3 Keys: Kings at Oilers, Game 6 of Western 1st Round

(P2) Oilers at (P3) Kings

LOS ANGELES --The Edmonton Oilers expect a high level of desperation from the Los Angeles Kings in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
With a win, Edmonton will eliminate Los Angeles in the first round for the second consecutive season.
"They're going to be a desperate team, but we need to be able to match it," Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said Saturday. "We have to match their energy level, especially at the start. I thought Game 4 down here (a 5-4 overtime win for Edmonton), they came out and pushed us and got us back on our heels, and we can't let that happen tonight."
Last season, Edmonton trailed 3-2 in the series before winning Game 6 at Crypto.com Arena and Game 7 at Rogers Place. Now, Los Angeles will be looking to do the same.
"Backs are against the wall, so obviously we've got to bring it," Kings captain Anze Kopitar said. "We will be playing with the puck, try to play with the puck, and try to keep them in their zone for as long as we can."
Kings center Blake Lizotte is expected to return after missing the past three games with a lower-body injury.
Oilers forward Mattias Janmark, who sustained a foot injury in Game 1, participated in morning skate. However, neither Janmark or coach Jay Woodcroft would confirm if he would return to the lineup.
RELATED: [Complete Oilers vs. Kings series coverage]
The Oilers have been playing with 11 forwards and seven defensemen since Game 2.
"It's getting better, so it's nice to be out there skating," Janmark said. "I got a couple of shots (off his foot). I'm just trying to get back."
Here are 3 keys to Game 6:

1. All hands on deck

The Kings will have a complete lineup for the first time in the series with the expected return of Lizotte. Los Angeles started the series without forwards Kevin Fiala, who had 72 points (23 goals, 49 assists) in 69 regular-season games, and Gabriel Vilardi, who had 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists) in 63 regular-season games. Vilardi returned in Game 2, and Fiala was back for Game 4. Lizotte had 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 81 games during the regular season.
"We can talk about lines, we can talk about (defense) pairs. We're looking for high-end performances from 20 individuals that work together collectively and put their best on the line, and there's no other way to put it," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "There's no magic. That's what we're looking for. We've worked real hard all year, the past few years, to give ourselves an opportunity to win this type of game, and we're going to take a swing at it, a real good swing at it and see what we have."

2. Road warriors

The Oilers are 8-1-0 in their past nine games away from home dating to the regular season. In the 5-4 overtime win at Crypto.com Arena in Game 4, they battled back from a 3-0 deficit in the first period and fell behind 4-3 in the third before tying it again.
Road teams are 27-17 in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"I don't think it necessarily matters for our group, we try to play the same game whether we're at home or on the road," Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl said. "Tonight is a big one for us, we're looking to bring our best game. We're well aware they're going to bring their best game, so we have to make sure we bring ours."

3. Killer power plays

The Oilers had the best power play in NHL history during the regular season at 32.4 percent and are leading the NHL again in the playoffs at 57.1 percent. Edmonton is 8-for-14 with the man-advantage, and Los Angeles is 5-for-18 (27.8 percent). A key for both teams is to stay out of the penalty box.
"Just try to keep as much 5-on-5 hockey as we can," Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said. "We want to be physical, good defensively. I think 'Korpi' (goalie Joonas Korpisalo) has played really well this series, so take some pressure off him and dominate in their zone. We haven't done that enough, especially for a full game this series."

Oilers projected lineup

Evander Kane -- Connor McDavid -- Leon Draisaitl
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Nick Bjugstad -- Zach Hyman
Warren Foegele -- Ryan McLeod -- Kailer Yamamoto
Klim Kostin -- Derek Ryan
Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci
Mattias Ekholm -- Evan Bouchard
Brett Kulak -- Vincent Desharnais
Philip Broberg
Stuart Skinner
Jack Campbell
Scratched: Devin Shore
Injured:Mattias Janmark (lower body), Ryan Murray (back)

Kings projected lineup

Viktor Arvidsson -- Anze Kopitar -- Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore -- Phillip Danault -- Alex Iafallo
Kevin Fiala -- Quinton Byfield -- Gabriel Vilardi
Carl Grundstrom -- Blake Lizotte -- Rasmus Kupari
Mikey Anderson -- Drew Doughty
Vladislav Gavrikov -- Matt Roy
Sean Durzi -- Sean Walker
Joonas Korpisalo
Pheonix Copley
Scratched:Alexander Edler, Zack MacEwen, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Arthur Kaliyev, Alex Laferriere
Injured:None

Status report

Kane did not participate in Edmonton's morning skate but will play. … The Kings held an optional skate Saturday.