Oilers at Ducks
THE STORY: It looks like the Anaheim Ducks have run out of gas. Anaheim was 20 points out of playoff position Jan. 6 before a 17-3-4 run brought it within six points of the eighth and final spot. The Ducks, though, have lost three of their last four games and may need to earn a daunting 29 points in their last 16 games to reach the postseason. The journey starts Monday when they host the Edmonton Oilers.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, SNET-W (Oilers), FS Prime Ticket (Ducks)
ABOUT THE OILERS (25-33-6): Edmonton broke out of the gate with an 8-2-2 start before reality set in. The Oilers have some of the top young offensive talent in the NHL, including Calder Trophy candidate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but do not yet have the defense and goaltending it takes to become a playoff team. Second-year right wing Jordan Eberle leads the Oilers with 28 goals and 61 points in 60 games after finishing with 43 points in 69 games last season, and is ninth in the NHL with a 19.6 shooting percentage among those with 20 games played. Taylor Hall (23 goals) may not play after injuring his shoulder in Friday’s 3-1 loss to Dallas. He didn’t practice Sunday.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (28-28-10): The other huge obstacle – actually five – is the teams Anaheim must jump to reach the postseason, including San Jose, which is on pace to finish with 95 points. Jonas Hiller has started 60 of the Ducks’ 66 games this season, including the last 25 – a franchise record. He is 15-6-4 during that span. Special teams hurt Anaheim in its 4-2 loss at Los Angeles on Saturday. The power play went 0 for 4 while the Kings scored twice with the man advantage in four chances. The Ducks’ No. 3 power play from last season has slumped to 20th.
OVERTIME:
1. Anaheim has won four straight meetings, including 5-0 on Jan. 13 in the only encounter this season, and has won nine of the last 10.
2. Ducks defenseman Sheldon Brookbank has three goals in his last nine games after scoring one in his first 252 career contests.
3. The under is 6-0 in the Ducks’ last six games as the home favorite.