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Oilers @ Avalanche Game 76 Preview

Oilers ride a two game winning streak into Denver

By Jeff Chapman
Richard Bachman was perfect on Friday against Dallas
Richard Bachman was perfect on Friday against Dallas
Chris LaFrance-USA TODAY Sports


oilers logo black text

@
Colorado
22-40-13, 57 points, .76 p/g Ranks 35-28-12, 82 points, 1.094 p/g
Western Conference - 13th Western Conference - 12th
21st P/G 28th
24th ST 25th
28th ES 18th
28th Goal 18th
7:00 PM MDT - SN1
Pepsi Center
The opposing view: Mile High Hockey

Two Is A Streak.

Richard Bachman earned his second career NHL shutout on Friday as the Oilers took down the Dallas Stars by a 4-0 count.  Jordan Eberle, Derek Roy and Benoit Pouliot each had goals for the Oilers, while Andrew Miller scored his first NHL goal on a penalty shot.  Will Richard Bachman get his second consecutive start?  Will Andrew Miller continue his one goal scoring streak?  Will the Oilers play their way into the peaks of 27th place overall?  The Oilers have orchestrated two consecutive wins, and they look to make it three in a row with a victory in Denver tonight.

The Oilers are saying

"It was a great hockey game for fans.  I think even during the TV timeout, they were doing the wave and it's getting the guys going.  I thought in the third period, it was a good atmosphere and the players fed off some of the energy."

That's Oilers forward Derek Roy on Friday's game against the Stars

The Oilers don't win very many games by four or more goals.  A cursory glance at this year's results suggest that before Friday's game, the Oilers hadn't won by four or more goals the entire season.  When a four goal difference is seen in an Oiler box score, it's a team like the Senators having fun at Edmonton's expense.

The Opponent is saying

"All we can do is enjoy playing these games, try to win them, play hard and try to do our part"
That's Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla on finishing out the string

The Avalanche were given two points by the Buffalo Sabres over the weekend, but Edmonton's 4-3 victory over the Avalanche on Wednesday helped put to rest any postseason talks.  Colorado will likely finish with around 90 points this season, something I think Oiler fans would be elated to see.  Next year, or the year after that.  Maybe.

Have some of this
  • INJURY CARD - Same lines as in Dallas.  We've reached the "You don't play centre, but here, try it out anyways" point of the season.  Usually this happens somewhere near game 60 or 70, but sometimes the team puts Ryan Smyth at 4C or Taylor Hall at 1C and acts all bewildered when it doesn't work.
  • Nothing official, but would be kind of surprised not to see Richard Bachman (1-2-0, .892 SV% / 3.65 GAA) get another look tonight after a shutout on Friday.  Semyon Varlamov (28-18-8, .920 SV% / 2.58 GAA) would be my starter for Colorado tonight.  Varlamov was pulled after three goals on seven shots in last week's 4-3 loss to the Oilers.
  • Edmonton's victory over Dallas on Friday puts them three points ahead of Arizona for 29th place, and a clear 9 points ahead of Buffalo for last place.  The Sabres face off against the Coyotes in Glendale tonight.
  • GOILERS