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Coyotes seek to solve offensive woes in rematch with Oilers

Oct 26, 2006 - 1:21 PM Edmonton (6-3-0) at Phoenix (2-8-0) 10:00 pm EDT

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) - With the way the Phoenix Coyotes have played lately, it's too bad coach Wayne Gretzky no longer can suit up and play.

"The Great One" continues to search for ways to guide his team out of its recent offensive drought as the Coyotes try to snap a four-game slide Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers.

After scoring six goals in an opening night victory the New York Islanders, Phoenix has dropped eight of its last nine, including back-to-back shutouts against the Los Angeles Kings and the Dallas Stars.

The Coyotes are last in the Western Conference in victories, goals allowed and points, and have been outscored, 44-19, this season.

Owen Nolan scored his second goal of the campaign in the first period before Phoenix surrendered four consecutive tallies en route to Tuesday's 6-1 defeat to the Calgary Flames.

Edmonton, Gretzky's original team as a player, had a three-game winning streak snapped with Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

Jarret Stoll recorded his third career multi-goal game for the Oilers, who have lost three of their four road contests this season.

Petr Sykora, who leads the team in scoring with 13 points, collected a goal and three assists and Ales Hemsky added two assists to lead Edmonton in Monday's 5-2 triumph over Phoenix.