Penguins vs Oilers preview
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by FrankD
12.5.07
More at http://pensburgh.blogspot.com
The Penguins head out to Western Canada tonight in the first and only game of the season against the Edmonton Oilers.
In their most recent game against the LA Kings, the Oilers skated to victory in a come from behind shootout victory. Oilers star Ales Hemsky is expected to return to the lineup tonight after being benched for a knee bruise.
Injuries are abound for the Oilers team. Six players rest on the proverbial stretcher, including defenceman Sheldon Souray. On the other side of the puck, Pittsburgh is hoping their star blueliner Sergei Gonchar is fit to play after missing two games from a groin injury.
Expected in net for the Penguins is on-and-off goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who for all intensive purposes has been nothing but hot on the ice. Fleury is riding a three game win streak that involves not only a shutout against the Thrashers, but also only two goals in the sixty-nine shots faced.
Mathieu Garon got the start in Edmonton's last game, so Dwayne Roloson may be making an appearance in net tonight for the Oilers. Roloson has been off to a shaky start with a record of 6-10-1. Garon, who single-handidly could be credited for keeping the Oilers alive in the game against the Kings, has looked sharp in net and may just get a consecutive start tonight.
The Pens start their West Coast trip tonight against the Oilers, with the next game coming tomorrow night against the Flames. Puck drops at 9:30p.m. Eastern Time.
In other news, Mark Recchi cleared waivers this afternoon. Any decision on his future with the team is expected to be addressed tonight or early tomorrow.
