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Oilers open homestand against Blackhawks

Feb 9, 2011 - 4:10 PM (Sports Network) - Seeking consecutive victories for the first time in over two months, the Edmonton Oilers hope to snap a five-game home losing streak to the Chicago Blackhawks in the opener of a six-game residency tonight at Rexall Place.

The Oilers halted a four-game slide with a 4-0 victory at Nashville on Monday, with Devan Dubnyk making 37 saves for his first career shutout. The 24-year- old netminder was tested early, making 16 saves in the first period while leading Edmonton to just its second victory in the last 11 games.

"Dooby did a good job of keeping us in there," said Edmonton forward Shawn Horcoff.

Jim Vandermeer, Dustin Penner, Andrew Cogliano and Ryan Jones all scored for the Oilers, who are aiming to win back-to-back games for the first time since a four-game run from Nov. 29-Dec. 4.

Edmonton, which is still last in the NHL with 40 points, has also lost four straight and eight of its last nine at Rexall Place, where it hasn't bested the Blackhawks since Feb. 6, 2008.

The Oilers did record a pair of victories in Chicago earlier this year, but were defeated at home by the Blackhawks, 5-0, on Nov. 17. Jonathan Toews had a hat trick and Marty Turco made 18 saves as the 'Hawks beat the Oilers for the fifth time in seven meetings overall.

Chicago is likely to face Dubnyk tonight given his recent shutout as well as fellow goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin's personal 13-game losing streak.

Edmonton will also be without head coach Tom Renney for tonight's game as well as Saturday's contest against Ottawa as he will be away from the team to take care of family matters following the passing of his father last week. Associate coach Ralph Krueger will take his place on the bench.

Turco had started the Blackhawks' first two games after the All-Star break before Corey Crawford got the call in Monday's 3-1 setback in Calgary. Crawford made 25 saves as Chicago lost its second straight and for the fourth time in five games.

The Blackhawks trailed by just a goal late in the third, but Brent Seabrook took an unsportsmanlike conduct with 1:14 to play and Calgary netted an empty- net goal.

"That was an undisciplined penalty that you can't take," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville on Seabrook's gaffe. "I don't mind having an attitude and you're upset about what's going on, but that was not a good one."

Patrick Kane potted the lone goal for Chicago, which hasn't lost three straight since Dec. 11-15 and is now three points behind Calgary for the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

Chicago has lost two of three to begin a six-game road trip and has lost seven of its last 10 overall on the road.