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Oilers end trip with stop in the Big Apple

Nov 14, 2010 - 3:55 PM (Sports Network) - The Edmonton Oilers will try to end their five-game road trip on a positive note this afternoon, when they visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

The Oilers won the first test of this swing against Chicago last Sunday, but has gone winless since with an 0-2-1 mark. Edmonton picked up a point in its most recent outing, losing an overtime decision Friday to the New Jersey Devils.

Edmonton is tied for last in the NHL with 11 points this season and the club has just two wins in its last 13 games (2-8-3).

The Oilers dropped a 4-3 decision to the Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk won the game for New Jersey, scoring his first goal in eight games 3:27 into overtime. On the power play in the extra session, Patrik Elias and Henrik Tallinder played catch with the puck at the points, and Tallinder's pass from the left point to the left circle was one-timed into the net by Kovalchuk.

Colin Fraser scored twice while Sam Gagner also lit the lamp for the Oilers. Devan Dubnyk stopped 35 shots in the loss.

"We've improved on a lot of things that we haven't done good the past couple of games," said Dubnyk. "But when it comes down to it we didn't get the two points. Still, we battled hard and that showed tonight."

The Oilers hope to get a boost from the possible return of captain Shawn Horcoff today. Horcoff has missed the last three games with a right thigh injury, but it's expected that he will play this afternoon. Horcoff is tied for fourth on the team this season with nine points (4 goals, 5 assists).

Edmonton, which will play its next two games on home ice, is 2-4-3 as the visiting team this season.

Today also marks the first game back in New York for former Rangers and current Oilers head coach Tom Renney. Renney, who went 164-121-42 with the Rangers before being fired in February of 2009, is in his first year with the Oilers.

The Rangers, meanwhile, will try to complete a four-game homestand with a victory in today's matinee. New York was dealt consecutive regulation losses to begin the residency, but responded with an overtime victory Thursday against Buffalo.

Artem Anisimov's goal 1:32 into OT lifted the Rangers to the 3-2 win over the Sabres. Anisimov also scored in regulation along with Ruslan Fedotenko for the Rangers.

"It was a big win for us -- we played hard and we deserved to win," said Anisimov.

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, New York's regular starter, was scheduled to play but was a late scratch due to an illness. Martin Biron made the start instead and finished with 29 saves. Biron is expected to get another start today, as Lundqvist has not fully recovered from his illness.

Rangers forward Marian Gaborik returned to the lineup on Thursday after missing the previous 12 games with a separated shoulder. Gaborik, who led New York in 2009-10 with 42 goals and 86 points, had three shots on goal and logged 18 minutes, 40 seconds of ice time in his return.

The Rangers, who will play six of their next nine games on the road, are 3-5-1 as the host this season.

New York posted a 4-2 win in Edmonton in the only meeting between the clubs last season. The Oilers have taken three of five overall in the series and have also claimed victories in two of their last three trips to Manhattan.