Kings at Oilers
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Kings try to avoid a letdown when they face off against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on Sunday. Los Angeles began its three-game road trip Saturday with a 4-1 triumph at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a showdown between former Calgary coach and general manager Darryl Sutter and brother Brent, who currently guides the Flames. The Kings improved to 7-1-4 overall under Darryl Sutter and 3-0-2 in their last five road games. Edmonton is 0-1-1 on its three-game homestand and enters with a five-game overall losing streak. The Oilers, who have scored a total of two goals over their last three contests, have dropped five of seven at home and 12 of 14 overall.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), Rogers Sportsnet West (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE KINGS (22-15-8): Anze Kopitar proved to be fine after leaving Thursday's overtime loss to Dallas as he scored a power-play goal in Saturday's triumph. Kopitar departed the contest against the Stars in the third period with an upper-body injury after taking a high hit from Dallas captain Brenden Morrow. Los Angeles earned at least one point in 12 straight meetings with Edmonton (8-0-4) before losing the first meeting of the season in regulation on Nov. 3.
ABOUT THE OILERS (16-23-4): Considering the team's recent lack of success, it's no surprise many of its top players are struggling. Nikolai Khabibulin has allowed 21 goals while going 0-5-1 in his last six starts and Shawn Horcoff has scored once in his last 21 contests. Ales Hemsky has recorded one goal in his last 15 games and just four in 30 matches this season. Sam Gagner's fighting major against Anaheim on Friday was his second this campaign, one more than Oilers pugilist Ben Eager.
OVERTIME:
1. Edmonton has won only 12 of its last 54 games against Pacific Division opponents.
2. The road team has captured 13 of the last 16 meetings in the all-time series.
3. Los Angeles is riding a six-game winning streak at Edmonton.