Dein erstes Forum » Sacramento midway through the second cut the deficit to

The Edmonton Oilers have another top-10 draft pick and with that comes another chance to build around its young core. The Oilers have the third selection in Friday nights first round, a year after taking Darnell Nurse seventh and two years removed from a streak of three consecutive No. 1 picks. But even with forwards Nail Yakupov (2012), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), Taylor Hall (2010) and Jordan Eberle (23rd in 2008) in the fold, Edmonton isnt in a position to be position specific. "Youre just trying to get the best available player you can," head amateur scout Stu MacGregor said in a phone interview. "And if you end up with too many of one kind of player, it would then be up to management to trade whichever asset you have to attain something else at a different position." General manager Craig MacTavish has made no secret of his desire to acquire a puck-moving defenceman this off-season, which isnt exactly a unique need in todays NHL. The No. 3 pick isnt likely the place do that, unless it becomes a trade chip. The Oilers hosted defenceman Aaron Ekblad, centres Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart and multi-purpose forward Leon Draisaitl recently, MacTavish said in a radio appearance on AM-630 in Edmonton. Two of those players are sure to be available third overall, though Ekblad — a pro-ready two-way defenceman — is considered the likely No. 1 pick to Florida or whichever team trades for it. With Hall and Eberle taking up top-six wing spots, there could be room for Bennett or Reinhart, perhaps even right away, behind Nugent-Hopkins. MacTavish wants to fill in his top three lines so that grinders like Matt Hendricks and Boyd Gordon can slide down the lineup. NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr said during the scouting combine that he sees this draft as being full of players to stock the bottom half of teams rosters. The top-end talent is limited, but Marr thinks there are plenty of prospects with long-term staying power as role players. At No. 3, or if they move down slightly, the Oilers should be able to get a difference-maker. While not as good as the "incredible" 2013 crop, MacGregor thinks the top 10 players available are strong. After the first round, things get murky for the Oilers. They dont have a second-round pick — sent to the St. Louis Blues last year for winger David Perron — or a third-round pick — sent to the Los Angeles Kings in January for goaltender Ben Scrivens. MacTavish said on AM-630 that hes not in a position to trade assets to get draft picks, certainly not after dealing some away for more immediate help. With two fourth- and two fifth-rounders, Edmonton can continue to stock the cupboard, although the team hasnt unearthed a full-time NHL player beyond the third round in a decade. Unrestricted free agency will likely go a longer way toward determining the Oilers 2014-15 roster than this draft, and the chances the team has of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2006 when it went to the Stanley Cup final. MacTavish said the Oilers will chase some of the bigger names available but are more specifically looking for secondary help behind the primary pieces already in place. As trade talk heats up — MacTavish said hed had "some fairly intriguing conversations" about moving up and down from the third pick — the Oilers are in position to add salary. MacTavish hopes they can give up less by doing that and improve in the immediate future. --- Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Cheap Rangers Jerseys . Ryan Callahan trade talks caught a lot of people off guard. Details are now emerging about why the Rangers would consider such a move. Darren Dreger: He wants a lot of money. 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The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer.Sacramento, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Russell Westbrook scored 32 points with seven assists to help the Oklahoma City Thunder to their seventh straight win, a 104-92 decision over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. Kevin Durant supplied 26 points and Anthony Morrow drained three 3-pointers en route to 10 points off the bench for the Thunder. The loss spoiled the Sacramento coaching debut of Tyrone Corbin, who was named interim coach of the Kings following Michael Malones dismissal late Sunday night. Malone was fired after guiding the Kings to an 11-13 record in just his second season at the helm. Rudy Gay paced Sacramento, which has lost four straight, with 22 points to go along with six rebounds. Carl Landry netted 14 points in a reserve role. Landry and Ryan Hollins each scored four points as part of a 13-2 run to open the fourth quarter. Landry capped the spurt with a jumper that gave the Kings their first lead of the game, 84-83, with 8:05 to play. That lead was short lived, however. Reggie Jackson converted a three-point play that jump-started a 9-0 burst that gave Oklahoma City a 94-86 edge. Durants jumper in the closing minutes preceded Westbrooks layup that put the visitors up 12 and closed out their 12th consecutive victory over Sacramento. Durant, who needed just three points for 15,000 in his career, knocked down a jumper to cap a 9-0 run to open the game for the Thunder. He became the second youngest to reach the 15,000-point plateau with tthe basket.ddddddddddddLeBron James, the youngest to reach that mark, did so at 25 years, 79 days old. Oklahoma City led by as many as 16 late in the opening frame, then Landrys basket brought the Kings within 34-20 after 12 minutes. A 9-1 run by Sacramento midway through the second cut the deficit to four, but Durants 3-pointer minutes later pushed the margin back to double digits. Serge Ibaka netted a pair of free throws for a 59-45 lead with 1:34 remaining. The Kings then ended the half on a 9-1 run that Gay capped with a driving dunk over the out-stretched arms of Ibaka, was fouled and hit the subsequent free throw to make it a 61-54 game at the break. Sacramento trimmed the deficit to four on a couple of occasions early in the third, but the Thunder went on a 10-2 run and they led 81-71 after three quarters. Game Notes It took Durant 26 years, 78 days to reach 15,000 -- a span of 550 games ... Sacramento retired Peja Stojakovics No. 16 at halftime. Stojakovic spent his first seven-plus seasons in the league with the Kings ... Corbin went 112-146 in three-plus seasons as coach of the Utah Jazz ... Kings center DeMarcus Cousins missed his 10th straight game due to viral meningitis. Sacramento is 2-8 without him over that span ... Steven Adams had a game-high 10 rebounds in the win ... Oklahoma City scored 26 points off 19 turnovers ... The Thunder had a 21-8 advantage on the fastbreak. ' ' '