Blue Jackets 0 - 3 Oilers
Final
  for this game

Edmonton aims to bounce back vs. Blue Jackets

Mar 14, 2012 - 3:04 PM (Sports Network) - Edmonton's latest effort earned the club some harsh words from its head coach.

Tom Renney hopes that his words have lit a spark under his struggling squad as the Oilers try to avoid a sixth straight home setback this evening against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Edmonton began a five-game homestand on Monday with a 3-2 loss to San Jose. The Oilers never led in the game and allowed two power-play goals while getting outshot 33-22 in their seventh loss in nine games.

Taylor Hall and Ryan Whitney scored the goals and Devan Dubnyk made 30 saves in defeat.

"Right now, it just seems like we're a little tentative ... you're not really getting anything done offensively," said Edmonton captain Shawn Horcoff.

Renney took it a step further.

"It doesn't take many (players) for the wrong approach, the wrong attitude, the wrong (expletive) to make its way through your dressing room. It doesn't take many guys at all," Renney said.

"We have a few people who need to look in the mirror here. Because this is unacceptable. You're the Edmonton Oilers. You're a millionaire. You have an opportunity to play the game. I went to a funeral yesterday. They had a day off. Suck it up and play hockey."

Renney will get to see how his club responds tonight against a Blue Jackets team that had won four straight before getting swept in a home-and-home set by the Blues over the weekend. Columbus' win streak was halted with a 4-1 loss in St. Louis on Saturday before it dropped a 2-1 home decision the next day.

Curtis Sanford made 24 saves and Mark Letestu had the lone goal for the Blue Jackets. Letestu has three goals and two assists over a four-game point streak after being held without a point in five consecutive games.

The Blue Jackets, though, couldn't solve Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak and went 0-for-8 on the power play.

"Tonight, I thought we created a lot of scoring chances, but Halak was very good," Blue Jackets interim head coach Todd Richards said. "They had the edge last night, but tonight I thought we played right with them."

The Blue Jackets and Oilers have split a pair of meetings so far this year, though Columbus has won six of the past nine encounters overall.

Edmonton has taken the last three home meetings versus Columbus.






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