What to expect in the NHL today.
Hot and cold
After a 6-2-1 start that surprised even the most optimistic fans in Edmonton, the Oilers have fallen on hard times—a tumble precipitated in equal parts by injuries, a three-week flu bug and listless play, both offensively and defensively. The Oilers have lost six of their last seven games—scoring only five goals in those six losses while being shut out three times—and play 11 of their next 16 games on the road. The one bright spot is the play of veteran Nikolai Khabibulin, who has posted a .910 save percentage despite being peppered by more shots than all but one goalie in the league. And it won't get any easier tonight when the Oilers play a red-hot Colorado team that has a hot goaltender of its own in Craig Anderson along with the best record in the Western Conference and a 6-0-0 mark on home ice. What a difference a year makes! The Avs will be trying to win their 13th game, a victory total they did not reach last season until Dec. 9.
Identity crises
Two 13-point teams searching for an identity meet this afternoon in Atlanta—both coming off Saturday night losses and both badly in need of a little success. Especially the St. Louis Blues, who have totaled two goals in their last four games and 22 in the 12 they have played since returning from a season-opening sweep of Detroit in Sweden. Only the solid play of goalie Steve Mason has kept St. Louis from sinking too deep in the standings. Because of Mason, the Blues picked up overtime points in each of their last two games, even though they managed only one goal in each. The Thrashers might be a perfect remedy for what ails the Blues. Atlanta is 1-4 on home ice, primarily because it has allowed 20 goals in those five games. The Thrashers, who are trying to find a little momentum with captain Ilya Kovalchuk out of the lineup, are 2-3 since his injury.
This story first appeared in the November 8 edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
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