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(18-33-6)__(35-19-5)
Game Time: Mon. Feb./08/2010 @ 9:30pm EST
TV: FSN-AZ (HD), Rogers Sportsnet-West
Radio: XTRA Sports 910
Rosters:
Coyotes
Oilers
Team Records:
Season Series:
Conference Standings:
Media:
AZ Central
Edmonton Journal
nhl.com wrote: Coyotes continue surge toward playoffs against Oilers
Last 10: Edmonton 2-7-1; Phoenix 7-3-0
Season Series: Third of four meetings this season. The teams have split a pair of games at Rexall Place in Edmonton. Jeff Deslauriers stopped all 36 shots for his first career shutout as the Oilers won 4-0 on Nov. 23. Shane Doan scored twice, including a power-play goal 1:37 into overtime, to give the Coyotes a 5-4 win on Jan. 5.
Big Story: Their six-game winning streak came to an end Saturday in Dallas, but coach Dave Tippett has the Coyotes in excellent position to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002. In fact, Phoenix begins play Monday tied for fourth in the Western Conference with Pacific Division rival Los Angeles, in the battle for home ice in the first round.
Team Scope:
Oilers: This is the midway point in a five-game road trip for Edmonton, which dropped the first two in Minnesota and Colorado. Like many of its losses this season, the Oilers saw the opportunity for a better fate Saturday, trailing just 1-0 into the latter stages of the third period. But they would fall 3-0 as the Avalanche added two late goals, one an empty-netter.
"We compete well with some teams for a while, then we disappear," Pat Quinn said. "As a coach you start thinking we should have 15, 16 more wins based on how we've played some nights, but we don't. That margin between winning and losing is eluding us right now. We find ways to lose, not ways to win."
Coyotes: Four of the six victories in the Phoenix win streak came on the road, but the Coyotes have also taken their last three at Jobing.com Arena, where the fans are starting to flock again as they realize their team is for real. A near sellout crowd watched their 3-2 win over the Rangers on Jan. 30. After beating the Central Division-leading Blackhawks on Friday, the Coyotes ran out of gas in a 4-0 loss to the Stars on Saturday.
"Our whole group looked tired tonight without a doubt," Tippett said. "(Friday) night's game took a huge toll on us. We went to overtime, then late travel. And you've got a fresh team sitting here, you know they're going to come hard at you."
Who's Hot: In his past five starts in the Edmonton net, Deslauriers recorded a 1-0 shutout against Philadelphia, the second of his career, and allowed two goals in three others. … Phoenix counterpart Ilya Bryzgalov had won four straight prior to Saturday's defeat, including a shutout against Nashville, his career-high sixth of the season.
Injury Report: The Oilers have a lengthy list of banged-up bodies, though defensemen Steve Staios and Ladislav Smid are possibilities to be activated Monday. Both suffered concussions. Forward Sam Gagner is day-to-day with a knee injury. Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin (back), defenseman Sheldon Souray (hand) and forwards Ales Hemsky (shoulder) and Ryan Stone (knee) are all on injured reserve.
Coyotes forward Scottie Upshall injured his right knee and will miss the rest of the season, while defenseman Kurt Sauer (head) is also out.
Stat Pack: Edmonton has lost nine straight on the road, all in regulation, since a 5-3 win in St. Louis on Dec. 11. That ties a franchise record originally set in 2007. … Phoenix is 21-8-2 at home this season, including 15-3-2 in its last 20 at Jobing.com Arena.
Puck Drop: Both teams come off shutout losses and are in the bottom third of the League in offense. But the Coyotes have been the far more defensively sound team this season, and the proof is in the standings.
Coyotes Team Report:
The Coyotes need one more win to equal last season's total of 36 - and they will try to reach that Monday night at Jobing.com Arena against the team with the fewest points in the NHL.
Entering the final week of play before the Olympic break and with only 23 games remaining, the Coyotes are the surprise team of the NHL and primed for their first playoff berth in eight years.
The Coyotes had won six in a row before losing 4-0 in Dallas on Saturday to wrap up a four-game road trip They play at Minnesota (Wednesday) and Colorado (Friday) before returning home to face the Stars on Saturday.
Last Game:
STARS 4, COYOTES 0: After Friday night's game, the Coyotes did not have much left in the tank Saturday at Dallas. A quick start could have given them a boost, but the Stars scored first.
"When you chase a game, you use a lot more energy," Tippett said. " . . . I knew our guys were tired going in, and I think we were more fatigued than we were the week before (in back-go-back games).
"Give Dallas credit. They came out and they put us behind the eight ball and made us chase the game, and we didn't have much left in the tank."
Oilers Team Report:
The Oilers are waiting for the demolition to begin.
With no possible chance of making the playoffs, a massive rebuild on the horizon and the trade deadline approaching, everyone in the dressing room knows that big changes are coming.
"When you're in this situation you're on full alert," said veteran center Shawn Horcoff. "You know there's going to be changes. It's not 'if,' it's 'when.' Whether it's at the deadline, whether it's in July, who knows? They're coming."
When a club misses the playoffs four years in a row and loses 20 0f 22 games, nobody is safe.
"Obviously, our team is in a situation to do things; anytime you're out of the playoffs, that's always the case," said Patrick O'Sullivan. "I don't know what's going to happen, and as a player you can't worry about it. But it's tough. It's a difficult time of year, especially when the team is struggling."
Head coach Pat Quinn doesn't blame the players for looking over their shoulder.
"It's a troubling time for everybody, this time of year," said Quinn. "With us, clearly we have assets that other people want and I'm sure that our management is going to listen. I don't know how active they are out there. It's not my territory."
Last Game:
AVALANCHE 3, OILERS 0: Craig Anderson made 20 saves for the shootout and the Avs handed the Oilers their 20th regulation loss in the last 25 games. Notable: Edmonton is 6-26-2 when allowing the first goal.
. That back hander was very, very nice.