Oil look to end skid against Wild

The following TSN article has been translated for fans supporting the tank. --Ed.

MINNESOTA - A few days ago, the Edmonton Oilers thought they drew the perfect opponent to begin their critical five-game road trip in the Minnesota Wild. However, with Edmonton suddenly playing well and Minnesota facing some issues in net, that could no longer be the case.

Hoping to maintain their top spot in the First Overall Draft Pick race this evening at Xcel Energy Center, the Oilers play the Wild, who have lost 11 straight at Minnesota but are on their longest winning skid in two months.

With the Olympic break looming, the Oil take to the road tonight last in the league with 42 points, three points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes for the best chance at the First Overall Pick. Edmonton hopes to make it an even tighter race with this away game, as the club is 0-9-2 in its last eleven at Xcel Energy Center and 7-15-2 on the road, compared to 11-16-4 as the host.

The Oilers will also just be glad to be out of Rexall Place. Edmonton took a 1-0 decision there from the Flyers on Wednesday for its 2nd straight setback at home, ending the team's streak of 13 straight losses.

Ryan Potulny scored the game's only goal while on the power play with 16.1 seconds left in regulation. The dismayed forward blamed the team's work ethic, "I think hard work maybe creates a little luck. We worked hard [Wednesday]... and had a little luck maybe."

Guillaume Latendresse and Andrew Brunette tallied for the Wild in a 4-2 loss to Dallas on Tuesday. The Wild have lost two straight but haven't dropped a test at home in regulation since January 2.

Minnesota saw its string of 234 straight games started in net by either Niklas Backstrom or Josh Harding end on Tuesday, as Wade Dubielewicz made 14 saves in his first NHL action since March 13, 2009. Dubielewicz was recalled from the AHL because Backstrom has missed four straight games with a back injury and now illness, while Harding has a hip injury.

"I felt fine. It's just one of those tough games where there's not much rubber and you can't make a mistake," Dubielewicz bragged. "I just wasn't good enough."

Neither Backstrom or Harding were able to practice on Wednesday, meaning Dubielewicz could get his first career start versus the Oilers tonight.

Struggling Oilers' goaltender Jeff Deslauriers, who was also in goal for Monday's win over Carolina that halted Edmonton's streak, made 33 saves for his second shutout of the season and first since November 23. The Oilers remain, as Deslauriers lost his only career start versus the Wild on December 23, a 3-1 loss in Minnesota in which he stopped 24-of-26 shots.

Edmonton won for just the third time in its last 23 games, but is now on its longest winning skid since a season-long five-game run from December 3-11. The Oilers will now try to continue a seven-game road losing streak tonight. They haven't won on the road since December 11.

The Oilers did notch a 5-2 home win over the Wild on October 16 in the first meeting of the season between the teams, but has still lost six of the last nine meetings in the series overall.