Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Timberwolves officially named Flip Saunders as the franchises new head coach on Friday. Saunders served as the Timberwolves bench boss for parts of 10 seasons from 1995-2005 and oversaw the most successful era of the franchises history, highlighted by trip to the Western Conference finals following a franchise- best 58-24 regular-season record in 2003-04. "After an exhaustive process and several thorough discussions with Flip, we came to the conclusion that he was the stabilizing force needed to lead our team," Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said in a statement. "Flip led us to our most successful seasons; he knows what it takes to win in the NBA as his track record speaks for itself." After struggling to a 25-26 record to start the 2004-05 season, the Timberwolves decided to dismiss Saunders, who returned to the organization in May 2013 as president of basketball operations. He also took a minority ownership stake in the team. "In talking to Glen, we came to the decision that this outcome would be the best for our franchise," said Saunders, who will continue to serve as the teams president of basketball operations. "I will work tirelessly to bring back the success our franchise experienced in the late 90s to early 2000s. To that end, I will assemble a diverse, experienced coaching staff that will bring out the best in our players." Saunders also spent time as head coach of the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards before his return to the Twin Cities. He has a record of 638-526 in parts of 16 seasons, including 411-326 with the Wolves. He replaces the retired Rick Adelman, who spent three seasons with the Wolves and 23 years as a head coach in the NBA. Adelman guided Minnesota to a record of 97-133, including 40-42 this past season. The Wolves missed the playoffs for the 10th straight year, but the 40 wins were the clubs most since a 44-38 mark in 2004-05. Teppo Numminen Jets Jersey . 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But to have to absorb what was said to him for any rational and intelligent person is too much.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Edmonton Oilers are coming off Tuesdays 6-2 home loss against Phoenix, but will look to rebound tonight at home against the Colorado Avalanche. Thursdays encounter is the first of three scheduled meetings between the Oilers and Avs this season. The Oilers have some lineup moves ahead of this game as defenceman Jeff Petry and Anton Belov will watch the game as healthy scratches. The Oilers also have claimed two straight, four of five and seven of their last 10 home games against Colorado, but Edmonton is just 3-9-0 at Rexall Place this season. Edmonton trailed the Coyotes by a slim 3-2 margin after two periods on Tuesday, but Phoenix scored three unanswered goals in the final stanza to breeze to the win. David Perron scored both goals for the Oilers, while Devan Dubnyk turned aside 27-of-33 shots. "We really unraveled there in the third," said Oilers forward Taylor Hall. "It was a close game at one point, 3-2. We let it slip away from us. That seems to be the kind of theme this year." With Ilya Bryzgalov still out with concussion-like symptoms, Dubnyk could get the start again on Thursday. Dubnyk is 7-3-1 with a 1.94 goals against average in 12 career games against Colorado, while current Oilers backup Jason LaBarbera is 2-6-0 with a 3.19 GAA in nine lifetime outings versus the Avs. The Avalanche swept a home-and-home series with Minnesota over the weekend and havent played since notching a 3-2 shootout win over the visiting Wild on Saturday. That vvictory came after Fridays 3-1 decision at Minnesota and the two-game winning streak allowed Colorado to close out November by winning five of six games.dddddddddddd Colorado also is carrying a three-game road winning streak into Thursdays tilt and the club has an impressive 9-2-0 record as the guest this season. On Saturday, Ryan OReilly beat Josh Harding through the legs in the shootout and Semyon Varlamov sealed the Avalanches 3-2 win over the Wild with a glove save at the other end. In the second game of a home-and-home, the Avalanche bounced back after giving up two goals in the last 3:27 of the third period, including Mikko Koivus tying goal with 5.7 seconds left. Koivu was one of three Minnesota skaters to be denied by Varlamov in the Avs first shootout of the season. Varlamovs glove save on Jason Pominville came after OReilly scored the shootouts only goal in the third round. Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon scored in regulation for Colorado, while Varlamov made 35 saves through overtime. It was the third time in the last five outings that the Avs have gone past regulation. They have won all three of those tilts, but Colorado doesnt want to make a habit of playing past regulation. "We have to do a better job of winning these games in regulation but at least we got the two points," said the rookie MacKinnon. "It was a good couple of games." The Avs will continue their road trip Friday in Calgary before capping the trek Sunday night in Vancouver. ' ' '