Music: {allcanada} Rangers visit Oilers, aim for second win to open trip

Sunday, December 14, 2014

{allcanada} Rangers visit Oilers, aim for second win to open trip

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Movie)

EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers have one win in their past 15 games, which came a week ago when they skipped the morning skate before defeating the San Jose Sharks 2-1.

In spirit of the win that snapped an 11-game losing streak, Edmonton decided to forgo their skate again Sunday prior to hosting the New York Rangers at Rexall Place.

The Rangers also decided not to skate after defeating the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Saturday in the first of a four-game road trip.

The Oilers are expected to start goaltender Ben Scrivens on Sunday. Scrivens made seven saves without conceding a goal in relief of Viktor Fasth in a 4-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 29 saves in the win against Vancouver. He could be on the bench in favor of backup Cam Talbot on Sunday in the second of back-to-back games.

Oilers right wing Teddy Purcell practiced on the top line with Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Saturday and will start with the pair against the Rangers.

The Oilers have one win against Western Conference opponents this year (1-15-4) but have a 6-3-1 record against the Eastern Conference. Edmonton's last win prior to Dec. 7 came against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 9, which was also the Rangers' only regulation loss to a Western Conference opponent this season (4-1-3).

Here are the projected lineups:

Rangers

Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Mats Zuccarello

J.T. Miller - Derek Stepan - Martin St. Louis

Carl Hagelin - Kevin Hayes - Lee Stempniak

Chris Kreider - Dominic Moore - Jesper Fast

Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi

Marc Staal - Dan Boyle

John Moore - Kevin Klein

Cam Talbot

Henrik Lundqvist

Scratched: Tanner Glass, Matt Hunwick

Injured: None

Oilers

Taylor Hall – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Teddy Purcell

Nail Yakupov – Leon Draisaitl – Jordan Eberle

David Perron – Mark Arcobello – Tyler Pitlick

Luke Gazdic – Matt Hendricks – Steven Pinizzotto

Andrew Ference – Justin Schultz

Oscar Klefbom – Jeff Petry

Brandon Davison – Mark Fayne

Ben Scrivens

Viktor Fasth

Scratched: Keith Aulie, Brad Hunt

Injured: Benoit Pouliot (foot), Boyd Gordon (back), Nikita Nikitin (back).

Status report: Edmonton recalled defenseman Brad Hunt from the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League, although he's not expected to be in the lineup Sunday. Hunt started the season with Edmonton, scoring a goal in six games before being assigned to Oklahoma City.

Who's hot: Nash is on a nine-game point streak with six goals and five assists in that span. He had two assists on Saturday. … Miller has three goals and one assist in five games since being recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL on Nov. 28.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Remastered Edition (Cartoon)