PRE-GAME REPORT: Oilers vs. Ducks

The Edmonton Oilers welcome the Anaheim Ducks to Rogers Place for a Pacific Division tilt on Thursday night.
You can watch the game live on Sportsnet West & 360 or listen on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED.
Video: OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game vs ANA 02.17.22

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game vs. ANA
PRE-GAME RAW | Coach Woodcroft
PRE-GAME RAW | McDavid
PRE-GAME RAW | Nurse
RECENT VIDEOS
OILERS TODAY | Post-Game at LA
HIGHLIGHTS | EDM 5, LA 2
POST-RAW | Coach Woodcroft
POST-RAW | Mike Smith
BY THE NUMBERS
Oilers Statistics
Ducks Statistics
Head-to-Head
Game Notes
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
RELEASE: Skinner loaned to Bakersfield
GAME RECAP: Oilers 5, Kings 2
VIEWING INFORMATION
You can watch Tuesday's game on Sportsnet West & 360 at 7:00 PM MT.
News and notes from the Oilers organization, including the loan of Stuart Skinner to Bakersfield and the removal of Mikko Koskinen from COVID-19 protocol.
**>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG**
EDMONTON, AB - The Oilers look to extend their impressive start under Head Coach Jay Woodcroft on Thursday night when they take on a Pacific Division opponent for the third game running in the Anaheim Ducks.
Edmonton is 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and 12-3-0 against divisional opponents after sweeping a road back-to-back over the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles on Monday and Tuesday to start a five-game week.
With Tuesday's victory, the Oilers took over third place in the Pacific but still have plenty of games to come over the final two-and-a-half-month rush to the end of the season from here on out.
"You get into these games and you know the importance of them, especially now," defenceman Darnell Nurse said. "Sure, there are 35 games left in the season, but it feels like the stretch run and that you're in the last 20. That importance is even heightened when you play your own division.
"We know the importance of the games, we know how tight our division and how tough our conference usually is, and that gives you extra juice when you're playing someone in your own division."
The Ducks are coming off a 6-2 drubbing to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night and conclude a back-to-back tonight in Edmonton, where Anaheim has managed to win twice in their last seven visits (2-5-0).
Video: PRE-RAW | Connor McDavid 02.17.22
A young core that includes the dynamic forwards Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry, plus established goaltending in John Gibson, have contributed to the Ducks being in and around a playoff position through 50 games of their season as they look for a response tonight against the Oilers to retake third in the Pacific.
"I think Anaheim's had a heck of a year," Woodcroft said. "They're a team with a lot of young skill up front, their goaltenders have posted really good numbers on the year to give them a chance to win, and I think based on the way their game went last night, we should expect a team that's going to come in laser-focused.
"We better be ready tonight, because it's an important game for both teams."
A GOLDEN EVENING
"I don't know what it is in the Nurse blood, but it's pretty amazing," Connor McDavid said.
Defenceman Darnell Nurse and hockey fans around the nation stayed up past their bedtime to watch his cousin Sarah Nurse and the rest of Canada's Women's Olympic Team defeat the United States to win gold in Beijing Wednesday night.
"It's always a proud moment when you have a family member play in the Olympics, for one, and then win a gold medal," Nurse said. "The tournament that Sarah had, it was fun to watch from start to finish."
Sarah led the tournament in scoring with 18 points in seven games, including a goal and assist in the final, to set a new Olympic tournament record.
Video: PRE-RAW | Darnell Nurse 02.17.22
"It was awesome to see and fun to follow along through the whole way," he said. "She earned everything, and I hope she gets to celebrate."
"She's very driven, works as hard as anyone I know, and has earned everything she's got at this point. It's great to see her get everything she deserves."
McDavid marveled at the ability in the Nurse family that includes Sarah, Darnell, and his brother Kia in the WNBA. Darnell's father Richard was a former wide receiver in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and his uncle is former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb.
"I think they all push each other," McDavid said. "They all push each other to be better, and I'm sure they're a proud group today just with everything that Sarah's accomplished. They always seem to have some family member at these big events, and obviously, Nursey's still playing in the NHL. It's impressive to see."
KEEPING IT CONNECTED
Under Woodcroft, the Oilers have strung together three solid team performances to take all six points and play some of their best hockey as a collective.
"Just a little more connected all over the ice," McDavid said. "There's kind of layers all over the ice and five guys around the puck a lot more, so that certainly helps."
Woodcroft has been pleased by the total buy-in from his new players that have returned him three wins in his first three games as an NHL coach, but the true reward comes in seeing the joy amongst the group after the team comes away with a hard-earned victory.
"I think the work ethic has been off the charts," Woodcroft said. "We've asked the players to play a demanding style of hockey, and we've had an attention to detail and buy-in from everyone.
Video: PRE-RAW | Jay Woodcroft 02.17.22
"What's most gratifying as coaches is when you walk in after the game and see smiles on these people's faces. They put a lot into those games and it's nice to see the fellas get rewarded."
The Oilers built further on much-improved play at 5-on-5 play that's plus-nine over their last 11 games, helping make up for a blip in production from a powerplay that's 6-for-42 (14.3 per cent) in their last 18 games.
