GDT LA @ Edm (12/23)

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VS.

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Los Angeles Kings (22-13-1) at Edmonton Oilers (20-11-4).

TIME: Friday, 7 p.m. Mountain - aired on SportsNet West


Kings goaltender Mathieu Garon will have a tough task when the Kings meet the Edmonton Oilers, who are coming off one of their best offensive outings of the season.

The Kings are looking for their season-high fifth straight win to keep pace with the Dallas Stars in the Pacific Division.

STANDINGS (through Dec. 22): Kings - 45 points, 1st place (tied), Pacific Division. Oilers - 44 points, 1st place (tied), Northwest Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Kings - Pavol Demitra, 18 goals, 26 assists and 44 points; Sean Avery, 127 PIM. Oilers - Smyth, 15 goals; Ales Hemsky, 25 assists and 33 points; Ethan Moreau, 51 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Dec. 22):
Kings - Power play: 15.1 percent (32 for 212), tied for 26th in NHL. Penalty killing: 82.6 percent (185 for 224), 15th.
Oilers - Power play: 18.3 percent (39 for 213), 14th. Penalty killing: 81.3 percent (174 for 214), 20th.

GOALTENDERS: Kings - Garon (14-7-0, 0 SO, 2.65 GAA); LaBarbera (8-6-1, 0, 2.90). Oilers - Jussi Markkanen (12-9-3, 0, 3.08); Ty Conklin (3-1-1, 0, 3.32).

SEASON SERIES: Kings, 1-0.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Kings - 10-7-1 on the road; Oilers - 8-4-2 at home.

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The Oilers have the edge on the PP, yet the Kings are better at the PK. That's a stat that should cause the Oiler brass some worry considering the Oil allowed 5 goals on 9 opportunities against the 'nucks the other night.

Been too long since Georges dropped the gloves. I'd like to see him go against Avery tonight - French Canadian monkey, my ass.

[PDO]

Avery won't fight Laraque. Period. He's giving up something around 6 inches and 50 lbs.

I'd love to see Chopper take care of him though.

I'm heading to the game tonight - last Oiler game I went to was the all out brawl against Atlanta 2 years ago. Here's hoping for another good one!

[J.R.]

PDO, were you chanting "AV-ERY" at the end of the game?

Another game, another comeback, another Oiler win. That's five in a row. Here's hoping the Oil continues to roll after the much deserved two day break.

[PDO]

I was chanting "AVERY SUCKS".

Good times were had by all. Well, except Avery.

The reffing in this game was absolutely TERRIBLE. The worst I've ever seen, in my life.

Peca is lighting the world on fire. This is the guy we thought we were getting - and I'm loving it. He's been great.

Hemsky had a few lazy plays tonight, but was great outside of that.

Pronger was a force all night.

Conklin let in a real softie in the first 2 minutes, but started to play much better after that. Puckhandling is still very suspect.

HUGE win. We're 10 games above .500!

[slapshot™]

Good effort by the club! They could've done without all the frickin' penalties (high sticking)....luckily it didn't bite them in the ass.

Scoreborad watching and wishing the Flames would lose simply because they are the Flames doesn't make sense (in retrospect) when a win by the Flames gives Edmonton sole top spot in the NW. Sorry, 'nucks fans.

'nuck fans are a little pissed and rightfully so. When your team is on a losing skid it is a bitter pill to swallow. Like the Oil fans don't know that well enough! We've had our fairt share of shoulda, woulda, coulda's over the last few seasons.

It sure looks good this morning to check the standings and see the Oil tops in their division and 2nd overall in the Western Conference. What a super Christmas present!

Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for more success after Christmas and for the remainder of the season by the Oil.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all the Oiler fans and fans of all the teams in the league!

[Canadian26]

To many penalties last night for me, it seemed like the whole time the teams where on the PP. I like pecas line, they basically jumped started the oilers, gotta love the goal by torres.