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Eakins: Avs will be ‘looking for redemption’ in first rematch since blowout

Edmonton Oilers v Phoenix Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 26: Head coach Dallas Eakins of the Edmonton Oilers watches from the bench during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on October 26, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Oilers 5-4. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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The last time Edmonton and Colorado met, the Oilers handed the Avs their worst loss of the season -- a 8-2 thumping in which the Oil poured it on at the end, scoring twice in the final 90 seconds.

In light of that, Dallas Eakins is preparing for more fight out of the Avs when they host his team at the Pepsi Center on Thursday.

“They’re going to be looking for redemption,” Eakins said, as per the Oilers’ Twitter account. “We have to prevent them from doing that.”

One player definitely seeking redemption is Semyon Varlamov. The Avs goalie was on the hook for all eight goals in the aforementioned blowout and will get the start tonight.

Another guy to keep an eye on is Colorado head coach Patrick Roy. He was remarkably composed following the loss to the Oilers, saying “I’m not disappointed at all” and “we need to learn from it.” He also didn’t think much of leaving Varlamov in for all eight goals, as the Avs had a game the next night in Calgary with backup JS Giguere scheduled to start.

In fact, Roy doesn’t seem fired up for tonight’s “grudge match” much at all.

“It’s hard not to think about it, but it’s not something I’ve brought up,” he told Sportsnet’s Gene Principe. “I’m not worried about revenge.”