Oilers at Kings
THE STORY: Ryan Smyth was given a hero's welcome when he returned to Edmonton as a member of the Oilers. He probably shouldn't expect the same reaction in his first game back in Los Angeles. Smyth and the Oilers make their first visit to Tinseltown on Thursday night in a Western Conference showdown with the Kings. Smyth left Los Angeles after requesting a trade so he could be closer to his Alberta home. The Kings capitulated, but some fans were upset at the request and are certain to make their feelings known Thursday. Smyth has been better than advertised for the Oilers so far, providing plenty of veteran leadership while averaging nearly a point per game. He'll try to help Edmonton fashion its first six-game winning streak since March 2002. The Kings are coming off consecutive losses against the Phoenix Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet West, Fox Sports West
ABOUT THE OILERS (7-2-2): Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was feted with the NHL rookie of the month award following a sensational October that saw him record 11 points in 11 games. The 18-year-old posted a Twitter message Wednesday expressing his excitement at making his first-ever trip to California. It wasn't so hospitable to the Oilers last season as they dropped both games in Los Angeles on the way to a four-game sweep in the head-to-head series.
ABOUT THE KINGS (6-3-2): Thursday kicks off a pivotal stretch for Los Angeles, which plays 13 of its next 18 games at home. The Kings went 25-13-3 in Los Angeles last season but endured stretches of inconsistency that contributed to their seventh-place finish in the conference and eventual first-round playoff loss. They couldn't have asked for a better start to their road schedule, sitting 3-1-2 away from Los Angeles so far this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Smyth finished with 100 points (45 goals, 55 assists) over two seasons with the Kings. He has 24 goals and 24 assists in 48 career games against Los Angeles.
2. Kings forward Mike Richards hasn't seen much of the Oilers, having spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Flyers. He has been mostly ineffective against them, registering a lone assist in five games.