Edmonton Oilers (23-24-3) (6th, Pacific)

Los Angeles Kings (28-19-5) 5th, Pacific)

830 PM MDT

Staples Center

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Jewels From The Crown

BREAKDOWN

Hopefully you didn’t miss Connor McDavid’s four goal effort against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. Four goals and an assist for McDavid, Iiro Pakarinen had himself a goal and so did Leon Draisaitl. McDavid and Draisaitl had a power play goal as the Oilers took down the best team from the Eastern Conference.

The Oilers begin a three game road trip tonight against Los Angeles. Things are very tight for the Oilers, as they’re chasing a wild card spot that’s currently twelve points away. In other words, it would behoove them to win these games against Pacific Division rivals in regulation.

Let’s go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

“When you’re that good, everyone looks up to you and everyone is in awe every shift”

Source

That’s Oilers forward Ryan Strome on Connor McDavid.

YES, HE’S THAT GOOD

He’s that good. It’s like sitting on a lottery ticket that you don’t know is a winner. The game can change on his stick in less than a breath’s time.

Look at poor Sergachev. The play’s over before he realizes it starts.

The Kings are saying

“There was an intention to get pucks in deep...There was good pursuit after the puck. We turned pucks over and created opportunities from it”

Source

That’s Kings coach John Stevens on LA’s 6-0 victory over the Coyotes over the weekend.

Haven’t heard a ‘pucks in deep’ line in a few hours. LA had a six pack against the Coyotes over the weekend with goals from six different Kings. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper hasn’t allowed a goal in nearly three straight games.

Have some of this

• A GOOD START: Edmonton did well by taking care of business when the Lightning came to town on Monday. They’ve got 50 points on the season, and they’ll need about 45 more in order to make a serious push. The Kings have 61 points right now and are sitting on the Wild Card ledge. Oilers need as many two point wins as they can get their hands on.
• STROME SUCCESS: Don’t look now, but Ryan Strome has five assists in his last three games.
• With 61 points, the Kings are teetering on the brink of a Wild Card spot. They’ve got three teams ahead of them at 62 points, so they’ve no doubt got their work cut out for them if they’re going to be a player in a couple of months. Anze Kopitar (20-35-55) leads the team in scoring over the course of 52 games, while Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty are tied for second place with 37 points each.
• LA’s success this year hasn’t been so much about scoring as it’s been about keeping the puck out of the net. The Kings are 19th overall in goals per game scored, they’re second overall in goals allowed. The power play is a lukewarm 22nd overall, but Los Angeles’ penalty kill is first overall in the league at 85.5%.
• NET GAINS: Cam Talbot is the likely starter for the Oilers (19-17-2, .902 SV% / 3.10 GAA / 1 SO) Jonathan Quick (20-18-2, .919 SV% / 2.51 GAA / 3 SO) is likely for the Kings, but don’t be too surprised if Darcy Kuemper and his shutout streak make an appearance tonight.
• SICK BAY: Edmonton is without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (ribs) and Adam Larsson (personal). The Kings will be without Jeff Carter (ankle). Defenceman Alec Martinez (lower body) has practiced and is questionable for tonight’s game.