TALE OF THE TAPE:
Game: Edmonton Oilers (6-11-0) at LA Kings (10-6-0)
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Time: 8:00 PM MT
Where to find it: TV: CBC – Radio: 630 CHED
Edmonton Oilers Preview:
Less than three weeks ago, the Kings visited the Oilers in Edmonton and Connor McDavid scored to send the game to overtime, but he didn’t really score. Tonight, the two teams meet for the first time since that fateful night and the Oilers look to make it out of their four game road trip with a .500 record.
The game will be a tough one, as the Kings are red hot as of late going 7-3 in their last ten games as well as outscoring opponents 32 – 14 in that time frame. Taylor Hall, who ranks second in the NHL in shots with 73 and fifth in the NHL in points scored, will continue to be heavily relied on alongside Leon Draisaitl to put up points for the Oilers. On the backend, Andrej Sekera will look to continue to build off his three game point streak (1G, 2A).
Interesting thing about tonight’s game, Todd McLellan doesn’t even know who’s playing:
Yes. No. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.
That was more or less the rundown on the Edmonton Oilers lineup situation heading into Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.
Head coach Todd McLellan said he has a few players who are fighting the flu.
“I couldn’t tell you who we’re playing or not playing until game time,” he said after a team meeting. McLellan did not rule out the possibility of having to call up a player from the Bakersfield Condors.
Once we get any further updates on the lineup, we will update them in this preview.
For the Oilers to come out of this four game road trip at .500 would be great for a team that had gone 3-12-1 against the Blackhawks, Ducks, Coyotes and Kings last year. These are the things that the Oilers, and Oilers fans should be looking towards. Making progress and winning more games against our division will prove to be key for the team moving forward.
The Otherside:
Anze Kopitar, who took a shot off his lower leg in a 2-1 win against the New York Islanders on Thursday, did not skate Friday but is fine, assistant coach John Stevens told LA Kings Insider. “He’s had a maintenance day,” Stevens told the website. “He’s a pretty resilient guy, so I don’t have any further update than that.” Forward Jordan Weal, who has played two games this season, took Kopitar’s spot on a line with Tanner Pearson and Marian Gaborik, an indicator the Kings don’t think Kopitar will miss time. This is the final game of a five-game homestand (2-2-0). The Kings play the next five games on the road before returning to Los Angeles on Nov. 28. – nhl.com
Line Combos and Starting Goalies:
Lineups to be updated when available.
Oilers (Cam Talbot):
Kings (Jonathan Quick, unconfirmed)
Any ideas on how to improve my game previews? Send me an email at zjlaing@gmail.com.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BdZX8vRdhs]
