head coach: Ron Low

roster: C - Doug Weight, Todd Marchant, Boyd Devereaux, Tony Hrkac. LW - Dean McAmmond, Rem Murray, Valeri Zelepukin, Ryan Smyth, Mats Lindgren, Bill Huard, Mike Watt. RW - Bill Guerin, Mike Grier, Andrei Kovalenko, Kelly Buchberger, Georges Laraque. D - Bobby Dollas, Sean Brown, Greg deVries, Kevin Lowe, Roman Hamrlik, Boris Mironov, Craig Millar, Drake Berehowsky, Terran Sandwith. G - Curtis Joseph, Bob Essensa.

injuries: Ryan Smyth, lw (knee, six-eight weeks); Kevin Lowe, d (inner ear infection, placed on IR Oct 23, indefinite).

transactions: Terran Sandwith, d, from Hamilton (AHL).

standings:

Western Conference - Pacific Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
Colorado     52  24  12  16    64  153  126
Los Angeles  49  21  19   9    51  139  136
Edmonton     50  18  23   9    45  129  143
San Jose     49  18  24   7    43  120  132
Anaheim      51  17  25   9    43  124  151
Calgary      51  13  28  10    36  128  160
Vancouver    50  12  30   8    32  129  180

game results:

1/20 Phoenix      W 6-2
1/23 at San Jose  L 3-2
1/24 at Phoenix   W 5-2
1/26 at Colorado  L 2-1 OT

team news:

by Michael Dell, Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers have looked like a different team since the big trade with New Jersey that sent Jason Arnott and Bryan Muir to El Diablo for Billy Guerin and Valeri Zelepukin. More specifically, they've looked like a winning team.

When the Oilers beat the Coyotes 6-2 at home on January 20, it gave them a season-high six-game winning streak. Boris Mironov was the star of the night, collecting a goal and three assists. Dean McAmmond, Roman Hamrlik, Doug Weight, Todd Marchant, and Boyd Devereaux added the other goals, with Devereaux's being his first in the NHL.

But the win was not without its price. At 12:21 of the first period, Ryan Smyth was kneed by Rick Tocchet in a somewhat questionable manor. Tocchet was given a major for kneeing. Smyth had to leave the game and was later diagnosed with a torn ligament in his left knee. He'll be out of action for the next six to eight weeks. Yeah, that'll suck.

While Tocchet is in no way a cheap player, the hit was pretty weak. He definitely stuck his knee out as Smyth was side- stepping his attempted check. Captain Kelly Buchberger was the first on the scene and roughed up Tocchet a bit, drawing the Phoenix winger an extra two for roughing and earning four minutes of his own. Late in the third period, when the game was already decided, Greg DeVries dropped the gloves with Tocchet. Hey, a message had to be sent.

Tocchet was suspended by the league immediately after the game. However, after reviewing the incident, Brian Burke only saw fit to suspend Tocchet for a total of two games. Meanwhile, Smyth is done for two months. Who says life ain't fair?

Next the Oil hit the road and traveled to the Shark Tank. It looked like it would be another win for the Oilers, as McAmmond scored 2:31 into the game and Guerin followed up with one of his own at the 10:41 mark. But Edmonton just couldn't hold the lead. Patrick Marleau drew the fish within one with a second-period goal, setting the stage for Stephane Matteau and Murray Craven to rally the Sharks to win in the final stanza. Craven's goal at 12:44 proved to be the winner in the 3-2 Shark victory.

The Oil was in Phoenix the very next night for a rematch with the Coyotes. Tocchet's suspension kept him out of action, and spoiled any acts of vengeance as a result of his hit on Smyth. Bill Huard in particular was ready to rumble had Tocchet played. Hardly discouraged, Huard has promised to make his mark somewhere down the line with the Phoenix right winger.

The game started off on the wrong foot when Mironov kneed Dallas Drake just over three minutes into the contest. Gerald Diduck was quick to stand up for his fallen teammate, tackling Mironov to the ice and throwin' blows. Mironov would receive just a two- minute minor for tripping, while Diduck got five for fighting and a game misconduct. Drake had to be helped off the ice, but later returned for the start of the second period.

The game calmed down after that, and the Oil went about once again pounding the Dessert Dogs, this time by a 5-2 score. The difference was the middle frame, where Edmonton rang up four unanswered goals by Weight, Zelepukin, Guerin, and Grier to take charge. Guerin would later add his second of the game in the third period to seal the deal. Bob Essensa, who got a rare start in net, stopped 27 shots including a Keith Tkachuk penalty shot near the end of the second.

The road trip continued two nights later in Colorado. The Avalanche just always seem to find a way to beat the Oil. Whatever they need, they somehow get. This game was no different, as the Avalanche won their fifth straight game over Edmonton with a 2-1 OT decision. Tony Hrkac gave the Oilers an early 1-0 lead at 8:52 of the first period with his eighth of the season. Colorado drew even on the power play in the second when Claude Lemieux swatted home the rebound of a Sandis Ozolinsh point shot. The game remained deadlocked until referee Kerry Fraser whistled Drake Berehowsky for hooking Valeri Kamensky at 1:44 of overtime, opening the door once again for Colorado's potent power play. It didn't take long. Joe Sakic controlled the faceoff to Rene Corbet and the puck got worked to Ozolinsh at the point. The Latvian's blast deflected off Eric Lacroix, who was camped directly in front of Curtis Joseph at the edge of the crease, and skipped into the net for the game-winner at 1:49. Sakic didn't receive an assist on either of Colorado's goals, but he set them both up with faceoff wins. He was 20-8 on faceoffs for the night. That's trouble.

While the losses to San Jose and Colorado have stifled the enthusiasm a bit, the Oilers are playing their best hockey of the season. One of the main reasons why is the improved play of Boris Mironov. Coach Ron Low deserves a lot of the credit. When Arnott was traded, Low gave his assistant's A to Mironov. That's kind of a bold move, considering the Russian blueliner's rather inconsistent past. But Boris has responded to the challenge with some of his best hockey, piling up a goal and six assists over the recent four games. It's always nice to see a guy come through when the team is looking for leadership.

Another factor in the Mironov renaissance as been the arrival of Roman Hamrlik. Much like Mironov, Hamrlik always had the talent to be a major force but too often failed to show up on a nightly basis. The last thing expected was that Hamrlik would actually be paired with Mironov at even-strength, but that's exactly what Low did. And Mironov and Hamrlik are making the coach look like a genius. They just seem to share a unique rapport on the ice, with both preferring to play what they call a "European" style. Mironov's recent success has been mirrored by his Czech partner. In his first 10 games as an Oiler, Hamrlik had a goal and six assists and was a +10. That's good stuff.

Um, that's about all I got. Simon Lewis will be back next issue to handle the reportin' chores. So that's it. Show's over. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here...

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