The Edmonton Oilers will take on the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, February 25th, at the Honda Center, with the puck dropping at 10:30 pm ET. This Western Conference matchup features the Oilers sitting second in the Pacific Division, while the Ducks hold the second Wild Card spot, making it a crucial game for both teams as they aim to strengthen their playoff positioning.
Team Standings and Recent Performances
The Edmonton Oilers currently hold a 28-22-8 record and have accumulated 64 points this season. Before the recent Olympic break, they struggled with three consecutive losses in regulation. Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks, with a record of 30-23-3 and 63 points, entered the break on a positive note, winning their last two games.
Projected Anaheim Ducks Lineups
The Ducks are expected to deploy the following forward lines: Killorn, Carlsson, and Sennecke; Granland, McTavish, and Gauthier; Kreider, Poehling, and Terry; as well as Viel, Washe, and Strome. On defense, the pairings likely will be LaCombe and Gudas, Zellweger and Trouba, Mintyukov and Moore. The starting goaltender is anticipated to be Dostal.
Edmonton Oilers Expected Line Combinations
Edmonton is projected to feature Nugent-Hopkins, McDavid, and Hyman on their top forward line, followed by Podkolzin, Draisaitl, and Roslovic; Mangiapane, Henrique, and Savoie; Janmark, Frederic, and Lazar. The blue line is expected to pair Ekholm with Bouchard, Nurse with Walman, and Stastney with Emberson. Jarry is slated as the starting goalie.
Players to Keep an Eye On During the Game
Among the Ducks, Jackson LaCombe, a 25-year-old defenseman, has recorded 37 points over 56 games and recently contributed as a reserve on Team USA’s gold medal-winning roster at the Winter Olympics. For the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl, a 30-year-old centerman and Team Germany captain at the Olympics, has tallied 80 points in 55 games and added 7 points in 5 Olympic matches.
Injury Updates for Both Teams
The Ducks face several ailments, including goaltender Petr Mrazek (IR), forwards Frank Vatrano, Leo Carlsson, and Mikael Granlund listed as injured or recovering. Edmonton’s injury list includes center Adam Henrique (day-to-day) and captain Connor McDavid (day-to-day).
Upcoming Games on the Schedule
Following this contest, the Anaheim Ducks will host the Winnipeg Jets on February 27th, while the Edmonton Oilers will visit the Los Angeles Kings on February 26th, continuing their efforts to climb the standings in a tightly contested Western Conference.
