Music: {allcanada} DUCKS (19-6-5) at OILERS (7-17-5)

Thursday, December 11, 2014

{allcanada} DUCKS (19-6-5) at OILERS (7-17-5)

Christmas - Michael Bublé / Elf (2003) / Scrooged

Friday, December 12, 2014

9:30 PM ET

DUCKS (19-6-5) at OILERS (7-17-5)

TV: PRIME, SNW

Season series: The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 on Wednesday in the first game of their home-and-home. Ryan Kesler scored the game-winner, and goalie Frederik Andersen made 21 saves to earn his 15th win.

Ducks team scope: Anaheim has won five straight games and leads the NHL in points (43). "We don't let much define us in here when we deal with adversity," Kesler told the Ducks website after the win Wednesday. "We just keep battling. We're playing well. We're going to keep riding this." Andersen has made 13 straight starts (8-3-2), but get Friday off; goalie Jason LaBarbera was activated from injured reserve Thursday after being out since Oct. 29 because of a hand injury. The Ducks also signed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a one-year contract Tuesday, but he has not been recalled from Norfolk of the American Hockey League. Forward Dany Heatley was assigned to Norfolk on a long-term injury conditioning loan Thursday. The 33-year-old hasn't played since Nov. 9 because of a groin injury; he has no points in four games in his first season with Anaheim. The Ducks continue a five-game road trip Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets.

Oilers team scope: The loss Wednesday was Edmonton's second in a row since snapping an 11-game losing streak (0-7-4) Sunday. Defenseman Brandon Davidson made his NHL debut Wednesday. The 23-year-old was plus-1 and had two hits and one blocked shot in 13:08. "It was exciting to get my first one, for sure," Davidson said. "I'm really happy, but I would have been a little happier if we could have gotten the two points." Goalie Viktor Fasth made his third start against his former team, allowing two goals on 34 shots in his first action since Dec. 1. Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored for the Oilers, who continue to struggle to produce offense. They are ranked 29th in the League in goals per game with 2.17. "We've got some guys who have proven they can put the puck in the net, and for whatever reason we're just having trouble getting it in there right now," coach Dallas Eakins told the Oilers website Wednesday. "It's something you have to be extremely patient for. It eventually turns, but we need eventually to be now."

Team Stats