Tonight, the Edmonton Oilers open up what is their final road trip of the 2016-17 regular season. The club opens the three game slate tonight in Los Angeles against a Kings team that has officially been knocked out of playoff contention. This is the fifth and final meeting between the sides, and the second at Staples Center this season. Edmonton has won the last three meetings and leads the series 3-1.
With a victory tonight, Edmonton can clinch a top three spot in the Pacific Division and avoid sliding into a Wild Card spot. A victory could also push Edmonton back into first place in the division, depending on what happens down the road in Anaheim between the Ducks and Flames.
Cam Talbot starts for the Oilers, while Jonathan Quick tends the net for the Kings.
Keys To The Game:
Edmonton: A quick start is key tonight for the Oilers. LA was just eliminated last time out and has absolutely nothing to play for in this game. Get on the Kings early, maybe score a quick goal, and see if LA has the mental toughness to fight back. Don’t let the Kings get into the game early and Edmonton should earn two points.
Los Angeles: Even though the Oilers are far tougher than in previous years, the Kings best chance to win this game is to play their physical style and grind down the Oilers. Playing hard on the Oilers’ defenders could create some chances for a team that is starving for goals, and it could disrupt Edmonton’s offensive flow.
Players To Watch:
Edmonton: Cam Talbot has a chance to make history tonight for the Oilers. With a victory, Talbot will earn his 41st win of the season, which would push him ahead of Grant Fuhr (1987-88) for the single season wins record by a goaltender. Talbot has been locked in during his last three starts, and I expect nothing less tonight.
Los Angeles: Jarome Iginla has been a pain in the ass for the Oilers since his career began. Honestly, I think that is the highest compliment you can give an opposing player. Tonight may just be Iggy’s last game against the Oilers and I don’t think he’ll go quietly. I’ll be sure to watch this legend closely one last time.
The Lines:
The Oilers assigned forward Jujhar Khaira to the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL today, which isn’t much of a shock. While Khaira has shown well at times, he wasn’t getting into the lineup and he needs to play. He’ll help the Condors during their playoff push.
Edmonton Oilers Lines:
Patrick Maroon – Connor McDavid – Leon Draisaitl
Milan Lucic – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle
Benoit Pouliot – David Desharnais – Zack Kassian
Drake Caggiula – Mark Letestu – Anton Slepyshev
Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera – Kris Russell
Darnell Nurse – Eric Gryba
Cam Talbot
Los Angeles Kings Lines:
Tanner Pearson – Anze Kopitar – Tyler Toffoli
Adrian Kempe – Jeff Carter – Jarome Iginla
Trevor Lewis – Alex Roach – Dustin Brown
Kyle Clifford – Nic Dowd – Jonny Brodzinski
Derek Forbort – Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin – Alec Martinez
Brayden McNabb – Paul Ladue
Jonathan Quick
Game Notes:
This is a pretty big game for the Oilers in terms of seeding. As mentioned above, a victory tonight would clinch a top three spot in the Pacific Division as Calgary would be at least five points back with only two games remaining for the Flames. A victory by the Oilers would also put them four points ahead of San Jose in the standings.
Even though the Oilers have won three in a row against the Kings overall, Staples Center has been a house of horrors for this club. The Oilers have lost ten consecutive games to the Kings in LA (h/t Dean Millard), last winning on November 3rd 2011. A little perspective for how long ago that really was? Ryan Smyth and Lennart Petrell scored the goals that night.
Connor McDavid is now closing the door on the Art Ross race. The dynamic forward has 94 points and leads Patrick Kane (87) by seven points. Brand Marchand (85), Sidney Crosby (84) and Nicklas Backstrom (84) all trail McDavid and are running out of track. The debate is no longer will he win Art Ross, but can McDavid hit 100 points? Personally, I think he absolutely can.
Prediction:
In a season full of broken trends, the Oilers come out flying tonight and break another, snapping their ten game losing streak at Staples Center. The Oilers take the Kings out of this game early, and the result is never in doubt as the club wins it 4-1.
Connor McDavid, Patrick Maroon, Drake Caggiula and David Desharnais score for the Oilers, while Jarome Iginla gets the lone LA tally in what might be his final game against Edmonton.
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