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Oilers return home to face Blues

Nov 16, 2006 - 2:19 PM St Louis (5-9-3) at Edmonton (9-8-1) 9:00 pm EST

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) - After a five-game road trip, the Edmonton Oilers begin a six-game homestand Thursday with a rematch against the St. Louis Blues.

On Sunday, St. Louis defeated Edmonton, 5-3, behind two goals from Martin Rucinsky and a goal and an assist from Lee Stempniak.

Brad Winchester led the Oilers with two goals in the defeat.

The Oilers finished up their trip on a good note, defeating the Colorado Avalanche on Monday, 2-1. Edmonton trailed before Ryan Smyth scored a shorthanded goal and a power-play goal just under two minutes apart in the second period.

Smyth was injured with 28 seconds left in the game when he was kneed by Colorado's John-Michael Liles. He leads the Oilers with 12 goals.

The Blues, losers of four of their last five games, try to rebound from a 3-0 blanking by the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

St. Louis outshot Calgary, 24-23, but went 0-for-5 on the power play. Blues netminder Curtis Sanford stopped three shots in the first period but was replaced by Manny Legace after suffering a strained groin.

Center Doug Weight, whom the Blues signed as a free agent, has not enjoyed his return to St. Louis. Weight still does not have a goal this season in 17 games.

The Blues, who are scoreless in their last 17 power-play opportunities, are 10-3-3 in their last 16 games against the Oilers.