GAME PREVIEW - Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

Edmonton Oilers (11-11-2) (6th, Pacfic)

Los Angeles Kings (9-14-1) (8th, Pacific)

7 PM MST

Rogers Place

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Jewels From The Crown

KLEF-BOMB

Oscar Klefbom scored the only goal that counted in Tuesday’s 1-0 overtime win against the Dallas Stars. Connor McDavid nearly ended the game 90 seconds earlier after he scored a goal that was nullified, so it took another goal from Oscar Klefbom to send this one on. Mikko Koskinen earned his second shutout of the season for turning aside all 28 shots, while Ken Hitchcock won his Edmonton home-coaching debut. Oilers are back at a Bettman .500, they’ll look to add another win as the Oilers take on the Kings for the second time in five days. Can the Oilers start stringing some wins together?

Let’s go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying:

“I’ve seen him make those passes to Connor a number of times, so I just tried to be there for him...We almost have a mental advantage going into 3-on-3.”

Sourc

That’s Oscar Klefbom on scoring the game winning goal in Tuesday’s 1-0 OT win over Dallas

If you’re going to hold off until late November to score your first goal of the season, overtime is a pretty good time in which to do it.

The Kings are saying

“I feel healthy, I feel good...I feel healthy out there. It’s just like I said, I’m happy to be practicing with these guys full time and getting the opportunity to come on the road with them. It’s been a while since I was able to do that with these guys, so it’s fun”

Source

That’s Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick prior to Tuesday’s game against Vancouver. Quick had been on injured reserve for the previous dozen games due to a lower body injury. Cal Petersen tended the twine in Vancouver, his seventh straight. There’s a chance Quick could go tonight for Los Angeles.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• TINKERING HITCHCOCK: Hitchcock continues his roster tinkering. I don’t think he’s done, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him run the same lines tonight as he did against Dallas on Tuesday. This includes Jason Garrison and Chris Wideman catching a scratch along with Ty Rattie. I think the Ty Rattie Experience is about done in Edmonton.
• Thought Alex Chiasson and Jesse Puljujarvi looked good enough on the top six for another sixty minutes as well
• NET GAINS: Can’t turn away from a shutout. That’s why I’ve got Mikko Koskinen tonight for the Oilers (6-2-1, .923 SV% / 2.29 GAA / 2 SO). I’ve got Jonathan Quick going for the Kings (0-3-1, .845 SV% / 4.55 GAA) tonight. That’s a small sample for Jonathan Quick, but those numbers are noxious.
• TALBOT TRADE WINDS? TSN’s Frank Seravalli suggested that Cam Talbot may be on the trading block in Edmonton. That may or not be true. If it is, Talbot at least partially controls his fate with a modified NTC. Talbot can choose ten teams he will accept a trade to. Would the Penguins make sense?
• SICK BAY: Andrej Sekera is skating (!) though he remains out for the Oilers (ankle) as does Tobias Rieder (upper body). For the Kings, they’re without forwards Trevor Lewis (foot) and Carl Hagelin (knee) and goalie Jack Campbell (knee).