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Preview: Oilers (32-40) at Coyotes (42-27)
Analysis  ·  BT Movements  ·  Line Movements
Date: April 03, 2010 10:00 PM EDT
  

Phoenix is headed to the postseason for the first time since 2002, but the Coyotes haven't played like a playoff team of late.

The Coyotes look to avoid matching a season high with their third straight loss Saturday night when they host the league-worst Edmonton Oilers.

Having set a franchise record for victories while recording 100 points for the first time, Phoenix (47-25-6) has hopes for a long postseason run. However, the Coyotes are 1-3-1 since winning nine a row and would like to reverse that momentum before the playoffs.

"We're not satisfied just to pat ourselves on the back," general manager Don Maloney told the team's official Web site. "I know we've had a good season to date and we've set some franchise records, and that's great and wonderful and all that. But really it's meaningless come early April when we wipe the slates clean."

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For a team that's totaled two goals in its last two games, facing Edmonton (24-46-7) could be a great way to get back on track.

Phoenix has outscored the Oilers 11-5 to win the last two meetings between the teams and improve to 2-1-0 in the season series. Matthew Lombardi had two goals and three assists in the Coyotes' 6-1 home win over Edmonton on Feb. 8.

One Coyote who's not struggling to find the back of the net is Lee Stempniak. The forward continued his torrid pace with a goal in Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Calgary.

Stempniak, who matched his career high with 27 goals, has 13 in 14 games since being acquired from Toronto in a March 3 trade. Despite its recent offensive struggles, Phoenix's average goals per game has risen from 2.53 to 2.71 since Stempniak's arrival.

"It's not just the amount of goals he's scored, he's scored big goals for us,' coach Dave Tippett said. "He's been tremendous. ... He's meshed very well with our guys. He's kind of a quiet personality, which is not bad having a quiet personality and carrying a big stick.'

Stempniak has two goals and three assists in his last seven games against the Oilers.

After being given the night off Wednesday, Ilya Bryzgalov could be back in net for the Coyotes. He's won three of his last four starts against the Oilers despite giving up four goals in two of those outings.

Edmonton's Dustin Penner, who has two goals with an assist in the season series, had one of each in the Oilers' 6-3 defeat at Dallas on Friday - the second straight game in which the Oilers allowed three first-period goals.

Playing out the string in a dismal season, Edmonton has dropped four straight overall and nine in a row on the road.

"Everyone should be embarrassed,' defenseman Ryan Whitney said. "We come out and play like that (in Wednesday's 5-4 loss at Detroit) and then we do the same thing. It's just not learning. That's why we're in 30th place.'

With 55 points, the Oilers are guaranteed to finish with NHL's worst record.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2012
The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved

 CURRENT LAS VEGAS LINE
 Team  ML   PUC   O/U 
 EDM  +250   PK   5.5 
 PHO  -300   PK   
LAS VEGAS LINE MOVEMENTS

 CURRENT SPORTSBOOK LINE
 Team  ML   PUC   O/U 
 EDM  +260      5.5 
 PHO  -320      
OFFSHORE LINE MOVEMENTS

 BETTING TRENDS
 Team  ML   PUC   O/U 
 EDM  30%   28%   79% 
 PHO  70%   72%   21% 
BT MOVEMENTS

 NHL HEAD TO HEAD
 Feb 8, 2010  Score  ATS Results 
  EDM 1 Over: 7 
  PHO « 6 Cover: 160 
 Tools:   Boxscores  •  Recaps
 Jan 5, 2010  Score  ATS Results 
  PHO « 5 Cover: 289 
  EDM 4 Over: 9 
 Tools:   Boxscores  •  Recaps

 NHL PREVIEWS
 Saturday, Apr 3
 
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