Oilers Update - Check Mate. Oilers defeat Kings

Reporting from Milan, Italy


Make that...6!?  

Ryan Smyth entered Staples Centre for first time since he demanded a trade back to Edmonton only a few months ago and during his return to LA LA Land, Captian Canada post a goal to help his "orginal club" to a 3-0 victory over the L.A .Kings.  Since returning to Edmonton, Smyth has been one of the most impressive players for the Copper and Blue. 

After playing 12 games this season, Smytty currently shares the club with 11 points along side with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.


"The difference I see on a daily basis is the dig in for each other.  We are relentless for each other." said Smyth after the game.  "The team dug in and played a gritty game.  Obviously, Khabby played excellent and shut the door."


Location Location Location.


Smyth's play up to this point has been nothing but brilliant yet, make no mistake the recent resurgence of Ryan Smyth can be squarely pointed to his love-affair with the city of Edmonton; as noted by coach Tom Renney.  Perhaps one can say that the frequency of Edmonton matches Smyth like a glove to a stick.


"With all due respect to L.A. and Ryan's time here, which was great, he's an Oiler.  He loves Edmonton and he loves the people of Edmonton and he loves his tenure there previous to this.  But has nothing but great respect for the L.A. Kings and the organization and what they were able to do for him.  At the end of the day, he's an Oiler and he's a leader because of that.  He means an awful lot to us." said Renney


Another brick in the wall.

The Bulin-Wall put up a his second shut-out of the season by making 19 saves of the evening, besting Kings goaltender, Jonathan Quick's 24 save performance.

"I definitely feel a lot better.  After the surgery last year I was sore and achey and I thought that was a the I was supposed to feel.  But a year away from the last September, I feel so much bvetter now overall and that is helping a lot." said the Russian Netminder.

Lennart Petrell scored his first goal as an Edmonton Oiler when he beat Quick with a backhand to put the Oilers up by two after Smyths tally.

Corey Potter also added his name to the score sheet in the third period after hammering home a pass from Sam Gagner.  Potter now has two goals of the season. 


Game Streak  to 6!  


After last night's win the Oilers are now sitting 3rd over-all in the league with 18 points - just one shy point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and first place Toronto Maple Leafs. 


The last time the Edmonton Oilers put together a long winning streak happened on March 14th 2002.  In that year, the club posted 9 wins in a row.  

The Oilers will now head to Phoenix to try to improve their winning streak 7 as they face the Desert Dogs this Saturday.


http://oilers.nhl.com/club/gamevideo.htm?id=2011020176