The Oilers, the chosen one of God, were the laughing-stock of the league. And it happened after the great sin of 2007, Oiler fans were carried off into exile from which they haven't yet returned. Now, it came to pass that the Oilers were actually closely knit to another group, the Kings. Over the years they had exchanged many players and so they were sometimes regarded as cousins. At this time, the Kings had very few fans who cared about them after so many poor seasons in a row, but the team was both lovely on paper, fun to watch in games and had promise for the future. So when Oiler fans saw this team they took it as their own since there was no one who cared for it.
Edmonton Oilers (26-46-8) @ Los Angeles Kings (45-27-8)
STAPLES Center, 2:00 P.M. MDT
Television: Sportsnet West
More analysis after the jump...
Visiting Team Scouting Report:
The only time the Oilers have claimed two points on the road since Christmas was on February 11th against the L.A. Kings. So you might think the Kings are terrible. But it isn't the case. The Kings are a playoff team and they have plenty to play for. Two wins in their last two games would give them the fifth seed in the West and a first round match-up with the Phoenix Coyotes and a (very small) chance at home ice advantage in the second round of the playoffs. They have three former Oilers in Matt Greene, Jarret Stoll and That Other Guy. Once the playoffs start, I'll be cheering for these guys no matter what and especially in they finish sixth and play the Canucks. In a sad sort of way, the Kings feel to me a little bit more like the Oilers than the Oilers do. And then I looked at the rosters and noticed that both teams have the same number of guys who were a part of that beauty team in 2006. Go Kings!
Expected Lineups
Edmonton Oilers (26-46-8):
Moreau - Horcoff - Pisani
Penner - Potulny - Cogliano
Comrie - Pouliot - Stortini
Jones - Stortini - Linglet
Gilbert - Whitney
Strudwick - Chorney
Johnson - Arsene
Dubnyk
Los Angeles Kings (45-27-8)
Richardson - Kopitar - Simmonds
Smyth - Stoll - Williams
Modin - Handzus - Brown
Frolov - Halpern - Clune
Scuderi - Doughty
Jones - Greene
Johnson - O'Donnell
Quick
Behind the Numbers:
- Ignoring the lockout season of 1994-95 the Oilers have never accumulated less than the 60 points they managed in 1992-93. They just need one more point. And one more win would be evidence that I'm a prophet! It has been written: Goilers!
- Ryan Smyth is still pretty awesome. In the three years since he signed with Avalanche he has averaged 66.3 games played per season (assuming he plays in the last two games of this season) and has put up at least (it depends if he adds to his totals in these last two games) 0.74 points per game. Even in terms of raw point totals he's outpointing Dustin Penner 148-147 in the last three years. He's also outheartandsouling Penner 1-0.
- Jarret Stoll looks like he's having his best year since 2005-06. He has 45 points in 71 games and also has a +12 rating. Way to go Jarret!
- Matt Greene leads all Kings' defenders in minor penalties with 29 despite placing a solid fifth in total time on ice (and sixth in time on ice per game). But he also did this. Damned impressive. Glad to see nothing has changed, Matt.