EDMONTON, AB- It's always a big game when the Toronto Maple Leafs are in town.
The Oilers look to make Saturday's visit from the Leafs even bigger by winning their fifth-straight game against a Toronto team that lit the lamp against them four times in seven minutes during the second period of a 6-2 win back on February 27 at Scotiabank Arena.
"When you get down four or five against a team like that, it's going to be hard to come back," forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who set a new career high of 57 points on Thursday, said. "We've got to manage the game a lot better, and can't let ourselves have a lull in our game where they take control for five or 10 minutes.
The Oilers are 6-1-2 in their past nine games, with their lone regulation loss in that span coming against the Leafs.
"It changes everything," Leon Draisaitl said of the Oilers recent hot streak. "Everyone wants to win, everyone loves winning, and the mood is better. It's easier coming to the rink, but I think we've been playing some really good hockey lately and we need to keep that up."
The Leafs fell victim to a third-period comeback from the Canucks on Wednesday that ended with defenceman Alexander Edler ending the game in overtime. For the Oilers, winning ways continued against those very same Canucks with a 3-2 victory this past Thursday that extended Draisaitl's and captain Connor McDavid's respective point streaks to 12 and 7 games.
"Since the Toronto game we've been going a lot better 60 minutes to complete games, so we have to keep that in mind and make sure we bring that tomorrow," Nugent-Hopkins said.
The race for one of two Wildcard spots continues for the Oilers, sitting seven points back of the Minnesota Wild with two games in hand.
"For us, we need to make sure we're consistent with what we're doing," Sam Gagner, who suited up for 43 games earlier this season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, said. "I think we feel pretty good about our game, but we need to continue to bring it every night and tomorrow's another tough test."
Mikko Koskinen is unable to go tonight after being a late scratch due to illness, meaning Anthony Stolarz will earn his first start as an Oiler.
Milan Lucic didn't take part in Friday's morning skate and would also be scratched late after failing to recover in time from an undisclosed injury that's hindered the forward for the last two games. He'll be replaced by Ty Rattie on a line with Kyle Brodziak and Tobias Rieder.
"[Lucic is] not going to play today, and neither is Koskinen," Hitchcock said to the media. "Koskinen has the flu. He's in the building, but Stolarz is going to be the starting goalie.
"The emergency backup is in the building too, so if we run into a problem we have two guys who are in the lounge now."
STOLARZ STARTS
Stolarz gets the late call in goal for the Oilers with Koskinen out with illness, and University of Alberta Golden Bears netminder Kenny Cameron will serve as the emergency backup tonight.
The Edison, New Jersey product has made one appearance this season in relief for the Oilers during tonight's reverse fixture back in Toronto, making 18 saves and allowing two goals.
