Los Angeles (8-9-3) at Edmonton (9-9-2) 10:00 p.m. EST
EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- The Edmonton Oilers have played a
league-low six games at home and their pedestrian overall record
suggests they have not made the most of their opportunities
there.
The Oilers seek their first victory at home since October 18
when they host the struggling Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.
Edmonton has played 14 of its 20 contests on the road and is
7-7-0. However, the Oilers have failed to capitalize at Rexall
Place, where they are trudging through a four-game losing
streak.
Edmonton's last victory at home came in a 3-2 win over the
Calgary Flames, but it has since lost there to the Boston
Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and most
recently, the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
Edmonton has the lowest penalty-kill percentage (73.9) in the
Western Conference and trails only the Toronto (71.5) in the
NHL. Los Angeles is fourth in the West in that category (84.1).
After suffering a 6-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, the
Kings have lost two straight and four of five.
Making his 10th consecutive start, goaltender Erik Ersberg was
pulled from the Kings' net at 10:07 of the second period after
yielding four goals on 18 shots against the Flames.
The 26-year-old Ersberg entered play with a 5-3-2 record and a
stellar 2.05 goals-against average.
Jason LaBarbera, who last started on November 1 in a 3-2 loss to
Calgary, replaced Ersberg and made 15 saves over the final 30
minutes.
Alexander Frolov scored for the Kings, as did Anze Kopitar, who
is riding his third three-game points streak of the season.