Reilly
11-04-2005, 03:51 AM
Edmonton Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) (7-6-1) at St. Louis Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) (2-7-3).
TIME: Friday, 8 p.m. EST.
In the new-look NHL, the St. Louis Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) couldn't afford to keep star defenseman Chris Pronger (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66759). Given their recent play, they may be regretting that decision.
Pronger makes his return Friday night with the Edmonton Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) when they meet the struggling Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) at Savvis Center.
St. Louis has dropped six in a row after a 6-5 overtime loss Wednesday to the Chicago Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303). The Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) have not lost seven straight since Feb. 12-25, 1989.
St. Louis, though, is 7-0-3-1 in its last 11 home games against the Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) since a 3-2 loss Feb. 13, 1999.
For nine seasons, Pronger was one of the anchors on defense for the Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) with the now-retired Al MacInnis (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/343325). In August, the Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) sent the former MVP, four-time All-Star and captain to Edmonton for defenseman Eric Brewer (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66459) and two prospects.
"Let's face it, who's a better defenseman in this game?" Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) general manager Larry Pleau said of Pronger. "He logged a lot of ice time, played hurt. I don't think we could have asked any more, and he's still got a lot of hockey in him."
The Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) will welcome back left wing Dallas Drake (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66770), who completed a two-game league suspension for an illegal check Oct. 28 against Corey Perry (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/352167) of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66324).
Edmonton is coming off its most impressive win of the season. Pronger had two assists and Raffi Torres (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109905) scored the game-winner 1:51 into overtime as the Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) snapped the Detroit Red Wings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66304)' nine-game winning streak with a 4-3 win.
"It's huge for us. We knew these guys were experienced," Edmonton's Ryan Smyth (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66462) said. "And with the record they've got, it is something we want to build on."
Edmonton has won four in a row after a seven-game losing streak to move back over .500. The Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) have outscored the opposition 19-8 during the winning streak.
Torres has five goals and an assist during a five-game points streak after being held off the scoresheet in six straight.
Pronger has six assists during a four-game points streak. He had no points in his previous seven games.
STANDINGS: Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) - 15 points, 2nd place (tied), 5 PB, Northwest Division. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - 7 points, 5th place, 18 PB, Central Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) - Torres, 9 goals; Ales Hemsky (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/106498), 11 assists and 14 points; Ethan Moreau (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66464), 27 PIM. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Jamal Mayers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66768), 6 goals; Petr Cajanek (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/105473), 11 assists and 13 points; Aaron Downey (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66418), 25 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Nov. 2): Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) - Power play: 17.4 percent (15 for 86), 18th in NHL. Penalty killing: 80.0 percent (68 for 85), tied for 17th. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Power play: 17.9 percent (14 for 78), 17th. Penalty killing: 79.8 percent (67 for 84), 19th.
GOALTENDERS: Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) - Jussi Markkanen (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109793) (6-5-1, 0 SO, 2.73 GAA); Ty Conklin (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109814) (1-1-0, 0, 4.39). Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Patrick Lalime (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66658) (2-5-3, 0, 3.85); Reinhard Divis (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109816) (0-2-0, 0, 4.90).
2003-04 SEASON SERIES: Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), 2-1-1.
LAST MEETING: March 30, 2004; Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), 1-0. At St. Louis, Weight scored his first goal in 18 games and Chris Osgood (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/342455) posted his 41st career shutout.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) - 3-4-0 on the road; Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - 2-4-1 at home.
TIME: Friday, 8 p.m. EST.
In the new-look NHL, the St. Louis Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) couldn't afford to keep star defenseman Chris Pronger (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66759). Given their recent play, they may be regretting that decision.
Pronger makes his return Friday night with the Edmonton Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) when they meet the struggling Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) at Savvis Center.
St. Louis has dropped six in a row after a 6-5 overtime loss Wednesday to the Chicago Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303). The Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) have not lost seven straight since Feb. 12-25, 1989.
St. Louis, though, is 7-0-3-1 in its last 11 home games against the Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) since a 3-2 loss Feb. 13, 1999.
For nine seasons, Pronger was one of the anchors on defense for the Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) with the now-retired Al MacInnis (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/343325). In August, the Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) sent the former MVP, four-time All-Star and captain to Edmonton for defenseman Eric Brewer (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66459) and two prospects.
"Let's face it, who's a better defenseman in this game?" Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) general manager Larry Pleau said of Pronger. "He logged a lot of ice time, played hurt. I don't think we could have asked any more, and he's still got a lot of hockey in him."
The Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) will welcome back left wing Dallas Drake (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66770), who completed a two-game league suspension for an illegal check Oct. 28 against Corey Perry (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/352167) of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66324).
Edmonton is coming off its most impressive win of the season. Pronger had two assists and Raffi Torres (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109905) scored the game-winner 1:51 into overtime as the Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) snapped the Detroit Red Wings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66304)' nine-game winning streak with a 4-3 win.
"It's huge for us. We knew these guys were experienced," Edmonton's Ryan Smyth (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66462) said. "And with the record they've got, it is something we want to build on."
Edmonton has won four in a row after a seven-game losing streak to move back over .500. The Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) have outscored the opposition 19-8 during the winning streak.
Torres has five goals and an assist during a five-game points streak after being held off the scoresheet in six straight.
Pronger has six assists during a four-game points streak. He had no points in his previous seven games.
STANDINGS: Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) - 15 points, 2nd place (tied), 5 PB, Northwest Division. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - 7 points, 5th place, 18 PB, Central Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) - Torres, 9 goals; Ales Hemsky (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/106498), 11 assists and 14 points; Ethan Moreau (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66464), 27 PIM. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Jamal Mayers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66768), 6 goals; Petr Cajanek (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/105473), 11 assists and 13 points; Aaron Downey (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66418), 25 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Nov. 2): Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) - Power play: 17.4 percent (15 for 86), 18th in NHL. Penalty killing: 80.0 percent (68 for 85), tied for 17th. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Power play: 17.9 percent (14 for 78), 17th. Penalty killing: 79.8 percent (67 for 84), 19th.
GOALTENDERS: Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) - Jussi Markkanen (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109793) (6-5-1, 0 SO, 2.73 GAA); Ty Conklin (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109814) (1-1-0, 0, 4.39). Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Patrick Lalime (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66658) (2-5-3, 0, 3.85); Reinhard Divis (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109816) (0-2-0, 0, 4.90).
2003-04 SEASON SERIES: Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), 2-1-1.
LAST MEETING: March 30, 2004; Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), 1-0. At St. Louis, Weight scored his first goal in 18 games and Chris Osgood (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/342455) posted his 41st career shutout.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Oilers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66305) - 3-4-0 on the road; Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - 2-4-1 at home.