The Copper & Blue - Gameday Coverage: Phoenix Coyotes at Edmonton OilersA site for fans of the Edmonton Oilers. Someday we'll get to write about an Oilers playoff game. Hopefully sooner than later.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/13253/copper-fave.jpg2013-02-24T08:55:36-07:00http://www.coppernblue.com/rss/stream/37860692013-02-24T08:55:36-07:002013-02-24T08:55:36-07:00Oilers Win One for the Taylor!
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/f0J67gkB1E-yvCjLNjfsuDWa8xM=/0x0:3990x2660/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8643261/162461315.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Derek Leung</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Down 2-0 and missing Taylor Hall, the Oilers comeback and win in a Shootout.</p> <p>Any wins you can get without your best player are big wins. It’s amplified when you’re playoff hopes are in danger in a shortened, competitive season. Just to heighten the drama, do it when you get down 2 goals to a team you are chasing for the playoffs.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Oilers</a> were full value for this win. They were a bit unlucky to be down early, especially since I thought they had the better of the chances in the first 2 periods. The only real downside is that Phoenix was able to pick up a loser point.</p>
<p><object width="640" height="383" id="embed" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://nhl.cdn.neulion.net/u/videocenter-v1/embed.swf">
<param name="quality" value="high">
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always">
<param name="flashVars" value="hlg=20122013,2,252&server=http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/&pageurl=http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/&nlwa=http://app2.neulion.com/videocenter/nhl/">
<embed name="embed" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://nhl.cdn.neulion.net/u/videocenter-v1/embed.swf" mce_src="http://nhl.cdn.neulion.net/u/videocenter-v1/embed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="383" quality="high" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="hlg=20122013,2,252&server=http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/&pageurl=http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/&nlwa=http://app2.neulion.com/videocenter/nhl/"></embed></object> </p>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.boysonthebus.com/2013/02/23/game-notes-oilersyotes-feb-23/" target="new">Michael Parkatti's Corsi Report</a></div>
<h3>Game Notes</h3>
<p>Oilers in general had the better of the play for most of the 1st, but he Phoenix goal was the result of a terrible zone exit by Ales Hemsky. <span>Justin Schultz</span> sent the puck around the boards to Hemsky who got closed off at the top of the zone. Instead of chipping it out or sending it back, Hemsky tries a little spin move and turns the puck over. <span>Sam Gagner</span> and <span>Teemu Hartikainen</span> had a chance to force the play at the blueline and neither did. They proceeded to let the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Coyotes</a> 4th line hem them in and then score. By eye, this line has run into most of its problems because of poor zone exits and this was another example of that.</p>
<p>When you don’t watch him for a while, you can forget how fast <span>Ryan Jones</span> is. There is <a href="http://www.coppernblue.com/2011/11/9/2550985/oil-observations-from-week-4" target="new">good Ryan Jones</a> and bad Ryan Jones and tonight was good Ryan Jones. He was playing in all 3 zones (though he was cheating at the Phoenix blueline for that 2 on 1 and the following sequence). When you’ve got a guy who can handle the puck and has some wheels like he does, you need him to help the puck in the D zone. The issue for him is that his counting numbers suffer, so he ends up cheating for offense.</p>
<p><span>Ryan Smyth</span> is no <span>Taylor Hall</span> and it was obvious in how much time that line spent in the offensive zone, but he filled in well enough and has showed over his past few games that he can still be a top 6 player. I’d like to see Krueger try him on a line with Gagner and Hemsky and see if he can get that line back into the black. I thought Krueger did some great bench management when he sat Smyth for a shift or 2 after he played a bunch on the PK and PP in the 3rd.</p>
<p>The difference between <a href="http://www.coppernblue.com/2011/10/27/2517546/oil-observations-from-week-2" target="new">.940sv% Nikolai Khabibulin</a> and .890% Khabibulin is whether he stops the rebounds he kicks out. I don’t think I’ve seen a goaltender less willing to use his stick to deflect pucks into the corner and it inevitably results in a lot of rebounds that other goaltenders don’t give up. I counted 9 shots that were into Khabibulin’s body that ended up bouncing into a dangerous area. He also got a bit lucky with some quick whistles as there were at least 2 where the whistle was blown while the puck was still loose.</p>
<p><span>Nail Yakupov</span> is touted as a big time goal scorer, but he’s going to make a lot of hay in the NHL doing what he did on the <span>Jordan Eberle</span> goal. He won a race to the puck, and like all the great offensive players, knew what was going on behind him. A lot of players simply curl to look for a play in the slot or behind the net and <span>Keith Yandle</span> was playing that. Yakupov sold the curl until the last second where he did a little touch backhand. That play wouldn’t have been possible 10 years ago because Yandle would have had his stick all over Yakupov’s hands.</p>
