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Oilers continue critical road trip against Sabres

Feb 15, 2007 - 3:19 PM Edmonton (28-25-4) at Buffalo (38-15-4) 7:00 pm EST

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- The Edmonton Oilers continue their longest road trip of the season with a game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

The defending Western Conference champions have 60 points, seven behind the Minnesota Wild for the final playoff spot. The Oilers started the seven-game trip with a 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Goaltender Dwayne Roloson made 20 saves in the loss. He is 2-1-0 in his last three games with four goals against.

The Sabres have 80 points, the second most in the NHL, and are 4-1-0 in their last five games. Center Daniel Briere scored the game-tying goal in the third period of a 3-2 shootout win over the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

Briere, the Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game, had nine goals and 13 assists in his last 17 games.

Thomas Vanek, second on Buffalo with 29 goals, also scored against the Flames. He has four goals in his last three games.

Ales Kotalik netted the decisive goal in the shootout, but has just one tally in regulation or overtime in his last 11 contests.

Edmonton has scored a league-low 54 goals on the road this season. Buffalo's 108 goals at home is the most in the league.