The Edmonton Oilers are on the verge of elimination after losing the first two games of their Western Conference First Round series against the Los Angeles Kings. In Game 3, which takes place at Rogers Place on Friday night, the Oilers must dig deep to avoid a 3-0 deficit.
Goalie Calvin Pickard will start for Edmonton, replacing Stuart Skinner, who has allowed 11 goals in two games. Pickard was a reliable starter earlier in the season, making eight of his last 11 starts after Skinner suffered an injury.
The Kings are expected to dress a conventional lineup with forward Trevor Lewis back in the mix and defenseman Jacob Moverare out. Goalie Darcy Kuemper will start, having made 24 saves in Game 2.
Los Angeles has dominated on special teams so far in the series, going 5-for-10 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. Forward Adrian Kempe leads the Kings with seven points through two games, while center Anze Kopitar and forward Andrei Kuzmenko each have five points.
The Oilers’ situation is dire, but they can draw from history. The team has won the Stanley Cup five times, including a remarkable comeback in 2006 when they defeated the San Jose Sharks in six games after losing the first two games of their series.
For Edmonton, it’s all about how Pickard performs and whether the team can improve its defense. With a 1-2 lead in their series history against the Kings, the Oilers must respond quickly to avoid elimination.
Source: https://www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-edmonton-oilers-game-3-preview-april-25