KINGS (34-30-7) at OILERS (38-24-9)
9 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-W, NHL.TV
Kings team scope
The Los Angeles Kings are in fifth place in the Pacific Division and six points behind the Nashville Predators of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. The Kings are playing the second game of a back-to-back set and the first of three games remaining against the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings are 10 points behind the fourth-place Oilers in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles lost 5-2 at the Calgary Flames on Sunday and did not have a morning skate Monday. "It's nice we don't have to wait too long [to play again]," forward Jarome Iginla said Sunday. "These points are obviously all very important. It gives us a chance to bounce back right away and get that win." Los Angeles has lost three of its past four games (1-2-1) and returns home to play against the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers before going on a three-game Western Canada road trip at Edmonton, Calgary and the Vancouver Canucks. "I don't think there's any secret to it, obviously, going into Edmonton [Monday], we have to get the two points that's the bottom line," center Anze Kopitar said. "That's what we've got to think every night for every game."
Oilers team scope
The Oilers enter Monday one point behind the Flames and two behind the Anaheim Ducks in the division. Edmonton holds the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and are four points ahead of the Nashville Predators who hold the second wild card. Edmonton is on a three-game winning streak and concludes a season-long, eight-game homestand (4-2-1). "This is going to be a hard-battling game and we are ready for it," defenseman Andrej Sekera said. "This is a big game for both teams and we'll do whatever we can to get the points out of it. For us, every game is important now, especially against teams that are battling [for a playoff spot]. I think this will be very good for us if we win." Goaltender Cam Talbot will make his NHL-high 65th start. Talbot has 36 wins this season (36-20-8) and is four victories away from tying the Oilers record for most wins by a goaltender in a season, set by Grant Fuhr in 1987-88. "He's been playing so well for us and I'm not surprised he's been able to play so many games, he's in really good shape," defenseman Oscar Klefbom said. "If you're here every day, you can see how professional he is taking care of his body."
Kings projected lineup
Dustin Brown -- Anze Kopitar -- Jarome Iginla
Tanner Pearson -- Jeff Carter -- Tyler Toffoli
Adrian Kempe -- Trevor Lewis -- Marian Gaborik
Kyle Clifford -- Nic Dowd -- Andy Andreoff
Jake Muzzin -- Paul Ladue
Scratched: Brayden McNabb
Injured: Matt Greene (back), Jordan Nolan (leg), Nick Shore (upper body)
Oilers projected lineup
Patrick Maroon -- Connor McDavid -- Leon Draisaitl
Milan Lucic -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Jordan Eberle
Benoit Pouliot -- David Desharnais -- Zack Kassian
Matt Hendricks -- Mark Letestu -- Anton Slepyshev
Oscar Klefbom -- Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera -- Kris Russell
Cam Talbot
Scratched: Eric Gryba, Iiro Pakarinen, Jujhar Khaira, Drake Caggiula
Injured: Tyler Pitlick (knee)
Status report
Quick, who was pulled after giving up two goals on seven shots against Calgary and replaced by Bishop, is expected to start. … Hendricks is expected to return to the lineup although coach Todd McLellan would not confirm any changes. Hendricks was a healthy scratch the past two games. He would replace either Caggiula or Slepyshev on the fourth line.
Who's hot
Kopitar has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his past 11 games. … Toffoli has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past five games. … McDavid has 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in his past 16 games. … Draisaitl is on a three game point streak with seven points (one goal, six assists). … Lucic has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past five games.
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