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Oilers @ Ducks Game 77 Preview

Viktor Fasth to start against his former club

Fasth set to start against his old team.
Fasth set to start against his old team.
Derek Leung


Oilers3

@

Anaheim
26-41-9, .802 p/g Ranks 49-18-8, 1.414 p/g
Western Conference: 14th Western Conference: 2nd
29th P/G 3rd
26th ST 7th
29th ES 2nd
30th Goal 10th
8 PM MDT - Sportsnet West
Honda Center
The opposing view: Anaheim Calling
Tickets - TiqIQ


Snatching Defeat From The Jaws Of Mediocrity

The Oilers played a pretty decent road game in San Jose last night, but it was all for naught. Leading 4-3 with ten minutes to play, the Oilers would go on to lose the game by a score of 5-4. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would be credited with a pair of goals and an assist, Joradn Eberle had a goal and a pair of helpers, Taylor Hall finished with four points (1G-3A), but the Oilers would end up with the short end of the stick at the end of sixty minutes. The Oilers yielded zero shorthanded goals as well. Things are really looking up on this side of the street.

Tonight, the Oilers are in Anaheim, where Oilers goaltender Viktor Fasth is expected to get his first start since injuring his neck in practice. Onward.

The Oilers are saying

"We knew coming in we couldn't take penalties, but for whatever reason, a couple that we probably should't have taken and it comes back to bite us..."

That's Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on how some ill-timed penalties might have thrown a wrench into what might have been an Oilers victory.

Last night's penalty sheet was a bit full. Mark Fraser took thirteen minutes in penalties (about a minute more than he was on the ice). David Perron ended up taking a late penalty as well, but the Sharks had already claimed the lead and they weren't letting it go.

The Opponent is saying

"I think it's great in the moment. It gives you confidence from now on you're never out of a game"

It's not often you can say that you came from behind after being down four goals in a game, but that's precisely what the Ducks can say after Monday's 5-4 overtime victory against the Jets. Even more impressive: the Ducks didn't score until nearly two minutes were remaining in the second period. Granted, the Jets goaltending isn't at a serviceable NHL backup's level when Ondrej Pavelec is in, but five goals in 23-ish minutes certainly is nothing to sneeze at.

Have some of this
  • Viktor Fasth is expected to get the start for the Oilers. Fasth has been out of action since suffering a neck sprain in practice after colliding with forward Anton Lander a little more than a week ago. Fasth has played in four games played since joining the Oilers. He's 2-0-1 with a .899 SV% with Edmonton so far.
  • Goaltender Frederik Andersen will start between the pipes for the Ducks as the Ducks' confidence might be wavering from Jonas Hiller. Andersen's numbers are nice and crispy (18-5, .924SV%) so far this year.
  • Tyler Pitlick (knee) was in yesterday's lineup, although he didn't log any ice time in yesterday's game. I'd suggest there might be an available replacement, but the team is already playing Philip Larsen next to Will Acton on the fourth line, so, good luck with all that. UPDATE: THE OILERS HAVE RECALLED STEVE PINIZZOTTO ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS. We're cool now.

The Edmonton Oilers

Taylor Hall - Sam Gagner - David Perron

Anton Lander - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jordan Eberle

Ryan Smyth - Boyd Gordon - Tyler Pitlick

Matt Hendricks - Will Acton - Steve Pinizzotto

Martin Marincin - Jeff Petry

Oscar Klefbom - Justin Schultz

Mark Fraser - Anton Belov

Viktor Fasth

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Anaheim Ducks

Jakob Silfverberg - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry

Patrick Maroon - Mathieu Perreault - Teemu Selanne

Andrew Cogliano - Saku Koivu - Daniel Winnik

Kyle Palmieri - Nick Bonino - Matt Beleskey

Hampus Lindholm - Luca Sbisa

Stephane Robidas - Francois Beauchemin

Bryan Allen - Sami Vatanen

Frederik Andersen