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Preview: Game 18 - Oilers @ Kings

By Jeff Chapman
Eleven points in seven games so far for Neon Leon.
Eleven points in seven games so far for Neon Leon.
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports


Edmonton

@
Los Angeles
6-11-0, 12 points, .706 p/g Ranks 10-6-0, 20 points, 1.111 p/g
Western Conference - 14th Western Conference - 5th
29th P/G 14th
15th ST 7th
24th S/G 5th
27th Goal 3rd
8 PM MDT
TV - CBC, Sportsnet
Radio - 630 CHED
Staples Center
The opposing view:  Jewels From The Crown


Grounded

Just three minutes into the first period, Taylor Hall put the Oilers up with a nifty backhand, but it would be all the Oilers could muster.  Arizona scored four unanswered goals en route to their ninth win on the season.  Max Domi scored a goal and an assist, while Shane Doan is still a donkey had a power play goal to help seal the deal for the Coyotes.  The Oilers were on the second game of a back-to-back, and they were dealing with the flu.  It showed.

Things don't look to be getting any easier for the Oilers as they're in Los Angeles tonight to take on a Kings team that's allowing just 2.06 goals per game.  Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

"They're getting close to normal again."

Source

That's Oilers head coach Todd McLellan on how close the team is to getting over the flu.

Forward Benoit Pouliot was forced to miss the game against the Coyotes from the flu, and the Oilers just didn't look very good in Arizona.  Especially on the tail of a back-to-back.

The opponents are saying

"He's had a maintenance day...He's a pretty resilient guy, so I don't have any further update than that."

Source
That's Kings Assistant Head Coach Jon Stevens on Anze Kopitar, who's a 'pretty resilient guy'.

Kopitar is currently tied for fifth on the team in scoring with seven points (5-2-7), but he took a day off from practice yesterday for maintenance.   Kopitar took a shot off his foot in the dying seconds of LA's 2-1 victory against the New York Islanders on Thursday, but is said to be fine.

Have some of this
  • The Oilers have sent Anton Slepyshev back to the Bakersfield Condors.  Benoit Pouliot is expected to be back in the lineup after missing last game with the flu.  Matt Hendricks practiced yesterday, and is questionable for tonight.
  • Leon Draisaitl is kicking ass.  In seven games, he has eleven points (4-7-11).  He'll likely be on the top line with 4 and 93.
  • I've got Cam Talbot going for the Oilers tonight (3-7-0, .893 SV% / 3.00 GAA).  The Kings are third in the league in goals against, and will likely counter with Jonathan Quick (7-6-0, .914 SV% / 2.30 GAA / 1 SO).  Backup netminder Jhonas Enroth turned aside 31 of 32 shots against the Islanders on Thursday en route to a 2-1 victory.
  • For the Oilers, Connor McDavid (deep heavy sigh, clavicle),  Lauri Korpikoski (undisclosed / concussion?) Justin Schultz (back) and Rob Klinkhammer (lower body) are out of the lineup.  Los Angeles will be without the services of defenceman Matt Greene (lower body) and forward Dwight King (foot).