<p>The last 2 Oiler wins have seen an important 3rd period goal scored by a guy who hadn’t played much. <span>Magnus Paajarvi</span> scored against Colorado and Teemu Hartikainen did it against the Coyotes. The touch pass by Smyth was fantastic, as was the initial pass/shot by Justin Schultz. The Oilers have stopped relying on the half boards setup with <span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span> and their PP has been less predictable and are generating better chances.</p>
<p>I’m not sure I like the Oilers going with 4 forwards on the PP in OT, and I don’t think I would have said that aside from the Pronger season. The group generated some good chances, but the Coyotes didn’t really have to respect the play from the point, so they cheated their triangle more towards their net.</p>
<p>The goals by Gagner and Eberle in the shootout are basically unstoppable. The little fake shot Gagner put on gives him so many options because almost every goalie will bite a little bit. He faked it and then made a move to get <span>Mike Smith</span> moving one way, then he just cut back. The only way a goalie stops it is if he doesn’t bite on the fake shot. Eberle went about it differently, he made a forehand fake and went backhand and put it right in the top of the net. Not a lot of guys can get the backhand up like that. Khabibulin stopped both shootout attempts, by simply reading the play. <span>Mikkel Boedker</span> stayed on the right side of the ice and Khabibulin just stayed with him. David Runblad sold shot all the way and didn’t put it anywhere near high enough.</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/24/4024296/comeback-oilers-beat-coyotes-in-shootoutdawgbone982013-02-23T13:04:27-07:002013-02-23T13:04:27-07:00Game Thread: Coyotes @ Oilers
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/81qk-gw1L8VSziB_u1Oi9MM2nbE=/0x267:4000x2934/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8606141/162162251.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Derek Leung</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oilers</a> need 40 points in their next 32 games to make the playoffs, a tall order for a team with 15 points in 16 games. If they win today and go 4-4-1 on the road trip (another tall order) they will still need 29 points in their final 22 games to make the playoffs. Even the most confident of Oilers fans can't be optimistic.</p>
<p>If they finish 9th or 10th, I think Steve Tambellini saves his job. If they collapse, as is their custom, and finish with 37-42 points, and 13th, 14th or 15th in the conference, Tambellini can't survive. Win today and try to break even on a long road trip. Lose today, and it very well could spell the end of Steve Tambellini. No pressure.</p>
<h3>Team Reports</h3>
<p><strong>Oilers Report:</strong> <span class="sbn-auto-link">The team's best player is in the press box after a questionable hit in the <a href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Wild</a> game. The team's best centre is still on IR with a sunken knuckle. The team's defensive depth is still a mess. But they get Ryan Jones back, so there's that. </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes" class="sbn-auto-link">Coyotes</a> </span></span>Report:</strong> The Coyotes look like a playoff team again, but will be without <span>Radim Vrbata</span> and <span>Derek Morris</span>, though the latter is actually good news for Coyotes fans.</p>
<h3>Expected Line Combinations</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ryan Smyth</span></span></span></span> - <span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span> - <span>Jordan Eberle</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span><span style="color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span style="color: #292929;"></span> </span></font><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link">Teemu Hartikainen</span></span></span></span></font></span></span></font></span></span> </span></span></font>- <font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span>Sam Gagner</span></span></font> - <font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span>Ales Hemsky</span></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ben Eager</span></span></span></font> - <font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span>Eric Belanger</span></span></font> - <span>Ryan Jones</span><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span><span style="color: #292929;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Magnus Paajarvi</span></span></span> <font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></span></font></span></span></font>- <span>Chris VandeVelde</span> -<span style="color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"> </span></font></span></span><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span style="color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></span></font></span></span></font></span></span><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Teemu Hartikainen</span></span></span></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>Justin Schultz</span> - <font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span>Nick Schultz</span></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ladislav Smid</span></span></span></font> - <span>Jeff Petry</span></p>
