Blackhawks aim to deal hapless Oilers another loss

Hockey Betting Lines

01/26/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Edmonton Oilers blew a golden chance to halt their longest losing streak in nearly three years last time out. Now Edmonton carries a 10-game skid into tonight's meeting with the Western Conference's current second seed, the Chicago Blackhawks, at Rexall Place.

Edmonton's current streak is its longest since a 12-game slide from February 25-March 21, 2007 and is part of a span of 17 losses in its last 18 games. The Oilers have also lost the first two tests of a four-game homestand and blew a great opportunity last Friday versus a Dallas Stars club that had lost 10 straight on the road.

The Oilers' Sam Gagner tallied his second goal of the game with 1:02 left in regulation to even things up, but Dallas' James Neal scored with 22.2 seconds left to deal Edmonton a crushing 4-3 setback.

"It's just not good enough. We can battle back all we want, if we lose the game it doesn't matter," said Ryan Potulny, who scored the Oilers' other goal on the power play. "It's not enough to just battle back. We have to win these games."

Devan Dubnyk made 28 saves for the Oilers, who have also lost six straight and 13 of their last 14 at home. Robert Nilsson and Dustin Penner each had two assists.

Edmonton, which hasn't won since December 30 versus Toronto, is now last in the NHL with 38 points, one back of Carolina.

Oilers forward Gilbert Brule has missed the last six games due to flu-like symptoms, but could return tonight. However, Gagner suffered a knee injury versus the Stars and is questionable, while defensemen Ladislav Smid and Steve Staios have concussions.

The Oilers will need all the help they can get as they host the Central Division-leading Blackhawks, who have 74 points and are four back of the San Jose Sharks for the most in the NHL.

Chicago, though, is 3-2-0 on a season-long eight-game road trip and are coming off Saturday's 5-1 setback to Vancouver.

Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi gave up three goals on 12 shots in the first period before getting pulled from the game. Cristobal Huet made 14 saves the rest of the way and Jonathan Toews scored Chicago's lone goal.

"We've found way to come back on teams many times before, but you can't put yourself in that situation and expect to win," said Toews of being down 3-0 after 20 minutes.

Huet is expected to get the start tonight, and he is 3-1-0 with a 1.76 goals- against average versus the Oilers. He stopped 25-of-27 shots in a 5-2 win over the Oilers at Edmonton on November 21, the Blackhawks' second win over tonight's opponent in as many meetings this season and fifth in the last six overall matchups in this series.

Toews had two goals and an assist in that victory for Chicago, which has won three straight at Rexall Place.

It is unknown who will start in net for Edmonton tonight, but Jeff Deslauriers made his first-ever appearance versus Chicago in that November meeting and stopped 25 of the 30 shots he faced.

Dubnyk has never before faced Chicago.

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