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Blue Jackets look for signs of life against Oilers

Dec 2, 2006 - 4:48 PM Columbus (6-16-2) at Edmonton (13-9-2) 8:00 pm EST

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- Columbus Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock is having the same run of misfortune he had with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Hitchcock continues to seek answers for the Blue Jackets, who go for just their second win in 12 contests Saturday when they continue their five-game road trip against the Edmonton Oilers.

Fired by the Flyers after they lost seven of their first eight games in October, Hitchcock has dropped three of his first four contests with Columbus. The Blue Jackets are last in the league in wins (six), points (14) and goals (51).

Ron Hainsey scored his first goal in 12 games and second of the season in the first period for Columbus in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Playing the finale of a seven-game homestand, the Oilers have lost two straight after four consecutive victories. Edmonton has a one-point lead over the Minnesota Wild in the Northwest Division, where all five teams are separated by three points.

Ryan Smyth scored his 16th goal and Joffrey Lupul added his eighth for Edmonton, which set a season high in goals allowed in Thursday's 7-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Smythe scored twice and Joffrey Lupul and Alex Hemsky added tallies for the Oilers in a 4-1 triumph over Columbus when the teams last met November 10.