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Oilers hope to avoid tying team mark for consecutive losses

Mar 19, 2007 - 2:28 PM Vancouver (43-23-6) at Edmonton (30-35-7) 9:00 pm EST

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- The recent downfall of the Edmonton Oilers has increased the gray hairs on coach Craig MacTavish's head.

The defending Western Conference champion Oilers look to snap their 10-game losing streak when they continue a six-game homestand with Monday's showdown against the Vancouver Canucks.

A winner of three Cups as a player with the Oilers, MacTavish has seen his team fail to post a victory since February 23 against the Detroit Red Wings. Another defeat will tie the franchise record for consecutive losses set from October 16-November 7, 1993.

Edmonton has been shut out three times and outscored, 37-9, during the skid that has brought them close to elimination from postseason contention.

After nine straight regulation defeats, the Oilers finally managed a point in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. Shawn Horcoff scored his 16th goal and Kyle Brodziak netted his first of the season.

Things are much more positive for Vancouver, which is three wins shy of tying the single-season franchise mark set in 1992-1993.

The Canucks are 7-1-1 in their last nine contests and have a one-point lead over the Minnesota Wild (42-24-7) for first place in the Northwest Division.

Vancouver defeated the Detroit Red Wings for the third time in four meetings this season with Saturday's 4-1 triumph. Brendan Morrison scored his 19th goal, Daniel Sedin had two assists and netminder Roberto Luongo recorded his team-record 41st win.

Sedin has seven goals against the Oilers this season, including a hat trick for the Canucks in a 5-2 victory on February 6. Vancouver has taken five of the first seven encounters against Edmonton.