minnesota @ edmonton

[Aces High]

Minnesota Wild (25-17-8-1) at Edmonton Oilers (23-16-5-6), 9 p.m.

(Sports Network) - The Minnesota Wild conclude a five-game road trip this evening in Edmonton when they face off with the Oilers at Skyreach Centre in their final game before the All-Star break.

Sergei Zholtok scored midway through the third period to help Minnesota to a 2-2 tie with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Nick Schultz also scored for the Wild, who are 2-1-1 on their current trek.

Dwayne Roloson turned aside 20 shots for the Wild, who allowed a goal on the man advantage for the first time in nine games. Roloson is scheduled to start again between the pipes, but could leave the team at any time to be with his wife who is expecting their second child this week.

Left wing Jeremy Stevenson left the game in the first period after being taken into the boards and did not return. He is questionable for tonight's affair.

With 31 games remaining, the Wild remains one victory shy of its team record for victories (26) established last season. They also need one road win to tie last season's record of 12.

Minnesota, which trails the first-place Canucks by five points in the Northwest with 55, is in the midst of its fifth back-to-back set this season. It is 1-1-2 in second games.

Edmonton, on the other hand, comes into Wednesday's tilt on a losing note after getting dismantled by the Phoenix Coyotes, 5-1, on Friday. Anson Carter lit the lamp for the Oilers, who fell for the third time in four games (1-3).

Tommy Salo stopped just 16 shots in the loss for Edmonton, which will close its pre-All-Star schedule on Thursday against Vancouver.

Edmonton could receive an added boost tonight with the return of Ryan Smyth, who has missed the last four games with a sprained shoulder. Smyth resumed practicing with the team on Sunday and will take part in the morning skate before making a decision on tonight's game.

The Oilers currently sit in third place of the Northwest, two back of the Wild and seven behind the Canucks.

Minnesota has split the four matchups with the Oilers this season and has won the last two. However, the Oilers are 10-2-2 all-time against the Wild and 5-1-1 at Skyreach Centre against Minny.

Only one meeting in this series has been decided by more than two goals.

 

[Aces High]

As his team heads into the All-Star break off its longest road trip of the season, Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire remains intent on keeping his club intense.

``We've got to get points to stay alive,'' Lemaire said of his team's fifth-place position in the Western Conference. ``The lower (ranked) teams are winning more games this year (than last year).

``There are no teams (in the West) with less than 40 points. So points are harder to get.''

Even more pivotal are matchups against divisional opponents, and Minnesota concludes its five-game road swing against Northwest Division foe Edmonton at Skyreach Centre.

The Wild recorded their fifth point of the trip with Tuesday's 2-2 tie against the Northwest Division-leading Vancouver Canucks. Sergei Zholtok scored midway through the third period, and Nick Schultz also scored for the Wild.

Dwayne Roloson started his franchise-record ninth consecutive game, and made 20 stops, including three in overtime.

Minnesota trails the Canucks by five points, but is just two ahead of the third-place Oilers.

The Oilers have lost three of four including Friday's 5-1 setback to the Phoenix Coyotes. Edmonton had lost just once in its previous seven games before this current slide (5-1-1).

Anson Carter tallied the lone Oilers goal against the Coyotes to continue his offensive surge. The right wing has three goals and four points over his last three games.

STANDINGS: Wild - 59 points, 2nd place, 5 GB, Northwest Division. Oilers - 57 points, 3rd place, 7 PB, Northwest Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Wild - Marian Gaborik, 26 goals and 48 points; Gaborik, Cliff Ronning and Pascal Dupuis, 22 assists; Matt Johnson, 159 PIM. Oilers - Carter, 20 goals; Todd Marchant, 28 assists; Carter and Ryan Smyth, 43 points; Mike Comrie, 74 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Jan. 27): Wild - Power play: 13.0 percent (31 for 239), 26th in NHL. Penalty killing: 87.3 percent (179 for 205), 2nd. Oilers - Power play: 15.0 percent (36 for 240), 21st. Penalty killing: 83.7 percent (175 for 209), 13th.

GOALTENDERS: Wild - Roloson (14-10-7, 1 SO, 1.95 GAA); Dieter Kochan (no appearances). Oilers - Tommy Salo (17-16-5, 4, 2.62); Jussi Markkanen (6-6-0, 2, 2.46).

SEASON SERIES: Oilers, 2-0-0-2.