"Jay's come in and done a great job of bringing in his system; not tweaking too much, but enough that it plays into the strengths of our team," Nurse said. "I think the buy-in has definitely been there, but at the end of the day, it's on the players in the room. For us, we know that at this point that we have to go out there and perform no matter who's behind us, but Jay and Dave have done a great job coming in here and setting the template."
LINEUP NOTES
Mike Smith will start his second straight game after posting 30 saves in Tuesday's 5-2 victory over Los Angeles.
Mikko Koskinen's return to the lineup from COVID-19 protocol meant Stuart Skinner would return to Bakersfield, where the young netminder can build on his 20-save shutout performance over the San Jose Sharks on Monday by playing plenty of hockey on a regular basis.
"Not only do we have two veteran goaltenders, but I think Mike Smith over the last couple of games that I've seen him play has been a real factor in us securing the four points in the games he played in, so that's number one," Woodcroft said. "Mikko is returning from COVID protocol as everyone knows, and I believe he was 4-0-1 before he went into that protocol. So for me, those two goaltenders give us a real chance to win.
Woodcroft continued: "For Stuart Skinner, he gave an unbelievable account of himself in that San Jose game, but he's a young man and has to play games. So he's in a good spot there in Bakersfield to make sure he's getting the reps he needs and the starts he needs. The best thing is he's got the equity with not only the coaching staff and our organization, but also the players in this dressing room as well."
Woodcroft provided limited updates on the status of defencemen Duncan Keith in Kris Russell, who continue to progress back slowly from their respective injuries.
"Nothing more specific. [Duncan's] progressing every day that goes by. He's feeling a little bit healthier, and he's an important part of our back end, but nothing imminent in the next day or two."
"Same answer for Kris. He's progressing from where he's at and he's getting closer, but nothing imminent today or tomorrow."
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com
OILERS vs. DUCKS
STREAM: 7:00 p.m. MT; televised on Sportsnet West & 360
Oilers Team Scope
The Oilers are coming off a sweep of a California back-to-back road set over the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings earlier in the week that lifted the club into third place in the Pacific Division.
Kailer Yamamoto's first goal in 12 games broke a 2-2 tie with just under five minutes left before Zach Hyman and Evander Kane added empty-netters to secure the Oilers their third-straight win under Head Coach Jay Woodcroft.
Connor McDavid extended his road scoring streak to four games with his 25th goal in the second period, while Mike Smith had 30 saves for his fourth victory of the season.
"We've asked everybody to up their work rate, we're asking the team to play a certain demanding style, and I'm very happy that the team is seeing results," Woodcroft said.
"We didn't score the first goal of the game and nobody hung their heads. We found a way to claw back and there wasn't a lot of real estate out there. You had to fight for all your space, and those types of games are not easy to win. To see the effort put forward by our players was very impressive."
On Wednesday afternoon, the Oilers loaned goaltender Stuart Skinner to Bakersfield and removed Mikko Koskinen from COVID-19 protocol.
Ducks Team Scope
The Ducks dropped their third in a row on Wednesday 6-2 to the Calgary Flames after Edmonton's provincial rivals powered their way to their eighth-straight victory at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
"Down the stretch here it's going to be harder and harder to play teams," defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk said. "Teams are going to get tighter and play their best hockey and play their most structured hockey, and we have to find ways to push through that and score goals and win."
John Gibson allowed four goals on 20 shots before being replaced in second period by Anthony Stolarz, but it is likely we'll see Gibson back between the pipes on Thursday at Rogers Place after Ducks Head Coach Dallas Eakins elected to pull his starter from a lost cause so he's ready to start again against the Oilers.
"I'm big on odds and percentages," Eakins said. "The chances that we were going to come back were low, so I'd rather have [Gibson] rested and ready for [Thursday]."
By The Numbers
The Oilers have won four of their last six games against the Ducks (4-1-1) and only have one regulation loss over their last nine meetings... The Ducks are 4-1-2 over their last seven games after going 2-7-2 in their previous 11 games... The Oilers have won eight of their last 11 games (8-1-2)... The Oilers are 4-9-0 over their last 13 home games after starting the season 9-1-0 at Rogers Place...
The Ducks have scored first in 29 games this season, fourth-most in the NHL, while the Oilers 14 games scoring first is the fewest in the NHL this season... Anaheim has a .916 team save percentage this season which ranks fifth-highest in the NHL... John Gibson is 15-11-8 with a 2.54 GAA, .921 save percentage & one shutout in 34 starts this season, having allowed three goals or more in three of his last five games...
Troy Terry has 42 points (25G, 17A) in 44 games this season for Anaheim... His seven game-winning goals are second in the NHL this season behind Leon Draisaitl (8)... Evander Kane now has six points (3G, 3A) in eight games as an Oiler...
Injury Report
OILERS - Kris Russell (undisclosed) is on IR; Duncan Keith (upper body) is out 2-to-4 weeks; Zack Kassian (fractured jaw) is out 4-to-8 weeks; Kyle Turris (back) is on IR.
DUCKS - Sam Carrick (personal) is day-to-day; Josh Manson (finger) is on IR; Max Jones (torn pectoral) is on IR.
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com