BLOG: Wednesday's travel day to LA ahead of Game 6

LOS ANGELES, CA - Win or go home.
That's the situation the Edmonton Oilers find themselves in ahead of Game 6 of their first-round series with the Los Angeles Kings after falling 5-4 in overtime at Rogers Place on Tuesday night in Game 5.
"Last night we obviously didn't have the start we wanted," forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. "We clawed our way back into the game and they get the one in overtime, so we've got to be able to move on from it and I think the guys have done a good job in understanding this is do-or-die tomorrow and we need to put our best foot forward and be ready to play."
The Oilers touched down in Los Angeles late Wednesday afternoon with a business-like attitude, ready to respond from two-straight losses in an elimination scenario and force a Game 7 back at home on Saturday night.
"There are no excuses and we need to have a good start and go from there, but this is part of playoff hockey and you're going to go through adversity," Nugent-Hopkins added. "There are no easy games and no easy series, so we're going to be prepared to go tomorrow."

Edmonton will have to stay alive in the series without the services of Darnell Nurse, who was handed a one-game suspension by the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Wednesday afternoon for head-butting LA forward Phillip Danault in Game 5.
"He's a pretty good hockey player that's been out of our lineup before and we've been able to handle it," Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said, citing a four-game stretch at the end of the regular season with Nurse out due to injury. "That's what we expect to do tomorrow."
Nugent-Hopkins expanded on the defenceman's suspension, saying the rest of the Oilers roster will need to help fill the minutes and responsibilities left vacant by the Hamilton, Ont. product while also playing for both his and their own opportunity to play a Game 7 this weekend with a victory.

"We have to play the right way," Nugent-Hopkins said. "When a guy like Nursey is out of the lineup, we've got to be able to pick up the slack and keep the same mentality and play the same way no matter who's in the lineup. Obviously, I think for him it'll be tough being out for a big game like this, but at the same time we want to make sure that we give him the chance to play in Game 7."
Among the players most affected include Nurse's regular partner Cody Ceci, who could be shifted to play alongside Brett Kulak again after the two enjoyed success together in a pairing when Nurse was out injured to end the regular season -- most notably to Woodcroft in a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ceci spoke to the desperation the Oilers must play with in Game 6 and how it can be used as a tool to their advantage with the onus on the Kings on Thursday night to close out the series on home ice.
"I think in any series, that fourth game is the toughest one to win just because teams are desperate and a little more hungry to stay alive," he said. "Hopefully, we can put that desperation forward and win tomorrow."

Defenceman Phillip Broberg was called up late in the afternoon as insurance for the Oilers following Nurse's suspension. The Swedish blueliner is expected to fly into Los Angeles tonight following Game 2 of the AHL Pacific Division Semifinals with the Bakersfield Condors on the road and down 1-0 in their series against the Stockton Heat.
Edmonton's 2020 fourth-round pick Carter Savoie, the sophomore standout with the NCAA's University of Denver, also signed his entry-level contract this afternoon following an Amateur Tryout with the Condors.
Get all of Wednesday's travel day content below:
VIDEO

WRITTEN
- RELEASE: Oilers sign Savoie to entry-level contract -