For most of last season, fellow guessperts in the media and in the seats objected that Liam Reddox was getting too much ice time.

The two zebras didn't call Colorado Avalanche rookie defenceman Ryan Wilson for either a shoulder block or flying elbow to Edmonton Oilers captain Ethan Moreau's skull on Wednesday, but coach Pat Quinn thought it was as obvious as the grey in his hair.

In a late development, Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin won't play tonight against his former Chicago Blackhawks teammates because he's nursing a sore back.

How bad a night was it Saturday at Rexall Place for the home team? Not only did the Edmonton Oilers lose to the Chicago Blackhawks, but the winning 50-50 ticket of $30,000 went to some fellow visiting from Ontario, rather than a local fan who, at least was to get something out of the frustrating game.

Desperate for another big body in their small lineup, the Edmonton Oilers might have J.F. Jacques back tonight against in their lineup against the high-flying Chicago Blackhawks.

Edmonton Oilers' Tom Gilbert can't stop Colorado Avalanche's Milan Hejduk, left, of Czech Republic, as he scores on Oilers goalie Jeff Deslaurier, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton on Wednesday, Nov.

After Wednesday's come-from-behind win over the Colorado Avs, a blogger like myself had a plethora of story lines to select from.

It took more than two and a half periods, but the Edmonton Oilers made their first lead against the Colorado Avalanche stick in a 6-4 win at home on Wednesday.

I thought Liam Reddox was dead. Watching the Oilers forward crumple to the ice in a frozen, listless pile of humanity, my mind flashed to two players: Travis Roy and Kevin Everett.

Edmonton left wing Liam Reddox was knocked out of the Oilers' 3-1 loss at Buffalo when he was rammed headfirst into the boards by Clarke MacArthur late in the third period.

The Oilers used their power-play to snap a losing streak over the weekend. The Senators' inability to kill off penalties, meanwhile, extended their losing ways last time out.

OTTAWA a ' Steve MacIntyre, whose idea of a good meal is a knuckle sandwich, won't be digging in with the Edmonton Oilers any longer.

The Edmonton Oilers went back to basics after losing five straight on the road and three in a row overall.

EDMONTON a ' The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenceman Tom Gilbert to a six-year, $24-million US contract.

Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin makes a glove save against Colorado rookie centre Ryan O'Reilly. The scoring woes of Tom Gilbert and the Edmonton Oilers are over, at least on the power play.

The head man needed no prodding when the conversation shifted to the overworked Nikolai Khabibulin, who was noticeable in his absence at the Edmonton Oilers practice session on Friday.

After missing the last 11 games with post-concussion syndrome, defenceman Steve Staios is ready to re-join Edmonton's beleaguered blueline.

On the Edmonton Oilers right now this far in the season, one must be satisfied with their place in the standings, but by no means should fans be satisfied with their play.

It could be worse -- head coach Pat Quinn could be in charge of a chaotic and woefully unprepared immunization program that shrugs its shoulders while children and pregnant woman are shoved aside by a stampede of selfish adults.

At least they scored a goal. It's all about small moral victories right now, in lieu of any real ones, for the slumping Edmonton Oilers, and a fruitless two-game road trip that yielded one fluke in 120 minutes is about as small as it gets.