sleddy2008
02-10-2010, 06:35 PM
C/P from TSN.ca
Ducks hope for record home victory in meeting with Oilers
(Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks can establish a new franchise best for consecutive home wins tonight. All that stands in their way is the NHL-worst Edmonton Oilers, who'll be skating into the Honda Center in search of a rare victory on the road.
Anaheim ran its home winning streak to 10 games with Monday's 4-2 triumph over a red-hot Los Angeles squad that entered The Pond having come out on top in its last nine outings. Corey Perry helped cool down the Kings by registering a goal and two assists, while goaltender Jonas Hiller stopped 35-of-37 shots in a sharp performance.
"Home ice advantage is huge," said Perry afterward. "When you're at home, you need those two points. When you're at home, you need to go out and make the place a war zone out there. It should be hard place for the other team to come in and play."
Anaheim has done just that during its 10-game surge, which improved the club to 18-8-2 at home for the season. The Ducks haven't lost at the Honda Center since a 4-3 shootout setback to Ottawa on December 6.
The Ducks, who have won four of their last five contests overall, still have some work to do in regards to obtaining a playoff spot. Anaheim is currently in 11th place in the tightly-bunched Western Conference with 63 points, four behind both Calgary and Nashville for the last two playoff seeds.
Anaheim did sustain a significant injury during Monday's win, however, as leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf left the game in the second period with a sprained left ankle and is unlikely to play tonight. The Canadian Olympic Team member has notched 57 points (15 goals, 42 assists) in 55 games this season and has compiled two goals and six assists during a five-game scoring streak.
While the Ducks have been unbeatable on home ice as of late, Edmonton hasn't had any success when competing on the road over the past two months. The Oilers have lost 10 in a row as the visitor -- all in regulation -- and set a team record for most consecutive away defeats with Monday's 6-1 thumping at the hands of the Phoenix Coyotes.
"This is as bad as it gets," Oilers center Shawn Horcoff said afterward. "It's tough to stay positive."
Edmonton has now lost the first three tests of its present five-game trek and has been outscored by a 13-3 margin over that span. The Oilers are now 3-21-2 since December 15 and reside at the bottom of the NHL standings with a mere 42 points.
The Oilers' last victory in an enemy venue was a 5-3 verdict over St. Louis on December 11.
Edmonton played Monday's matchup without forward Sam Gagner, who ranks second on the team in both goals (14) and points (35), due to a sore left knee that will likely keep him out of tonight's game as well. Dustin Penner, the Oilers' leader in both of those categories, spoiled the Coyotes' shutout bid on Monday when he scored with 4:28 left to play.
Tonight's game marks the first encounter between these teams this season. The squads split four meetings in 2009-10, with the Oilers taking both battles that took place in Anaheim. Edmonton has left the Honda Center with a victory in each of its last four visits.
Ducks hope for record home victory in meeting with Oilers
(Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks can establish a new franchise best for consecutive home wins tonight. All that stands in their way is the NHL-worst Edmonton Oilers, who'll be skating into the Honda Center in search of a rare victory on the road.
Anaheim ran its home winning streak to 10 games with Monday's 4-2 triumph over a red-hot Los Angeles squad that entered The Pond having come out on top in its last nine outings. Corey Perry helped cool down the Kings by registering a goal and two assists, while goaltender Jonas Hiller stopped 35-of-37 shots in a sharp performance.
"Home ice advantage is huge," said Perry afterward. "When you're at home, you need those two points. When you're at home, you need to go out and make the place a war zone out there. It should be hard place for the other team to come in and play."
Anaheim has done just that during its 10-game surge, which improved the club to 18-8-2 at home for the season. The Ducks haven't lost at the Honda Center since a 4-3 shootout setback to Ottawa on December 6.
The Ducks, who have won four of their last five contests overall, still have some work to do in regards to obtaining a playoff spot. Anaheim is currently in 11th place in the tightly-bunched Western Conference with 63 points, four behind both Calgary and Nashville for the last two playoff seeds.
Anaheim did sustain a significant injury during Monday's win, however, as leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf left the game in the second period with a sprained left ankle and is unlikely to play tonight. The Canadian Olympic Team member has notched 57 points (15 goals, 42 assists) in 55 games this season and has compiled two goals and six assists during a five-game scoring streak.
While the Ducks have been unbeatable on home ice as of late, Edmonton hasn't had any success when competing on the road over the past two months. The Oilers have lost 10 in a row as the visitor -- all in regulation -- and set a team record for most consecutive away defeats with Monday's 6-1 thumping at the hands of the Phoenix Coyotes.
"This is as bad as it gets," Oilers center Shawn Horcoff said afterward. "It's tough to stay positive."
Edmonton has now lost the first three tests of its present five-game trek and has been outscored by a 13-3 margin over that span. The Oilers are now 3-21-2 since December 15 and reside at the bottom of the NHL standings with a mere 42 points.
The Oilers' last victory in an enemy venue was a 5-3 verdict over St. Louis on December 11.
Edmonton played Monday's matchup without forward Sam Gagner, who ranks second on the team in both goals (14) and points (35), due to a sore left knee that will likely keep him out of tonight's game as well. Dustin Penner, the Oilers' leader in both of those categories, spoiled the Coyotes' shutout bid on Monday when he scored with 4:28 left to play.
Tonight's game marks the first encounter between these teams this season. The squads split four meetings in 2009-10, with the Oilers taking both battles that took place in Anaheim. Edmonton has left the Honda Center with a victory in each of its last four visits.