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Oilers hit road to take on Blues

Feb 5, 2009 - 11:21 AM Edmonton (25-22-3) at St. Louis (21-24-5) 8:30 p.m. EST

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- After playing just three road games in the month of January, the Edmonton Oilers will begin a span of seven away games in their next eight contests with a visit to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

The Oilers will hope to avoid a three-game losing streak and gain ground in the crowded bottom half of the Western Conference standings that have 10 points separating the last-Blues and fifth-place Anaheim.

A visit to St. Louis could be a good start to the two-week stretch for Edmonton, which has won its last five matchups with the Central Division foe.

A goal-scoring draught has led Edmonton to three losses in its last four since the All-Star break, including a pair of one-goal performances in losses to Nashville and Chicago.

Ethan Moreau scored the first goal of the game but the Blackhawks scored three unanswered against Dwayne Roloson in skating to a 3-1 win Tuesday.

The Oilers will be without defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, who left Tuesday's game in the third period with a dislocated shoulder.

"He'll be out a period of time," Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish said. "I don't even want to guess."

The Blues are 4-1-1 in their last five games and are coming off a 4-2 win at Columbus on Tuesday.

Brad Boyes recorded two goals and an assist and Jay McClement added both an even-strength and empty-net goal in the win.