St. Louis Blues likely to make short work of struggling Edmonton Oilers - NHL Preview
The St. Louis Blues will be happy with facing the Edmonton Oilers as they welcome the struggling Canadian club to the Scottrade Center on Thursday, January 19, 2012.
Blues are surging and are in good knick coming into this game winning six out of their previous seven games as they move up to the fifth number spot in the Western Conference with a 27-12-6 record and 60 points.
Blues’ coach, Ken Hitchcock, wants his team to continue their run and take as many points as they can, moving into the 70’s over their next few games.
"Getting into the 60s is good", Hitchcock said. "If we can quickly plow a way and get through the 70s now, there's light at the end of the tunnel. For me, it's about the points".
St. Louis will be more than a match for the visitors and their home form attests to that fact with a record of 19-3-3 on home ice.
Goaltender, Brian Elliot, was recently given a new two-year contract on the back of his impressive performances in front of goal as the Blues’ defence gives up a miserly average of two goals-per-game, ranking second in the National Hockey League’s (NHL)
average goals per-game rankings.
The Oilers on the other hand, have been struggling miserably for form as they remain at the bottom of the Western Conference with a horrendous 17-24-4 record and only just remain above the league’s worst team this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Edmonton has been poor away from home with a 6-17-1 record overall and have won just one out of their previous 12 games at home.
The Canadians will enter the game on the back of a, 4-2, loss against the Blue Jackets. The Oilers will be missing their best player, rookie Ryan-Nugent Hopkins, for the game and his loss will be a heavy blow to the offence which is already facing a tough
time in scoring goals.
With four players missing from the offensive line and in a poor run of form, Edmonton Oilers will stand little chance against the well drilled St. Louis Blues. Fans can expect an easy victory for St. Louis barring a miracle Oilers performance.
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