OILERS GAME DAY

Five keys to victory for the Edmonton Oilers as they play host to the Arizona Coyotes Monday beginning at 7 p.m. at Rogers Place. (TV: Sportsnet, radio: 630 CHED).

1. Return of Adam Larsson

The Oilers defenceman left the team in San Jose on the last road trip to return to Sweden for the funeral of his dad Robert, 50, who died while visiting his son in Edmonton. The hard-nosed Larsson, who was terrific last season in a shutdown role with partner Oscar Klefbom, has had an up-and-down season on the ice coupled with the tragedy of his dad’s death. He hasn’t gotten into any real rhythm defensively. He needs a restart next season.

2. More of Ethan Bear

The stats show that Bear is minus-4 in his first two NHL games, but the fifth-round draft pick, who was the WHL’s best defenceman last year while playing in Seattle, has shown an ability to move the puck crisply. The Oilers have trouble getting the puck up ice and Bear has no trouble making passes. He needs work on the defensive end, but this is a kid you can work with. He’s even getting some power-play time.

3. Elusive goal for No. 27

Winger Milan Lucic has had more chances playing with Connor McDavid the last few weeks, but he still can’t get a puck past a goalie. The rut’s up to 28 games now, a nightmarish drought for Lucic who’s been stuck at nine goals since Dec. 23 when he scored against Montreal. Lucic has always been around a 20goal scorer with more assists than snipes, but he has yet to score in 2018. That’s something we all know and so does he.

4. Beware of Ekman-Larsson

Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson figures to be the No. 1 target for the Oilers if he decides not to re-sign with the Coyotes next season. Stopping the big Swede has always been a problem for the Oilers since he’s got more points against Edmonton than any other team.

5. First-shot Blues

The Oilers have given up a goal on the game’s first shot 13 times, which is one out of every five games. With that sort of record, it might be an idea to hope the Coyotes take their first shot from just over centre or let Niklas Hjalmarsson take it. The three-time Cup winner in Chicago doesn’t have a goal yet this season.

KEY MATCHUP McDavid vs. Antti Raanta

Raanta blanked the Oilers 1-0 the last time they played in Arizona, but nobody’s been hotter than the Oilers captain, who has 15 goals in his last 16 games. McDavid is still more of a playmaker (49 assists) than scorer (30 goals), but he’s taken it upon himself to shoot more. He has 61 shots in those 16 games, which dates back to Feb. 1 against Colorado. It’s been a crazy run for McDavid. He doesn’t have a goal in seven of those 16, but has 15 goals in the other nine games.