Game 59 Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Anaheim Mighty Ducks - February 10. 2010 - 8:00 PM - TSN

After a very slow start to this season, the Anaheim Ducks are just four points out of a playoff spot. Ryan Getzlaf has a sprained ankle and is listed as day-to-day. It's likely that he won't play tonight vs. the Oilers, but hopefully this injury won't affect him playing for Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics. However, Getzlaf had a recent MRI which suggest didn't show any significant injury and expects to join Team Canada on Monday.

The Anaheim Mighty Ducks (28-24-7) hots the Edmonton Oilers (18-34-6) at the Honda Center tonight. Currently, the Oilers seven point cushion on the Toronto Maple Leafs and a nine point cushion n the Carolina Hurricanes in the fall for hall. With three straight losses heading into this game, the Oilers are in the midst of another losing streak.

In other news, the Oilers announced that their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, will be playing in Oklahoma City next season. At this point, the team does not yet have a new name though it's expected that fans will be providing input in the decision.

anaeheim_honda_center

The Honda Center

The NHL trade rumor front has been pretty thin lately for the Edmonton Oilers. With the large number of Kevin Lowe era contracts still on the books, I'm feeling skeptical that much if anything will happen before the March 3rd NHL trade deadline. Even outside of the overpaid yet depleted forces that comprise the Oilers vets, there's not many players on the roster who've done much to help their trade value this season. In fact, most of the players that have any potential trade value are the ones that the Oilers will likely hold onto like Dustin Penner or Sam Gagner.

With his expiring contract that's priced to fit under the cap, it would behoove Steve Tambellini to try and get something for Mike Comrie before the deadline. It's not like his skill-set is in short supply on the roster while there's a good chance that Tambellini won't be able to sign him for next season with the laundry list of RFAs this summer.

Back to the Ducks... The Ducks are 6-4 over their past ten games. They recently traded Jean-Sebastien Giguere for Jason Blake and Vesa Toskala. Though they've been both outshot (4 shots/game), and outscored (.25 goals/game), they still find themselves in the playoff hunt this season. It's somewhat surprising give how poorly they started the season. Both of their special teams have been pretty strong with a 19.5% and 80.1% efficiencies on the power play and penalty kill respectively.

Scott Niedermayer

Scott Niedermayer, Team Canada's Olympic hockey team captain, appears to be showing his age this season. His +/- is bad enough to rival some of the players on the Oilers roster.

oilers

Edmonton Oilers Projected Lineup:

Penner-Pouliot-Nilsson

Brule-Potulny-O'Sullivan

Moreau – Horcoff – Pisani

Jacques-Cogliano-Stortini

Visnovsky – Smid

Gilbert – Grebeshkov

Staios– Strudwick

Dubnyk

Desluariers

Belesky - ?Getzlaf - Perry

Ryan - Kovu - Selanne

Blake Marchant - Bodie

Carter - Chipchura - Parros

Niedermayer - Wishniewski

Eminger - Whitney

Festerling - Brookbank

Hiller

Toskala

Comments (3) Add Comment

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written by Mr.Ship, February 10, 2010

Hey Oilers and Canadian Hockey Fanatics,
our company is hosting charity auctions for fans to sit down at the Molson Canadian Hockey House at the Olympic Village. This is definitely a luxury event for those who can afford it, but if you are dying to get in, this may be a fan's only chance as tickets are almost entirely sold out for the span of the Olympics. Lunches and dinners with Canadian hockey legends like Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr and more will all up for grabs. You can read more about it here. http://vipthrills.com/mchh/?p=7

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written by Jay-, February 11, 2010

I didn't have time to do a game recap for this one, but the Oilers lost 3-2 which is good for the long run. Daryl Katz basically said today that the Oilers are rebuilding which confirms the obvious. I hope that he starts rebuilding in terms of new management.