Final
  for this game

Ducks-Oilers Preview

Feb 14, 2010 - 7:35 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Anaheim (29-25-7) at Edmonton (19-35-6), 7:00 p.m. EDT

If Ryan Getzlaf can make a quick recovery from his ankle injury, he'll be one of nine Anaheim Ducks to suit up at the Olympics.

First, the Ducks have a different goal in western Canada.

Anaheim will try to head into the Olympic break on a high note on Sunday as it looks to win its fourth straight trip to Edmonton, where the Oilers may be glad to finish a dismal two-month stretch.

Getzlaf hasn't played since injuring his left ankle Monday in a win over Los Angeles, and if he can't go Sunday, there will be major doubts about his status as one of the top centers for host Canada.

"We decided after the injury that we would give him as much time as he needed to determine whether he's ready to go or not," Team Canada general manager Steve Yzerman said, adding that "ideally we'd like to see him play" at Edmonton ahead of the Canadians' opener Tuesday night against Norway.

Getzlaf is still part of a large contingent of Ducks players chosen to skate in Vancouver, a list that also includes Finnish veterans Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne, Swiss goalie Jonas Hiller and Canadian captain Scott Niedermayer.

Considering that confluence of talent, the Ducks (29-25-7) must be disappointed to be tied for 11th place in the Western Conference. Anaheim had won five of six and 13 of 18 before Saturday's game at Calgary, but the Ducks' charge up the standings hit a snag with a 3-1 loss.

The Flames erased an early deficit and outshot Anaheim 38-27 - the third straight game the Ducks have allowed at least 37 shots. Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle pointed to his team's lack of presence in front of Calgary's net, a problem not helped by Getzlaf's injury.

"Anytime you're not in the goalie's face and screening him and getting those second and third opportunities, then he's having an easy night," Carlyle said. "You're not going to score on many NHL goalies from the blue line if he can see the puck all the time."

The Ducks have won a franchise-record 11 straight at home, but that's more victories than they have on the road this season. They're 10-17-5 away from Orange County, including 11 losses in their last 16 road games.

Anaheim has won three straight at Edmonton and four of its last six overall against the Oilers, but the Ducks were impressed by the NHL's last-place team on Wednesday, when they earned a 3-2 home win over Oilers despite being outshot 39-30.

U.S. Olympian Bobby Ryan scored twice for Anaheim and former Oilers center Todd Marchant had the game-winner with 11:39 left.

"Their record doesn't dictate the type of team that they have," Marchant said of Edmonton. "I mean, I've played with a lot of the guys over there and there's a lot of pride in the players in that room."

The Oilers (19-35-6) hope to go into the break with back-to-back victories and three straight home wins after a mostly horrific last two months. The team is 4-22-2 since Dec. 15.

Still, Edmonton went 2-0-0 on its last homestand, and it snapped an 11-game road losing streak with a 3-2 shootout win at Los Angeles on Thursday behind 41 saves from Jeff Deslauriers and ex-King Lubomir Visnovsky's goal in the 10th round.

"It was great to finally get a win. We needed that one, especially to close out the trip," center Gilbert Brule said. "I think we're working hard. Everyone's working for each other. ... I think overall we're playing pretty well right now."






  • 5
    roots
    MattDOOM777 Added 5 roots

    Ducks 7, Oilers 3  FinalFeb 15 3:43 AM


  • -------------------------------------------
    Anaheim
    2 1 4 --7
    Edmonton 1 1 1 --3
    -------------------------------------------

    FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Anaheim, Saku Koivu 12 (Teemu Selanne,
    Brett Festerling), 03:47. 2, Edmonton, Ryan Potulny 14 (power play)
    (Shawn Horcoff, Gilbert Brule), 06:03. 3, Anaheim, Corey Perry 22
    (Unassisted), 10:23. Penalties: M Brown

    Feb 14 9:40 PM


  • -------------------------------------------
    Anaheim
    2 1 4 --7
    Edmonton 1 1 1 --3
    -------------------------------------------

    FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Anaheim, Saku Koivu 12 (Teemu Selanne,
    Brett Festerling), 03:47. 2, Edmonton, Ryan Potulny 14 (power play)
    (Shawn Horcoff, Gilbert Brule), 06:03. 3, Anaheim, Corey Perry 22
    (Unassisted), 10:23. Penalties: M Brown

    Feb 14 9:38 PM


  • NHL
    ANAHEIM 7
    EDMONTON 3 01:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD

    Ducks 7, Oilers 3  3rd - 1:55Feb 14 9:36 PM


  • NHL
    ANAHEIM 6
    EDMONTON 3 03:02 LEFT, 3RD PRD

    Ducks 6, Oilers 3  3rd - 3:02Feb 14 9:33 PM


  • NHL
    ANAHEIM 5
    EDMONTON 3 13:11 LEFT, 3RD PRD

    Ducks 5, Oilers 3  3rd - 13:11Feb 14 9:12 PM


  • NHL
    ANAHEIM 5
    EDMONTON 2 13:54 LEFT, 3RD PRD

    Ducks 5, Oilers 2  3rd - 13:54Feb 14 9:11 PM


  • NHL
    ANAHEIM 4
    EDMONTON 2 14:33 LEFT, 3RD PRD

    Ducks 4, Oilers 2  3rd - 14:33Feb 14 9:08 PM


  • --------------------------------------
    Anaheim
    2 1 --3
    Edmonton 1 1 --2
    --------------------------------------

    FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Anaheim, Saku Koivu 12 (Teemu Selanne,
    Brett Festerling), 03:47. 2, Edmonton, Ryan Potulny 14 (power play)
    (Shawn Horcoff, Gilbert Brule), 06:03. 3, Anaheim, Corey Perry 22
    (Unassisted), 10:23. Penalties: M Brown, Ana (major fightin

    Feb 14 8:41 PM


  • NHL
    ANAHEIM 3
    EDMONTON 2 00:56 LEFT, 2ND PRD

    Ducks 3, Oilers 2  2nd - 0:56Feb 14 8:40 PM


  • NHL
    ANAHEIM 3
    EDMONTON 1 14:29 LEFT, 2ND PRD

    Ducks 3, Oilers 1  2nd - 14:29Feb 14 8:12 PM


  • ---------------------------------
    Anaheim
    2 --2
    Edmonton 1 --1
    ---------------------------------

    FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Anaheim, Saku Koivu 12 (Teemu Selanne,
    Brett Festerling), 03:47. 2, Edmonton, Ryan Potulny 14 (power play)
    (Shawn Horcoff, Gilbert Brule), 06:03. 3, Anaheim, Corey Perry 22
    (Unassisted), 10:23. Penalties: M Brown, Ana (major fighting), 3:29;
    L Smid, Ed

    Feb 14 7:45 PM


  • NHL
    ANAHEIM 2
    EDMONTON 1 09:37 LEFT, 1ST PRD

    Ducks 2, Oilers 1  1st - 9:37Feb 14 7:28 PM


  • NHL
    ANAHEIM 1
    EDMONTON 1 13:57 LEFT, 1ST PRD

    Ducks 1, Oilers 1  1st - 13:57Feb 14 7:20 PM


  • NHL
    ANAHEIM 1
    EDMONTON 0 16:13 LEFT, 1ST PRD

    Ducks 1, Oilers 0  1st - 16:13Feb 14 7:16 PM