OILERS GAME DAY

Edmonton Oilers at

Los Angeles Kings 8:30 p.m., MT at Staples Center,

TV: Sportsnet, radio: 630 CHED

NUMBERS GAME

The numbers haven’t looked good on Edmonton this season, but they’ve been dominant against the Pacific Division, going 10-2. They need that to continue as they head out on a three-game road trip through Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose.

GETTING BUSY

The Oilers wanted games, they’re getting games. They play L.A. Wednesday and have back to backs in Anaheim and San Jose Friday and Saturday — with 8:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 8 p.m. MT starts. It’s a grind that will have them playing until 11 p.m. on their biological clocks three times in four nights, but it’s also a chance to make up precious ground.

LIKE THEM APPLES?

Ryan Strome has been picking up steam, and points, in his last few games. After an 11-game pointless streak, he has five assists in his last three games as he takes on more minutes and power-play responsibility.

REDEMPTION TIME

The three teams Edmonton faces on this trip shredded them on special teams the first time around. The Kings went three-for-six on the power play, the Sharks went two-for-three and the Ducks went one-fortwo for a total of six-for-11 with the man advantage.

HEATING UP

When Leon Draisaitl starts to get hot, he can put up numbers in a hurry and he’s on one of those tangents now. He has two goals and 10 assists in the last eight games. In mid-December, he had 10 points in a six-game stretch and when he returned from his concussion, he put up nine points in seven games. Those three runs account for 31 of his 45 points.

TONIGHT’S LINEUPS

EDMONTON

Mike Cammalleri, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl Milan Lucic, Jujhar Khaira, Jesse Puljujarvi

Patrick Maroon, Ryan Strome, Drake Caggiula

Iiro Pakarinen, Mark Letestu, Anton Slepyshev Darnell Nurse, Kris Russell, Oscar Klefbom, Matt Benning, Andrej Sekera, Brandon Davidson

Cam Talbot, Al Montoya LOS ANGELES

Alex Iafallo, Anze Kopitar, Tyler Toffoli

Tanner Pearson, Adrian Kempe, Dustin Brown Kyle Clifford, Torrey Mitchell, Trevor Lewis

Andy Andreoff, Mike Amadio, Jonny Brodzinski

Derek Forbort, Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin, Paul Ladue, Kevin Gravel, Christian Folin, Jonathan Quick,

Darcy Kuemper

INJURIES

Oilers: C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (chest), D Adam Larsson (personal)

Kings: Jeff Carter, C (ankle), Alec Martinez, D, (undisclosed)

WHO TO WATCH

McDavid vs. Doughty This is growing into an epic, high-skilled rivalry with the best skater in the NHL going head to head with one of the best two-way defencemen in the NHL.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Edmonton — PP 15.2% (30th in league), PK 71.6% (31st in league)

Los Angeles — PP 19.2% (20th in league), PK 85.5% (1st in league)