Oilers at Ducks
The Edmonton Oilers hope that a coaching change will continue reversing their fortunes as they resume their three-game California road trip Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. Edmonton began the Ken Hitchcock era with a 4-2 overtime victory over San Jose on Tuesday after firing Todd McLellan earlier in the day, giving it two wins in eight games (2-5-1) since a promising 8-4-1 start.
"That's what it has to be (a wake-up call)," Edmonton's Connor McDavid, the two-time defending Art Ross Trophy winner, told reporters Wednesday after scoring his 100th career goal. "Anytime you bring in a new coach, that's kind of the last option I would say before shipping everyone out. This is a chance for us to come together and turn this around." Anaheim is coming off a 4-3 victory over Vancouver on Wednesday that snapped its three-game slide (0-1-2) and hasn't put together a winning streak while going 4-8-4 since starting the season 5-1-1. "We're taking small steps right now," Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf told reporters after recording a goal and an assist for the second straight game. "We're getting better and better. We're going to continue to build and try to get this group pushing the right way every night and every shift." The clubs have split their last four regular-season contests - all one-goal affairs, with three decided in overtime or a shootout - since Anaheim defeated Edmonton four games to two in the 2017 Western Conference semifinals.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), FS West (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE OILERS (10-10-1): McDavid (team highs of 13 goals and 31 points) and Leon Draisaitl (13 goals) have combined for six goals and 11 points during their four-game point streaks. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has notched 20 points, but no other Edmonton player has more than nine - with Milan Lucic (five points, club-worst minus-8 rating) scoring once this season and twice in his last 67 games. Cam Talbot (5-8-1, 3.31 goals-against average, .888 save percentage) has lost five straight starts, allowing 20 goals during that span.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (9-9-5): Ondrej Kase, who recorded 20 goals in his second NHL season in 2017-18, has scored in each of his last two games -- his fourth and fifth contests of the campaign after missing the first 18 with a concussion. Getzlaf and Pontus Aberg share the club lead with six goals apiece while Rickard Rakell (three goals this season, 99 career) continues to struggle with one tally in his last 13 games. Anaheim continues to play four rookie defensemen with Hampus Lindholm (lower body) and Cam Fowler (face) out indefinitely.
OVERTIME
1. McDavid became the first Edmonton player to record 30 points in 21 or fewer games since Mark Messier needed 19 contests to accomplish the feat in 1989-90.
2. Ducks G John Gibson (7-7-4, 2.58, .927), who posted his 100th career win on Wednesday, is 6-1-3 with a 1.97 GAA and .933 save percentage in 10 contests versus the Oilers.
3. Anaheim has allowed three power-play goals on four chances over its last two games.