com

THE ESSENTIALS FOR TONIGHT
  • Pre-Game Video & Audio
  • Media Game Notes
  • The Other Side
  • Odds and Ends
  • Wire Story Preview
    		•
    It was not the homestand they envisioned.

    On Thursday, Edmonton received a 5-2 drubbing from the Leafs. Saturday night, two points slipped away in the final 11 seconds of regulation. It’s hard to say which is worse—though, a point is a point after all. But all too soon, the Oilers are hitting the dusty trail from whence they seemingly just returned.

    Edmonton now faces a back-to-back set starting in Detroit—usually not the team one wants to face after a hard-luck loss—and ending in Columbus.

    Combine Craig MacTavish’s frustration with Dustin Penner, Detroit’s number one-ranked powerplay, the fact that they’ve lost only twice in regulation and Oilers fans may be doing some hand-wringing. Yet the seemingly gloomy prospects may be tempered by the fact that Edmonton played a solid game Saturday.

    And hey, Detroit has to lose sometime. In fact, they’ve lost their last two versus the Oilers. Edmonton will face Detroit back-up goalie, Ty Conklin. He lost 5-2 to the Oilers on Jan. 31, 2007, while with the Blue Jackets.

    Just The Facts...

    LINEUP UPDATES: Dustin Penner sits this one out again but Kyle Brodziak draws back in. Jesse Boulerice takes a seat in the press box to make room for number 51... Dwayne Roloson starts again for the Oilers while Ty Conklin gets the nod in goal for the Red Wings.

    OILERS TO WATCH: Liam Reddox is slotted back into the lineup once again after  scoring his first NHL goal on Saturday against the Avalanche. He had five goals and four assists in 12 games for the Springfield Falcons before getting the call...Dwayne Roloson will need to be sharp against the sharp-shooting Red Wings...Ethan Moreau is third on the team with 10 points and will have to play another high-energy game to rally the troops.

    RED WINGS TO WATCH: Marian Hossa has six goals in 12 games versus Edmonton and is on a tear this season scoring 10-13-23 in 16 games...Pavel Datsyuk is always dangerous and has 18 career points in 23 games versus Edmonton...Former Oiler Ty Conklin is 4-1 this season with a .902 save percentage but gave up five goals in his last appearance versus Edmonton.

    ROSTER UPDATES: Edmonton – Ladislav Smid (concussion) is out. Steve MacIntyre (orbital bone) is out; Detroit – Dan Cleary (eye infection) is doubtful. Chris Chelios (broken right tibia) is doubtful. 
     
    FAST FACTS: Tonight is the 101st meeting all-time between the Red Wings and the Oilers. Detroit has won 44 games in the series. Edmonton has won 43 games. 13 games ended in a tie. ... Last season, Henrik Zetterberg led the Red Wings with 5 points in 4 games against the Oilers Chris Osgood was 1-0-1 with 1.92 GAA. ... Both the Oilers wins against Detroit last season were in shootouts. Both of those games ended in a final score of 4-3. ... Nicklas Lidstrom has 45 points and eight goals in 61 career games against the Oilers.
    The Answers

    Pre-Game Video...
     Pre-Game Audio... Sunday's Audio:

    The Other Side
    • NHL Announces Lottery for Winter Classic - The NHL has announced ticket information for Winter Classic 2009. Red Wings' season ticket holders will receive a letter soon detailing instructions for a ticket lottery to be held later this month ... ...more

    Odds and Ends
    • This or That? with Shawn Horcoff - Things aren't always black and white, but we made Shawn Horcoff choose Option A or Option B on a variety of topics, including school subjects, precipitation, and amusement park rides. Click to check out his answers. ...more

    From the Wire (AP)

    The Detroit Red Wings are leaving little doubt that they're the league's best road team, and a pair of victories in their two most recent games have only helped drive that message home.

    They've been pretty good at Joe Louis Arena, too - but that's where they have something to prove.

    The Red Wings will try to erase the memory of blowing a three-goal, third-period lead last week when they return home Monday night to face the Edmonton Oilers.

    Detroit (11-2-3) is 8-1-1 on the road, and even though a majority of those games have been tight, that's where Mike Babcock's club has thrived. The Red Wings have won all five of their one-goal, regulation road games this season, including a pair of recent victories in Florida.

    They fell behind 2-0 at Tampa Bay on Thursday before scoring the next four goals in a 4-3 win, then got a goal from Johan Franzen for the fourth straight game Friday in Florida, the difference-making tally in a 3-2 victory.

    "That's what we do with this team, we find a way to win," said Franzen, who has six goals in his last seven games. "We haven't played great, far from great defensively, but we're finding a way to win."

    Detroit was 3-1-1 at home heading into its latest game at Joe Louis Arena, and took a 5-2 lead over Pittsburgh five minutes into the third period.

    But the Penguins tied the score at six in the final minute of regulation, and scored the winner in overtime. It was only the fifth time the Red Wings had given up seven goals since 1994-95.

    It was the seventh time this season that goaltender Chris Osgood (7-1-3, 3.31 goals-against average) had allowed at least three goals in a game, and he let three in again in Tampa Bay.

    Backup Ty Conklin improved to 4-1-0 with a 2.96 GAA with the win in Florida, and he's expected to get the start against Edmonton despite having left the team briefly over the weekend while his wife gave birth to the couple's third child.

    "I was going to give him two days off, but he didn't want it," Babcock said. "He wanted to be back."

    Conklin's lone start against the Oilers (8-7-2) didn't go well. He gave up five goals while with Columbus in a 5-2 loss on Jan. 31, 2007.

    Edmonton has the second-most road wins in the league behind Detroit, but that's partly because it has spent most of the first six weeks of the season away from home. The Oilers are 6-6-0 on the road.

    Two games back in Alberta didn't produce positive results though, as Edmonton failed to pick up its first home victory since Oct. 18. The Oilers lost 5-2 to Toronto on Thursday, then gave up the tying goal with 11 seconds left Saturday before eventually falling 3-2 in a shootout to Colorado.

    "It was unfortunate that they were able to get one late," said goaltender Dwayne Roloson, who fell to 2-2-2 with a 2.62 GAA. "That was probably one of the best games we have played defensively all year."

    The Oilers have scored two goals apiece in their last four games, with no player scoring more than once.

    Shootouts are nothing new to Detroit and Edmonton. Four of the last six meetings between the teams have ended 4-3 in a shootout - with the Oilers winning each time. Roloson was in net for three of those victories.




     
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