<p align="justify" style="text-align: center;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Mark Fistric</span></span> - <span>Corey Potter</span><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Nikolai Khabibulin</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Scratches</strong>: <span>Taylor Hall</span><span style="color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></span>, <span>Theo Peckham</span><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"></span></font>, <span>Ryan Whitney</span></p>
<h3>Broadcast Information</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">Rexall Place, 1:30 pm MST</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">TV - Sportsnet</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Radio - 630 CHED</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers-tickets/?brandid=sbnation_coppernblue" target="_blank">Tickets</a></div>
<h3>By The Numbers</h3>
<p><em>Courtesy Jake Pringle.</em></p>
<p><strong>First Six Games (4-2-0):</strong></p>
<p></p>
<ul>
<li>12 PP goals on 32 chances (37.5% efficiency)</li>
<li>PP goals made up 75% of total offense</li>
<li>Scored at least one PP goal in each game</li>
<li>Team shooting% of 9.52%</li>
<li>16 goals for (2.66 per game)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Last Ten Games (2-5-3):</strong></p>
<p></p>
<ul>
<li>6 PP goals on 40 chances (15% efficiency)</li>
<li>PP goals made up 30% of total offense</li>
<li>Scored at least one PP goal in 5 of 10 games (1-3-1 without a PP goal)</li>
<li>Team shooting% of 6.89%</li>
<li>20 goals for (2 per game)</li>
</ul>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/23/4021732/game-thread-phoenix-coyotes-at-edmonton-oilers-stop-the-bleedingDerek Zona2013-02-23T12:10:13-07:002013-02-23T12:10:13-07:00Coyotes @ Oilers Lines & Pairings
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q7oJM6q3wQqDLOkiqZlCz3QZ6WY=/0x38:476x355/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8603013/gyi0061659253.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Oilers need to salvage a game from this homestand</p> <p>Check back throughout the day as we'll post updates when they become available.</p>
<p>The Oilers expected lineup based on recent practices and team updates:</p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget injuries clearfix">
<h3>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> Lineup</h3>
<div class="pane-body">
<h4>FORWARDS</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">LW</th> <th>C</th> <th>RW</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ryan Smyth</span></span></span><br></span></td>
<td class="td-first"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span><br></span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Jordan Eberle</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">
<span>Teemu Hartikainen</span><br>
</td>
<td class="td-first"><span>Sam Gagner</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Ales Hemsky</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ben Eager</span><br></span></td>
<td class="td-first"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Eric Belanger</span></span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ryan Jones</span></span><br></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Nail Yakupov</span></span></span><br></span></td>
<td class="td-first"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Chris VandeVelde</span><br></span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Magnus Paajarvi</span></span></span><br></span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>DEFENSE</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">LD</th> <th>RD</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Ladislav Smid</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Jeff Petry</span></span><br></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Nick Schultz</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Justin Schultz</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Mark Fistric</span><br></span></td>
<td class="td-last">Corey Potter</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>GOALTENDER</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first"><br></th> <th>G</th> <th><br></th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody><tr>
<td class="td-first"><br></td>
<td class="td-first">
<span>Nikolai Khabibulin</span><br>
</td>
<td class="td-last"><br></td>
</tr></tbody>
</table>
<h4>SCRATCHES</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first"><br></th> <th><br></th> <th><br></th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ryan Whitney</span><br></span></span></td>
<td><br></td>
<td class="td-last">D</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Taylor Hall</span></span><br></span></td>
<td><br></td>
<td class="td-last">F</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Corey Potter</span><br></span></td>
<td><br></td>
