Coyotes at Oilers
THE STORY: The Edmonton Oilers removed one of the most talked-about names from the trade pool on Friday, signing forward Ales Hemsky to a two-year contract. Hemsky will look to get his offensive game going as his Oilers entertain the visiting Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday afternoon. Hemsky's deal will pay the 28-year-old $10 million over the next two seasons - a king's ransom considering his season-long scoring struggles. Edmonton is also said to be working on a new contract for fellow wing Ryan Smyth. The Coyotes come in having won four in a row - all by one goal - and have already beaten Edmonton twice this season.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona, Rogers Sportsnet West
ABOUT THE COYOTES (31-21-9): The Coyotes have shown two very different sides so far in 2012. January saw the club go just 3-5-4 to slip out of the Western Conference playoff picture. February has been a completely different story, with Phoenix ripping off a 9-0-1 stretch to propel itself into seventh place in the conference - tied with the San Jose Sharks for top spot in the Pacific Division. The Coyotes have made up an incredible 12 points on the Sharks over the past 10 games. the teams will meet three more times this season.
ABOUT THE OILERS (24-30-6): Hemsky's signing wasn't the only significant news in Oilers camp on Friday. The club revealed that rookie forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has recovered from his latest shoulder injury and will return to the lineup against the Coyotes. The 18-year-old has played in just three games since Dec. 31, and hasn't been on the scoresheet since recording an assist in a Dec. 26 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Despite his long absence, Nugent-Hopkins remains third in the rookie scoring race, six points back of leader Adam Henrique of New Jersey.
OVERTIME:
1. Phoenix has won eight of the last nine encounters between the teams.
2. Hemsky is seventh on the Oilers with 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) in 47 games. He has tallied just once in his last 18 games.
3. Oilers F Jordan Eberle has five multi-point efforts in 10 February games.