(Sports Network) - The Edmonton Oilers have managed just one victory so far on
their nine-game road trip and trying to pick up win No. 2 won't be an easy
task on Thursday night.
That's because the Oilers are set to visit Detroit, where they haven't beaten
the Red Wings in over three years.
Edmonton has managed just a 1-2-2 record through the first five games of its
longest swing of the season and lost a third straight on Tuesday night with a
4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Oilers did manage to earn a point just two days after giving up three
third-period goals in a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild as Jeff Petry, Ryan
Whitney and Magnus Paajarvi all scored in Columbus.
Devan Dubnyk made 35 saves through overtime, but gave up two goals in the
shootout while Edmonton had both of its attempts stopped.
"We played a much better game than we did in Minnesota," said Edmonton head
coach Ralph Krueger. "There was a lot of good things but the result is
disappointing. We let go of a couple of leads and that's upsetting."
The Oilers were set to travel to Detroit after the game, but a snowstorm kept
them in Columbus until finally arriving in Motown on Wednesday afternoon.
Edmonton will hope the delay in travel won't hinder it picking up its first
victory in Detroit since Dec. 3, 2009. The Oilers have lost six in a row to
the Red Wings as the guest and nine of the past 10 meetings overall.
Detroit won a 2-1 decision over Edmonton at home on Feb. 9, getting the winner
from Niklas Kronwall in the third period and 23 saves from Jimmy Howard.
Kronwall picked up another game-winner on Tuesday in a 2-1 win over the
Colorado Avalanche, though this one was a bit of a fluke as the defenseman
sent a point shot wide that caromed off the boards and off Avs goaltender
Jean-Sebastian Giguere with 2:28 to play in the second period.
Johan Franzen also scored and Howard made 15 of his 36 saves in the third
period. However, he had his shutout bid spoiled with 1:30 to go.
"We have to get better for sure," said Detroit head coach Mike Babcock. "This
was too loose of a game for us and if we want to win on a nightly basis we
have to do better in front of our goalie."
The Red Wings improved to 4-1-1 in their last six overall.
The Sports Network