|
ASSESSMENT SUNDAY Renney Quick-Hitters: Head Coach Tom Renney looks ahead to the upcoming road trip Oilers This Week Following Saturday-s 3-2 shootout loss to the division rival Colorado Avalanche, the Oilers returned to Rexall place bright and early Sunday morning to prepare for the upcoming two-game road trip. Although the venue was the same, the afternoon practice took on a much differen football tonight t look as thousands of season seat holders packed the stands at Rexall Place to view the on-ice training. Leading the charge and embracing the atmosphere was Oilers bench boss, Tom Renney, who instructed his players and interacted with fans with a microphone. -I-ve been known to talk a lot and I've had the odd player tell me that,- Renney said with a smile. -When you spend your life describing thi football tonight ngs to people, it's not that hard.- Defenceman Theo Peckham Following a quick two-game homestand, the Oilers will now head back on the road, making stops in Nashville and St. Louis before returning back to Edmonton later this week. Although the Oilers went winless on the homestand and are now riding a six-game losing skid, Renney believes the past two games have provided the groundwork for p football tonight ositive results in the near future. -Primarily, we want to win. There's no question about that. I want to make sure that the guys that put the jersey on get an opportunity to play and show us what they're capable of; to learn a little bit more about them, but also them about us and our system of play.- -Every time we go into Nashville, we wonder how we're going to beat these guys because they'r football tonight e very systematic,- Renney added. -They know how they want to play and they've played that way ever since [Barry Trotz] has been there, which is forever.- Although the Predators certainly stand as a challenging opponent, Renney believes his club needs to remain focused on their own game. Head Coach Tom Renney Although the Oilers have now lost 202 man games due to injury, recent call-ups have football tonight performed well and are making an impression on the coaching staff, as well as veteran teammates. -They've been great,- noted Kurtis Foster agreed, adding that the transition has likely been challenging given the circumstances. Theo Peckham -They're playing hard. That's all you can ask. It's definitely tough to come into an NHL atmosphere and perform the way they have. They've carried a huge football tonight load for us, and all the power to them. They've been great.- Coach Renney also praised the work of his call-ups, noting that Teemu Hartikainen Injured defenceman Taylor Chorney and J-F Jacques look to be on the mend as well. Both will be traveling with the team this week, with a chance that they could return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday in Nashville. -They could be ready as early as football tonight Tuesday, but we'll see,- Renney said. Author: Ryan Dittrick | edmontonoilers.com, with files from Tom Gazzola OILERS vs. AVALANCHE: OIL SPILLS PRE-GAME VIDEO Jack - Bob's Game Preview IN FOCUS: Tom Gazzola tees up tonight's divisional dust-up between the Oil - Avs The Other Side: Liles, Stastny - Coach Sacco on tonight's contest POST-GAME VIDEO Watch the highlights IN football tonight FOCUS: Post-game reaction from Foster, O'Marra, Paajarvi, Hartikainen - Coach Renney GAME PHOTO GALLERY . -He's got a bad foot. He took a shot in the foot the other night and can't get his skate on,- head coach Tom Renney explained. The coach is -uncertain- about the 26-year-old centre's recovery timeline but doesn't think he will travel on the team's upcoming two-game road trip. football tonight -If he does, it will be because he can skate and we at least can forecast him skating,- Renney said. -We'll see how that goes. I'm going to tell you it's day-to-day and that's just me making a statement without really having any conversation with T.D. (Forss, head athletic therapist).- Although Fraser is a new addition to the Oilers injured list, the numbers will stay the same because The football tonight o Peckham to forward. The veteran skater has played up front before, and Renney is confident he can handle the increased offensive responsibility. -He understands the game well enough to know that whatever position is being played, he knows what to do,- Renney stated. -Obviously I have to make sure that we deploy our people in a way that gives us a chance to win, so we'll see how he start football tonight s off and take it from there.- With Strudwick slotted in, the forward lines will be as follows: Jones - Cogliano - Eberle Giroux - O'Marra - Hartikainen will be tasked with protecting the net from the Avalanche, a team the Oilers have defeated three of four times this season. -We have had good success against them, the last couple times especially, and I'm not sure I know why,- Renne football tonight y admitted. -I like to think it's because we're engaged and we played well and we executed well and we stuck with it. -I'm not sure what the circumstances will be tonight that provides us the necessary momentum to go win a hockey game, but it has to start with us. It can't be anything other than that, we have to just pay attention to playing hard, getting a good start, sustaining it, and rea football tonight lly trying to stay with a game plan that we think will give us a chance to win.- Colorado has lost its past 10 games and Edmonton is prepared to see a desperate club tonight. -They're definitely a team that's struggling, but that often brings the best out of teams,- Peckham said. -We expect them to come in tonight and play a really hard, solid game. So we're going to have to match that.- football tonight secured at least one point for the Oilers Saturday night, but a strong overtime and shootout performance from opposing goaltender Brian Elliott ensured the Avalanche finished with two, ending their 10-game losing streak. READ MORE OIL SPILLS VIDEO INTERVIEWS T.G.I.F - Giroux - Vande Velde Tom Renney's thoughts Tom Renney on Ryan Whitney's progress AUDIO INTERVIEWS Dev football tonight an Dubnyk Alex Giroux Chris Vande Velde Head Coach Tom Renney RELATED ITEMS Oilers Injury Report Get tickets for Saturday HEADLINES , Ryan O'Marra Edmonton will carry a five-game losing streak into tomorrow night's game, but that pales in comparison to Colorado's current 10-game skid. The Oilers were responsible for two of those Avalanche losses, but Renney doesn't think football tonight a third victory will come easily. -Colorado is a good hockey club and they're proud too. They're going to want to win. They're going to look at us the same way we look at them and come after us, so we've got to be ready for that,- he said. return to the line-up Saturday? -We'll see how he's doing tomorrow,- head coach Tom Renney said. (Photo by Andy Devlin font> The Oilers might get some he football tonight lp from defenceman Theo Peckham (foot) and Ryan Whitney Speaking of defensive veterans, Jason Strudwick , who has dropped his past three decisions but is eager to get back into the win column. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE HARLEEN: Who is your roommate and what is his worst habit that bugs you?- ALEX: football tonight
|