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Ducks seeks answers to recent slump vs. Oilers

Jan 18, 2007 - 1:48 PM Anaheim (30-10-8) at Edmonton (22-20-4) 9:00 pm EST

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- Chris Pronger's absence continues to have a dramatic impact on the Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks again will be without the injured Pronger when they attempt to win for just the third time in nine games Thursday against his former team, the Edmonton Oilers.

After leading Edmonton to within one game of last season's Stanley Cup, Pronger asked to be traded to Anaheim, where he had seven goals and 33 assists in 41 games before breaking his left foot December 31. The Ducks are 2-4-2 since then.

Anaheim yielded four goals in the second period of Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Teemu Selanne scored his 29th goal, Corey Perry added his 13th and netminder Ilya Bryzgalov was lifted after allowing four tallies on 13 shots.

Despite being in last place in the Northwest Division, the Oilers have won three of their last five games and are just five points out of the top spot in the division.

Edmonton is coming off Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Former Duck Joffrey Lupul, who was acquired in the trade which sent Pronger to Edmonton, scored his 13th goal and Marc-Andre Bergeron added his seventh for the Oilers, who were outshot, 29-18.

After defeating Edmonton only once in their previous 12 matchups, the Ducks have won the first two meetings this season, including a 3-2 triumph here on November 28.