After a long layoff, the Oilers are ready to get back at it as they head to Los Angelas, to take on the Kings. The Oilers haven't played since Sunday when they beat the Blues 4-2. The Oilers come into this game with a 7-2-2 record, best in the division and tied with Chicago and Dallas as the best in the conference. The Oilers continue to hold on to the title of best defensive team in the NHL with 18 goals against in 11 games. The Kings are 6-3-2 and are coming off of 2 losses in a row. Like the Oilers they haven't played since Sunday either. Much maligned, ex-Oilers fill the Kings lineup, from Dustin Penner to Jarret Stoll to Ethan Moreau to Matt Greene. All four are off to slow starts this year, they have 1 goal between the 4 players. In other news, Linus Omark has been sent down to OKC to make room for Colten Teubert to play tonight against LA. Linus Omark is a polarizing figure in Edmonton. It should be interesting to see how the rest of his career plays out in the Oilers organization. I'm going to venture a guess and say he doesn't have much time left in his tenure here. Andy Sutton will also not play tonight as he will be serving game 2 in a 5 game suspension handed down to him Tuesday.
Forwards Kings
- Kopitar and Richards pose a dynamic one-two punch down the middle that the Oilers will have to be ready for this matchup. Should be a good test for RNH.
Defense Kings
- Kings only win this through name recognition and the Oilers have a banged up defense. Jack Johnson has been their best Dman and Doughty is off to a slow start. Doughty and Hall should continue their feud tonight.
Goaltending Oilers
- I'm gonna say something asinine, but I'll put up the Oilers goaltending against any matchup right now. and that includes Jonathan Quick and his .950 save percentage. If the Oilers win tonight, they are going to need great goaltending again.
Special Teams Oilers
- LA's 4th ranked power play against the Oilers 5th ranked penalty kill should be an epic battle. The Oilers power play is going to have to hurt LA tonight, LA will be physical with the Oilers and they will have to make hay on the power play.
Coaching Oilers
- The Oilers are going to have to fight hard to get matchups tonight since they don't get last change. The Oilers depth will be tested tonight.
Intangibles Kings
- Both teams are well rested but I think home ice could be the difference tonight.
Oilers:
Hall-NugentHopkins-Eberle
Paajarvi-Belanger-Gagner
Smyth-Horcoff-Jones
Eager-Lander-Petrell
Smid-Gilbert
Petry-Potter
Peckham-Teubert
Khabibulin
Dubnyk
Kings:
Gagne-Kopitar-Williams
Clifford-Richards-Brown
Penner-Stoll-Westgarth
Moreau-Richardson-Hunter
Scuderi-Doughty
Mitchell-Johnson
Martinez-Greene
Quick
Bernier
Game Time: 8:30 PM MT @ Los Angelas on Sportsnet West.
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