<td class="td-last">D</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p> </p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Coyotes</a> expected lineup based on recent practices and team updates:</p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget injuries clearfix">
<h3>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> Lineup</h3>
<div class="pane-body">
<h4>FORWARDS</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">LW</th> <th>C</th> <th>RW</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Mikkel Boedker</span></td>
<td class="td-first"><span>Antoine Vermette</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Shane Doan</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Lauri Korpikoski</span></td>
<td class="td-first"><span>Martin Hanzal</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Steve Sullivan</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Raffi Torres</span></td>
<td class="td-first"><span>Boyd Gordon</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>David Moss</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Paul Bissonnette</span></td>
<td class="td-first"><span>Kyle Chipchura</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Nick Johnson</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>DEFENSE</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">LD</th> <th>RD</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Keith Yandle</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Rostislav Klesla</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">Zybnek Michalek</td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Oliver Ekman-Larsson</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>David Rundblad</span></td>
<td class="td-first"><span>Chris Summers</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>GOALTENDER</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first"><br></th> <th>G</th> <th><br></th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody><tr>
<td class="td-first"><br></td>
<td class="td-first"><span>Mike Smith</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><br></td>
</tr></tbody>
</table>
<h4>SCRATCHES</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first"><br></th> <th><br></th> <th><br></th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody><tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Derek Morris</span></td>
<td><br></td>
<td class="td-last">D</td>
</tr></tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/23/4021734/coyotes-oilers-lines-and-pairingsCopper and Blue Staff2013-02-23T06:15:04-07:002013-02-23T06:15:04-07:00Coyotes @ Oilers Preview
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TjxZGD4hsACDAvSH81NYupQPxQw=/0x16:1000x683/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8584987/135868952.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Oilers need to play .610 hockey to make the playoffs. With a 9-game roadtrip looming, that looks impossible.</p> <center>
<table style="text-align: center;" align="center" border="2"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2220411/TMav.gif"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2220411/TMav.gif" alt="Tuscon Mavericks" height="125" width="164"></a></td>
<td><center> <b></b>
<h1 align="center">@</h1>
</center></td>
<td><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2220427/SGSaints.jpg"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2220427/SGSaints.jpg" alt="Spruce Grove Saints" height="125" width="157"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>8-6-2, 1.25 p/g<br></b></td>
<td></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>6-7-3, .938 p/g</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Western Conf: 7th</td>
<td></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Western Conf: 13th</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br><b><b>1:30 p.m. MST</b><b> | Sportsnet</b></b>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b>Rexall Place</b></b><br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers-tickets/?brandid=sbnation_coppernblue">Tickets</a><br>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The opposing view</b>: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fiveforhowling.com/">Five For Howling</a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<p><b>Top Story:</b> <span class="sbn-auto-link">The 2013 season is perilously close to over for the Edmonton Oilers. The five-game homestand that was supposed to solidify the Oilers as a playoff contender before their 9-game road trip has been a disaster. The Oilers are 1-3 through the first four games and host Phoenix in the fifth and final game. They'll take on the Coyotes without <span>Taylor Hall</span> and Shawn Horcoff, a tall order for a team that has slipped all the way to the bottom of the conference. The Oilers need to fight on, not collapse like so many seasons before. Look for <span>Magnus Paajarvi</span> to move to the <span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span> line to replace Hall while Hall serves his suspension. Paajarvi has been all over the lineup for the Oilers so far but this is his first audition in the spotlight.</span></p>
