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Oliers again try to halt losing streak vs. Blues

Mar 17, 2007 - 3:29 PM St. Louis (29-29-12) at Edmonton (30-35-6) 8:00 pm EST

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- Last season's run to the Stanley Cup final gradually is becoming a distant memory for the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers attempt to end a nine-game losing streak when they play the second contest of a six-game homestand Saturday against the St. Louis Blues.

Winless since February 23 against the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton has been shut out three times and outscored, 34-7, while failing to score on 27 power-play chances during the skid.

The Oilers are in the midst of their longest losing streak since October 16-November 7, 1993, and are moving closer to being eliminated from postseason contention.

One bright spot for Edmonton in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild was Robert Nilsson, who scored his first goal of the season in his debut with the Oilers. He was acquired from the New York Islanders in the trade for Ryan Smyth on February 27.

Playing the second of a three-game Western road trip, the Blues have dropped five of their last six contests. However, they are 22-12-8 under coach Andy Murray.

Jamal Mayers and Petr Cajanek scored in a 3:35 span of the third period to force overtime for St. Louis in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks.