Oilers-Lightning pre-game notes
** fixed to include Lecavalier's goal from last night in his pts total.**
Edmonton has dropped its last four and is looking to get back on track prior to a three-game California road trip that begins on Friday. The Oilers are in a tie with St. Louis for 10th in the Western Conference.
With eight skaters out of the lineup, the Oilers’ depth is going to be put to the test once again this evening. However, the injury bug does help provide some opportunity to a player like Kyle Brodziak. Recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League yesterday, Brodziak will be initially slotted in to the top line alongside Raffi Torres and Shawn Horcoff.
Tonight marks the fourth game in the Lightning’s current season-long six-game road trip but prior to last night’s game in Vancouver the team returned home for a day in an effort to break up the monotony.
"It gives us an opportunity, knowing how many days we are going to be out there, to get them in their own bed so we are going to grab it," said Tortorella.
The Lightning have only one win in regulation since February 13 but have a record of 5-3-2 with four overtime victories since that time. Through the first three games of the trip, they have a shootout win plus a pair of losses.
ROSTER UPDATES: Edmonton — Toby Petersen (flu) is probable. Jarret Stoll (concussion) is out. Ethan Moreau (shoulder) is out. Tom Gilbert (concussion) is doubtful. Mathieu Roy (concussion) is questionable. Petr Nedved (knee) is out. Daniel Tjarnqvist (inflamed pubic bone) is out. Marty Reasoner (shoulder) is doubtful. Ales Hemsky (shoulder) is doubtful.
Tampa Bay – Andreas Karlsson (finger) is out. Rob DiMaio (concussion) is out.
OILERS TO WATCH: The line of Jean-Francois Jacques, Marc Pouliot and Fernando Pisani was the Oilers’ best line on Saturday night against Calgary. Jacques is still looking for his first career NHL goal but he’s getting closer. “Last two or three games I’ve had two posts and a couple of shots barely missed,” said Jacques. … Pisani has scored each of the Oilers’ last three goals including two on Saturday and one the previous Sunday in Minnesota. Pisani now has 14 goals, four less than his total of 18 from last season.
LIGHTNING TO WATCH: Tampa Bay has one of the league’s most potent offensive attacks. Vincent Lecavalier leads the league in goals with 43 and is tied for second in points with 89 with his teammate, Martin St. Louis who is tied for third in goals with 39… With 23 goals, former Conn Smythe Trophy winner Brad Richards also provides a consistent offensive threat every night and defenceman Dan Boyle is fifth in the NHL in goals for defencemen with 14 and sixth in points with 52.
FAST FACTS: Tampa is 2-5 in the second half of back-to-back games this season, having played in Vancouver last night… Lecavalier and St. Louis have both been dynamite on the road. Lecavalier has 51 points while St. Louis has 50. Both players have already eclipsed St. Louis’ franchise mark of 47 points set in 2003-04… Tampa is 10-2-1 in its last 13 road games… The Lightning has the league’s 29th ranked penalty kill at 77.7%. On the road, it’s even worse at 75.3%… Edmonton has scored 62 goals in the third period this season and also given up that same amount.
*** The Oilers will be wearing their 3rd jerseys for tonight's game.***
QUOTABLE: "Vinny said he couldn't breathe and I told him, 'Vinny, for what it's worth, while you were down, neither could I.'"
- Lightning General Manager Jay Feaster after star player Vincent Lecavalier had the wind knocked out of him in practice by defenceman Shane O’Brien.
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