Kings at Oilers
The Los Angeles Kings will look to defeat the Edmonton Oilers for the second time this week and push their winning streak to a season-high three games on Thursday when the Pacific Division rivals meet at Rogers Place. Jonathan Quick, who was a spectator in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime victory versus Vancouver, is expected to get the nod and end a 12-game absence due to a lower-body injury.
While rookie Cal Petersen has filled in admirably, Quick is a 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner and a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist that has scribbled his name next to a majority of the franchise's goaltending records. This season hasn't gone according to plan for the 32-year-old Quick, who owns an 0-3-1 mark with a 4.55 goals-against average and .845 save percentage in four games. Edmonton has been pushing itself to the limit in its last four contests, venturing past regulation for the third time in that span on Tuesday by opening a three-game homestand with a 1-0 overtime win versus Dallas. Oscar Klefbom converted a 2-on-1 rush with Leon Draisaitl in overtime to give new coach Ken Hitchcock his first coaching victory with the Oilers in his native Edmonton.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), Sportsnet West (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE KINGS (9-14-1): Dustin Brown followed up his fifth career hat trick in Los Angeles' 5-2 win over Edmonton on Sunday by setting up a goal and scoring 53 seconds into overtime versus Vancouver. Like Brown, captain Anze Kopitar registered a three-point performance against the Oilers (one goal, two assists) before pushing his point total to five (one goal, four assists) in the last two contests after setting up both goals against the Canucks. Defenseman Drew Doughty was held off the scoresheet versus Vancouver, two days after he pushed his point streak to four games by registering his team-leading 12th assist against the Oilers.
ABOUT THE OILERS (11-11-2): Former Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid is known for the sizzling speed and creativity on the ice, but that style of play is taking a backseat with a new bench boss in town. "I think we're getting the message how (Hitchcock) wants us to play. It's not pretty hockey. It's a grind, it's defensive but it's effective," the 21-year-old McDavid said. The NHL scoring leader in each of the last two seasons, McDavid is still providing offense -- albeit to the tune of five points (one goal, four assists) during the 2-1-1 stretch under Hitchcock.
OVERTIME
1. While Edmonton's Cam Talbot has dropped six straight decisions, fellow G Mikko Koskinen turned aside all 28 shots he faced against the Stars to improve to 3-1-1 in his last five outings.
2. Los Angeles C Alex Iafallo, who scored a goal in his last outing, will skate in his 100th career game on Thursday.
3. The Oilers have dropped four of five encounters (1-3-1) versus Pacific Division representatives.