LAST MEETING: Jan. 2; Wild, 2-1 (OT). At Edmonton, Alberta, Jim Dowd got a lucky bounce and credit for the game-winning goal with 44 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Wild over the Oilers -- the third overtime contest in the season series. Minnesota's Andrei Zyuzin scored with just 2:06 remaining in regulation to the send the game into the extra session, and Manny Fernandez made 27 saves for the Wild. Carter tallied Edmonton's lone goal, and Salo stopped 30 shots.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS:

Wild - 11-7-5-1 on the road

Oilers - 12-7-3-3 at home.

 

[Aces High]

injuries

injuries

MINNESOTA WILD - Center Rickard Wallin (broken hand) are sidelined indefinitely. Right wing Bill Muckalt (right shoulder surgery) is expected to be sidelined until April. Goaltender Manny Fernandez (left knee) is expected to be sidelined until early February.

EDMONTON OILERS - *Left wing Ryan Smyth (shoulder) is questionable for Wednesday's game against Minnesota. Center Mike Comrie (broken thumb) and right wing Georges Laraque (knee) are sidelined indefinitely.

 

[Aces High]

Minnesota Wild (25-17-8-1) at Edmonton Oilers (23-16-5-6)

Records
2002-03 Head-to-head-record Tied 2-2 (1-1 at Min; 1-1 at Edm)
2001-02 Head-to-head-record Edmonton 4-0-1 (2-0-1 at Min; 2-0 at Edm)
2000-01 Head-to-head-record Edmonton 4-0-1 (2-0 at Min; 2-0-1 at Edm)
1999-00 Head-to-head record None
Home Record Minnesota 14-10-3-0; Edmonton 12-7-3-3
Away Record Minnesota 11-7-5-1; Edmonton 11-9-2-3
Record vs. Northwest Division Minnesota 6-6-4-1; Edmonton 5-4-1-3
Record vs. Western Conference Minnesota 18-15-7-1; Edmonton 17-10-3-6

2002-2003 Meetings
11/12 - Edmonton, 3-2 (at Min)
12/03 - Edmonton, 2-1 ot (at Edm)
12/17 - Minnesota, 4-3 ot (at Min)
01/02 - Minnesota, 2-1 ot (at Edm)

2001-2002 Meetings
10/14 - Tied, 3-3 ot (at Min)
11/04 - Edmonton, 2-0 (at Min)
12/28 - Edmonton, 3-2 (at Edm)
04/02 - Edmonton, 2-1 ot (at Edm)
04/14 - Edmonton, 4-2 (at Min)

2000-2001 Meetings
10/15 - Edmonton, 5-3 (at Min)
11/03 - Edmonton, 3-0 (at Edm)
11/12 - Edmonton, 5-4 ot (at Min)
03/02 - Edmonton, 3-1 (at Edm)
04/04 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Edm)

Game Notes
Note - Only one meeting in this series has been decided by more than two goals.
Note - Minnesota has won two straight after winless in the last 12 meetings.
Note - Edmonton is 10-2-2 against Minnesota.
Note - Minnesota snapped a six-game series road winless streak on 01/02/03.
Note - Minnesota is 1-5-1 at Edmonton.
Note - Minnesota snapped a six-game series home winless streak on 12/17/02.
Note - Edmonton is 5-1-1 at Minnesota.
Note - Minnesota is 4-2-2 in its last eight road games.
Note - Edmonton is 6-3-1-1 in its last 11 games.

 

[Aces High]

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- The Edmonton Oilers look to capitalize on a chance to move up in the standings when they host the Minnesota Wild in a Northwest Division matchup on Wednesday.

Edmonton is two points behind Minnesota and seven in back of the first-place Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers visit Vancouver on Thursday in the last game before the All-Star break.

The Oilers have dropped three of their last four games, including Friday's 5-1 home setback to the Phoenix Coyotes.

Anson Carter netted the lone goal for the Oilers, who failed to build any momentum following last Wednesday's dramatic overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings. Edmonton also went 0-for-5 on the power play on Friday, drawing boos from the crowd.

Minnesota is 2-1-1 on a five-game road trip after a 2-2 tie against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

Sergei Zholtok netted the tying goal midway through the third period and assisted on defenseman Nick Schultz's first-period tally as the remained one win shy of tying the franchise record for wins, set in 2001-02.

Minnesota was 0-10-2 against Edmonton before December 17, when Richard Park tied the contest with 7:20 left in regulation and netted the game-winner with just 16 seconds to go in overtime to give the Wild a 4-3 win. The Wild also won the last meeting on January 2, when Jim Dowd scored with 44 seconds left in overtime for a 2-1 triumph.