<p>The Coyotes keep doing what they do. Despite being trapped in one of the worst ownership situations in league history, they remain a lock in the 5-8 battle for the playoffs. Except for signing Derek Morris, Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney has pulled all of the right strings in building a bargain-basement, but very competitive team. They lack an offensive superstar, but have one of the best defensemen in the league in Oliver-Ekman Larsson.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/T6hy1muBzX0" frameborder="0" height="360" width="480"></iframe></p>
<p><b>The Oilers are saying</b>:</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We need to start positioning ourselves for the reality of the next few weeks"</p>
</blockquote>
<p>--Edmonton coach <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/coyotes-oilers-preview-192842738--nhl.html">Ralph Krueger on the upcoming road trip</a>. True to form the Oilers have planned and prepared for the season far later than they should.</p>
<p><b>The Opponent is saying</b>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It’s fun to get compared to him, but I’m not even close to him. I watched him a lot when I was younger and when we played against him. I met him my first year at the All-Star Game and talked to him a little bit. It was awesome. It meant a lot to me. He’s a great guy."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>--<span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Oliver Ekman-Larsson</span>, addressing </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013/02/15/phoenix_coyotes_oliver_ekman_larsson_lidstrom_shane_doan/?site=www">the Nicklas Lidstrom comparisons.</a><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link">Ekman-Larsson is that good. </span></p>
<p><b>Key matchup:</b> Who will step up for the Oilers with Taylor Hall in the press box?<a target="_blank" href="http://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/13/3985812/jordan-eberle-ryan-nugent-hopkins-depend-on-taylor-hall"> I've written extensively</a> about Hall's impact on <span>Jordan Eberle</span> and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - can they hang on without Hall pulling them along? Or will <span>Sam Gagner</span> finally break up his terrible possession streak? The Oilers have little chance in the next two games without Hall if Hopkins can't fend for himself and Gagner continues to falter. Unless the Oilers can somehow force Dave Tippett to triple-shift Derek Morris, the key matchup is the Oilers versus their own shortcomings.</p>
<p></p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget injuries clearfix">
<h3>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> Injuries</h3>
<div class="pane-body">
<h4>Questionable</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">Player</th> <th>Injury Type</th> <th>Injury Date</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Jeff Petry</span></td>
<td>Hip</td>
<td class="td-last">02/15/2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Justin Schultz</span></td>
<td>back</td>
<td class="td-last">02/15/2013</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">Player</th> <th>Injury Type</th> <th>Injury Date</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">
<span>Ryan Jones</span><br>
</td>
<td>eye</td>
<td class="td-last">01/18/2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Andy Sutton</span></td>
<td>knee</td>
<td class="td-last">01/16/2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Anton Lander</span></td>
<td>foot</td>
<td class="td-last">02/07/2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Shawn Horcoff</span></td>
<td>Knuckle</td>
<td class="td-last">02/04/2013</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p> </p>
<p></p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget injuries clearfix">
<h3>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> Injuries</h3>
<div class="pane-body">
<h4>Questionable</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">Player</th> <th>Injury Type</th> <th>Injury Date</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Derek Morris</span></td>
<td>other-excused</td>
<td class="td-last">02/22/2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Radim Vrbata</span></td>
<td>other-excused</td>
<td class="td-last">02/22/2013</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">Player</th> <th>Injury Type</th> <th>Injury Date</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>David Schlemko</span></td>
<td>shoulder</td>
<td class="td-last">02/05/2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Matthew Lombardi</span></td>
<td>shoulder</td>
<td class="td-last">01/25/2013</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p><br id="1361623952789"></p>
<div class="pane widget freeform_html clearfix">
<script src="http://widgets.twimg.com/j/2/widget.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"><!--
new TWTR.Widget({
version: 2,
type: 'list',
rpp: 30,
interval: 30000,
title: '',
subject: 'Edmonton Oilers on Twitter',
width: 'auto',
height: 340,
theme: {
shell: {
background: '#cc6600',
color: '#ffffff'
},
tweets: {
background: '#ffffff',
color: '#444444',
links: '#948219'
}
},
features: {
scrollbar: true,
loop: false,
live: true,
hashtags: true,
timestamp: true,
avatars: true,
behavior: 'all'
}
}).render().setList('CopperandBlue', 'oilers-on-twitter').start();
// --></script>
</div>
<p><br id="1361001004183"></p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/23/4020352/fight-on-phoenix-coyotes-at-edmonton-oilers-game-17-previewDerek Zona