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Oilers to honor Messier before game vs. Coyotes

Feb 27, 2007 - 4:36 PM Phoenix (26-33-3) at Edmonton (30-27-6) 9:00 pm EST

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) - With Wayne Gretzky on hand, the Edmonton Oilers will honor Mark Messier before Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Messier will have his No. 11 retired by the Oilers, who are trying to get back into the playoffs after last year's surprising run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Appearances on hockey's brightest stage are familiar to Messier, who teamed with Gretzky - now the coach of the Coyotes - as the driving force behind the dynasty that won five championships from 1984-90. Messier was a member of all five title teams.

A bruising power forward, Messier played 12 years in Edmonton. The Hall of Famer totaled 1,887 points in 1,756 games and was the league's MVP in 1990 and 1992.

He also was the 1984 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, leading the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup while ending the New York Islanders' run of four straight titles.

The defending Western Conference champions, Edmonton is in ninth place, nine points out of the final playoff berth.

The Oilers finished a 2-4-1 road trip with a 4-1 loss to Minnesota on Sunday. Goaltender Dwayne Roloson is 3-4-0 in his last seven home starts despite allowing just 15 goals.

The Coyotes have lost three of four, including Monday's 5-2 setback to Calgary. Yanic Perreault scored to snap an eight-game goalless streak.

Phoenix is 1-2-0 vs. Edmonton this season, suffering a 5-2 loss in its only visit here October 23.